dois's chapel, if Pope meant to ridicule. the affected magnificence of that nobleman in having fuch a compofer, his fatire was ill-directed, fince in this refpect his conduct was really magnificent.This whole epistle, but more particularly that part of it which fatirizes the duke's want of taste, is one of the moft exquifite pieces of the kind that Pope wrote; fuch a poet, with fuch an object of ridicule, could not but produce an excellent poem. 'Tis very remarkable, that prediction contained in the following lines is quite fulfilled. Another age fhall fee the golden ear Imbrown the flope, and nod on the parterre, Deep harvests bury all his pride has plann'd, And laughing Ceres re-affume the land. Cannons 'tis faid coft upwards of two hundred thousand pounds building; and VOL. II. N when when pulled down the materials did not fetch thirty fix thousand. Mr. Pope's fatires, it may be perceived, even from the paffages which I have quoted, are wrote with an infinite fund of wit and ridicule; an exquifite and penetrating knowledge of human nature; and are cloathed in fuch a beautiful poetic ftile, as juftly entitles them to the first place amongst the fatyrical poems in the English language. As to the Dunciad, the merit of the poem is univerfally allowed; but unfortunately for pofterity, the subject has fo little in it engaging to any other time, but that age in which it was wrote, that I cannot help regretting, that fo fine a genius should employ fo much time and poetry in immortalizing a fet of wretches, who, had had it not been for his writings, would have been long ago buried for ever in oblivion. The greatest excellency in the Dunciad confifts in its mock heroics. Dr. Young's are the next fatires I fhall be particular in mentioning in this essay. There is indeed a great falling off from Pope's to those of this reverend gentleman; but as they contain fome bright paffages, and are wrote in the cause of virtue, with great goodness of defign, the reader will excufe an endeavour to point out fome of their beauties. 1. Shall authors fmile on fuch illuftrious days, And fatirife with nothing but their praise * ? The ftroke in the laft line is very good. Pope fomewhere fumming up all the impudent practices of his enemies to abuse * Young's Works, vol. iv. p. 8o. fat. 1. N 2 him, him, concludes with faying, cr One more abufive calls himself my friend." 2. It makes dear felf on well bred tongues prevail, And I the little hero of each tale *. This fatire is extremely juft. How often do we hear men who disgust all their acquaintances by trumpeting their own praises? Nothing furely can destroy that freedom and ease which ought to reign in the conversation of friends, more than the impertinence of those who think every man has nothing to attend to but their encomiums, which they beftow on themselves. This difpofition renders great abilities difgufting; but when we find it equally predominant in those who have little important to say for themselves, it becomes intolerable. #Ibid. p. 83. 3. The 3. The love of praise, howe'er conceal'd by art, Reigns more or lefs, and glows in ev'ry heart: The proud to gain it, toils on toils endure; The modeft fhun it but to make it fure ‡. Thefe lines are pretty, and the fentiment extremely juft. "Praise, fays the Rambler, is fo pleafing to the mind of man, that it is the original motive of almoft all our actions. The defign of commendation, as of every thing elfe, is varied indeed by innumerable differences of temper, capacity, and knowledge; fome have no higher with than for the applause of a club; fome expect the acclamations of a country; and fome have hoped to fill the mouths of all ages and nations with their names. Every man pants for the highest eminence within his view; none, however mean, even finks below the hope of being diftinguish + Sat, 1. ed |