refpective agencies, requires a much more varied and complicated affociation of ideas,

It is in this light, that Mr. POPE may be faid to have been mafter of as much invention and imagination as any other writer whatever. Thefe faculties he has not only difplayed in the Rape of the Lock, but they are confpicuous throughout the whole of his works. In his Eloifa to Abelard, what new and friking combinations of ideas! what fplendid and variegated imagery! What deficate and pathetic fentiments! What eafy and harmonious verfification!

But if there are any fo unreafonable to contend, that it is in the conftruction and conduct of a fable only, that a poet can be allowed the merit of invention and imagination, they cannot yet deny that Mr. POPE has eminently difplayed these faculties in the Dunciad. In this beautiful ALLEGORY, ONE great intire action is exemplified, and conducted according to the laws of the Epopea; the poem has its Hero, its Machinery, its Epifades, with every requifite which conftitutes the perfection of epic compofition; and the first three books difplay the most fertile invention, and fportive imagination.

Nay, was was there no other proof of our author's capacity to excel in fabulous composition, it might be collected even from the plan of the epic poem which has been fet forth above, and which he did not live to execute,>

But

But, however it may fhock our critic's notion of poetical genius, I am inclined to confider the Effay on Man, as a mafter-piece of poetry. This may be efteemed the most excellent fpecies of compofition; and, though it inculcates the moft important truths, it feems to have as powerful a claim to invention and imagination, as the best conceived fiction.

It required the utmoft degree of poetical fkill, to give spirit, grace and variety to fevere method, abstract reafoning, and logical argument: and yet, with what beauty and elegance are the dry precepts of philofophy illuftrated and embellished?

It would be very extraordinary to contend, that a moral fentiment, conveyed in poetical language, and harmonious numbers, was not poetry.

-It is perhaps one of the ftrongeft proofs of the excellence of this piece, that no work was ever more frequently quoted by readers of every class. There is fcarce a line which has not been committed to the memory, both of the learned and unlearned. Many have no other fyftem of morality, than what they have collected from this excellent piece and though few are capable of thinking for themselves, yet all can readily repeat the admirable fentiments and precepts with which this poem abounds.

If we would know why this piece never fails to charm the reader to a degree of fafcination,

the

the reason is obvious

It is owing principally

to the magic of POPE's verfification.

3104

Stut Pury end mont As to the qualities of invention, imagination, judgment, &c. these, as has been intimated, are common to writers of genius in every kind of com pofition. But, I must repeat it, the truly distinguishing and effential characteristic of poetry is Style, Let a writer poffefs a fertility of invention in the wideft extent, let his imagination be ever fo ardent and luxuriant, his judgment ever fo chafte and correct, yet, if his verfification is bad, no one can justly denominate him a Poet.

There is, if the expreffion may be allowed, a genius of ftyle, which is an indifpenfible ingredient in the compofition of poetical excellence and to this Mr. POPE owes his fuperiority; a copious flow of expreffion, a correct glowing and fplendid diction, and a ravishing harmony of numbers, were peculiar to our poets

But from the exemplifications which have been given from his writings, in the course of these fheets, the reader will be able to judge of the

In this fenfe the learned commentator faid, and he said truly, that Mr. POPE fpoke ominously, when he modeftly called himself the last of his profeffion: He did not fay, as our critic mifreprefents him, that all true genius died with POPE," for " though "there have been many pieces which feem to fhew, that there is

no failure of poetical abilities," yet no one has hitherto been able to equal him in the harmony of his verfification.

'I would not, however, be understood to confider, the merit of verfification alone fufficient to conftitute a poet. I am fenfible, with Horace, that non fatis eft puris verfum perfcribere verbis. I only mean, that verfification is the first and most effential requifite,

nature,

2

nature force and extent of his genius.The nature of a writer's genius, is to be collected from his earliest efforts; and that of Mr. POPE appears to have been of the moral and contémplative caft; as we may conclude from his Ode to Solitude, the firft production of his childhood.. -niftin

No writer was ever more eminently qualified to excel in this spécies of compofition. His correct and accurate judgment enabled him to apply the choice and various talents he poffeffed to the beft advantage. The fertility of his invention never rendered his ideas crowded and confused : they are always clear, diftinct, precife, pointed and pertinent: the vigour and vivacity of his imagination, never degenerated into wanton luxuriance. His images are lively, bold, and ardent; but appofite, elegant, and chafte. We seldom meet with a falfe mixture of metaphors; his fi gures are beautifully 'congruous and exact. The brilliance of his fancy likewife, was happily attempered, and never dazzled with the falfe luftre of gaudy conceit, and fantastic witticifm.

In fhort, he held all the faculties of his mind in fuch due fubordination, that many, perhaps, have been haftily led to fuppofe his creative powers (fince fuch they are to be called) deficient, because they are fo caftigated by his judgment, that they were not fo obviously predominant in him, as in fome other great writers, who have occafionally given way to the irregular fallies of imagination, and the wild flights of fancy. The fplendid marks of genius, which incline us to

excufe the failings of others, give additional luftre to his writings: and his wit, only ferved to adorn his judgment.

It was to the accuracy of his judgment, and to the unwearied patience and application, with which he polished his writings, that he owed that fingular correctnefs which diftinguishes them above all others. He corrected, as he fomewhere fays, because it was as pleasant to him to correct as to write and what the great Sir Ifaac Newton modeftly faid of himfelf, may perhaps with equal propriety be faid of Mr. POPE: "That whatever

he had done worth notice, was owing to a "patience of thought, rather than any extra"ordinary fagacity, which he was endowed with "above other men."

Our author ufed to fay, that any thing would delight us after a little application. Nothing, he remarked, could be more dry than the ftudy of antiquity; yet he once got fo deeply into Graevius, and was fo much taken with it, that he compofed a treatise in Latin on the buildings in

Neverthelefs Mr. POPE was naturally indolent, as many men of fuperior genius have been; whom yet fome ruling paffion or other has brought forth into a very active life. In Tome, the love of money; in others, the love of power; in others again, the love of fame; has counteracted the dif pofitions which nature gave them. But though the love of Fame beat very strong in Pore's breaft, yet, as may be collected from what follows, Friendship feems to have been his ruling paffion. This, with other motives co-operating, made him perpetually bufy in the world, though naturally difengaged and cftranged from it.

Rome,