that he preferved or published the juvenile performance. Not long afterwards he undertook perhaps the most arduous work of its kind, a tranflation of Virgil, for which he had shewn how well he was qualified by his version of the Pollio, and two epifodes, one of Nifus and Euryalus, the other of Mezentius and Laufus. In the comparison of Homer and Virgil, the difcriminative excellence of Homer is elevation and comprehenfion of thought, and that of Virgil is grace and fplendor of diction. The beauties of Homer are therefore difficult to be loft, and those of Virgil difficult to be retained. The maffy trunk of fentiment is fafe by its folidity, but the bloffoms of elocution eafily drop away. The author, having the choice of his own images, felects thofe which he can best adorn; the tranflator muft, at all hazards, follow his original, and exprefs thoughts which perhaps he would not have chofen. When to this primary difficulty is added the inconvenience of a language fo much inferior in har mony mony to the Latin, it cannot be expected that they who read the Georgicks and the Eneid fhould be much delighted with any verfion. All these obstacles Dryden faw, and all thefe he determined to encounter. The expectation of his work was undoubtedly great; the nation confidered its honour as interested in the event. One gave him the different editions of his author, another helped him in the fubordinate parts. The arguments of the feveral books were given him by Addifon. The hopes of the publick were not difappointed. He produced, fays Pope, "the most "noble and spirited tranflation that I know "in any language." It certainly excelled whatever had appeared in English, and appears to have fatisfied his friends, and, for the most part, to have filenced his enemies. Milbourne, indeed, a clergyman, attacked it; but his outrages feem to be the ebullitions. of a mind agitated by stronger refentment than bad poetry can excite, and previously refolved not to be pleased. His criticism extends only to the Preface, Paftorals, and Georgicks; and, as he profeffes to give his antagonist an opportunity of reprifal, he has added his own verfion of the first and fourth Paftorals, and the first Georgick. The world has forgotten his book; but fince his attempt has given him a place in literary hiftory, I will preferve a fpecimen of his criticism, by inferting his remarks on the invocation before the firft Georgick, and of his poetry, by annexing his own verfion. Ver. 1. "What makes a plenteous harveft, when to turn "The fruitful foil, and when to fow the corn. "It's unlucky, they fay, to fumble at the thref 66 hold, but what has a plenteous harvest to do here? Virgil would not pretend to pre"fcribe rules for that which depends on the "hufbandman's care, but the difpofition of "Heaven altogether. Indeed, the plenteous "crop depends fomewhat on the good method of tillage, and where the land's ill manur'd, "the corn, without a miracle, can be but 66 indifferent; but the harveft may be good, "which is its propereft epithet, tho' the bufbandman's skill were never fo indifferent. "The next fentence is too literal, and when "to plough had been Virgil's meaning, and intelligible to every body; and when to fow the corn, is a needlefs addition.” 66 66 Ver. 3. "The care of fheep, of oxen, and of kine, "And when to geld the lambs, and sheer the fwine, "Would as well have fallen under the cura ❝ boum, qui cultus habendo fit pecori, as Mr. "D's deduction of particulars." Ver. 5. "The birth and genius of the frugal bee "But where did experientia ever fignify birth " and genius? or what ground was there for "fuch a figure in this place? How much "more manly is Mr. Ogylby's version!” "What makes rich grounds, in what celeftial " figns ""Tis good to plough, and marry elms with vines; "What "What best fits cattle, what with sheep agrees, "And several arts improving frugal bees ; "I fing, Mæcenas. "Which four lines, tho' faulty enough, "are yet much more to the purpose than "Mr. D's fix." Ver. 22. "From fields and mountains to my fong repair. "For patrium linquens nemus, faltufque Ly"cai" Very well explained!" Ver. 23, 24. "Inventor Pallas, of the fattening oil, "Thou founder of the plough, and plough man's toil! "Written as if these had been Pallas's inven❝tion." "The ploughman's toil's imperti "nent." Ver. 25. 66 -The shroud-like cypress- "Why Shroud-like? Is a cypress pulled up by "the roots, which the Sculpture in the last "Eclogue fills Silvanus's hand with, so very |