THE SCHOOL MISTRESS,

IN IMITATION OF SPENCER.

This poem is one of thofe happineffes in which a poet excels himself, as there is nothing in all Shenftone, which any way approaches it in merit; and, though I dislike the imitations of our old English poets in general, yet on this minute fubject the antiquity of the ftyle produces a very ludicrous folemnity.

COOPER'S HILL.

This poem by Denham, though it may have been exceeded by later attempts in defcription, yet deferves the highest applaufe, as it far furpaffes all that went before it: the concluding part, though a little too much crowded, is very masterly.

ELOISA TO ABELARD.

The harmony of numbers in this poem is very fine. It is rather drawn out to too tedious a length, although the paffions vary with great judgment. It may be confidered as fuperior to any thing in the epiftolary way; and the many tranflations which have been made of it into the modern languages, are, in fome measure, a proof of this.

AN EPISTLE FROM MR. PHILIPS

TO THE

EARL OF DORSET.

The opening of this poem is incomparably fine. The latter part is tedious and trifling.

A LETTER FROM ITALY,

ΤΟ THE RIGHT HONOURABLE

CHARLES LORD HALIFAX, 1701. Few poems have done more honour to English genius than this. There is in it a ftrain of political thinking

thinking that was, at that time, new in our poetry. Had the harmony of this been equal to that of Pope's verfification, it would be inconteftibly the finest poem in our language; but there is a drynefs in the numbers, which greatly leffens the pleasure excited both by the Poet's judgment and imagination.

ALEXANDER'S FEAST;

OR THE

POWER OF MUSIC.

AN ODE, IN HONOUR OF ST. CECILIA'S DAY.

This ode has been more applauded, perhaps, than it has been felt; however, it is a very fine one, and gives its beauties rather at a third or fourth than at a first perufal.

ODE FOR MUSIC ON ST. CECILIA'S DAY.

This ode has by many been thought equal to the former. As it is a repetition of Dryden's manner, it is fo far inferior to him. The whole hint of Orpheus, with many of the lines, has been taken from an obfcure Ode upon Mufic, publifhed in Tate's Mifcellanies.

THE SHEPHERD'S WEEK,

IN SIX PASTORALS.

These are Mr. Gay's principal performance. They were originally intended, I fuppofe, as a burlefque on thofe of Philips; but, perhaps without defigning it, he has hit the true fpirit of paftoral poetry. In fact he more resembles Theocritus than any other English paftoral writer whatsoever. There runs through the whole a ftrain of ruftic pleasantry, which should ever diftinguish this fpecies of compofition; but how far the antiquated expreffions used

here

here may contribute to the humour, I will not deter mine; for my own part, I could with the fimplicity were preserved, without recurring to fuch obfolete antiquity for the manner of expreffing it.

MAC FLECKNOE.

The severity of this fatire, and the excellence of its verfification, give it a diftinguished rank in this fpecies of compofition. At prefent, an ordinary reader would scarcely suppose that Shadwell, who is here meant by Mac Flecknoe, was worth being chastised; and that Dryden, defcending to fuch game, was like an eagle ftooping to catch flies.

The truth however is, Shadwell at one time held divided reputation with this great Poet. Every age produces its fashionable dunces, who, by following the tranfient topic or humour of the day, fupply talkative ignorance with materials for conver

fation.

ON POETRY. A RHAPSODY.

Here follows one of the beft verfified poems in our language, and the most masterly production of its author. The feverity with which Walpole is here treated was in confequence of that minifter's having refused to provide for Swift in England, when applied to for that purpose in the year 1725 (if I remember right). The feverity of a Poet, however, gave Walpole very little uneafinefs. A man whose fchemes, like this minifter's, feldom extended beyond the exigency of the year, but little regarded the contempt of posterity.

OF THE USE OF RICHES.

This poem, as Mr. Pope tells us himself, coft much attention and labour; and, from the eafiness that appears in it, one would be apt to think as much.

FROM

FROM THE DISPENSARY.

CANTO VI.

This fixth canto of the Difpenfary, by Dr. Garth, has more merit than the whole preceding part of the poem, and, as I am told, in the first edition of this work it is more correct than as here exhibited; but that edition I have not been able to find. The praises bestowed on this poem are more than have been given to any other; but our approbation at prefent is cooler, for it owed part of its fame to party..

SELIM; OR THE SHEPHERDS MORAL.

The following eclogues, written by Mr. Collins, are very pretty: the images, it must be owned, are not very local; for the paftoral fubject could not well admit of it. The defcription of Afiatic magnificence and manners is a fubject as yet unattempted amongst us, and, I believe, capable of furnishing a great variety of poetical imagery.

THE SPLENDID SHILLING.

This is reckoned the best parody of Milton in our language it has been an hundred times imitated without fuccefs. The truth is, the first thing in this way muft preclude all future attempts, for nothing is fo eafy as to burlesque any man's manner, when we are once fhewed the way.

A PIPE OF TOBACCO:

IN IMITATION OF SIX SEVERAL AUTHORS.

Mr. Hawkins Browne, the author of these, as I am told, had no good original manner of his own, yet we see how well he fucceeds when he turns an imitator; for the following are rather imitations, than ridiculous parodies.

A NIGHT

A NIGHT PIECE ON DEATH.

The great fault of this piece, written by Dr. Parnell, is, that it is in eight fyllable lines, very improper for the folemnity of the fubject; otherwife, the poem is natural, and the reflections just.

A FAIRY TALE. BY. DR. PARNELL. Never was the old manner of speaking more happily applied, or a tale better told, than this.

PALEMON AND LAVINIA.

Mr. Thomson, though, in general, a verbose and affected poet, has told this itóry with unufual fimplicity it is rather given here for being much efteemed by the public, than by the editor.

THE BASTARD.

Almost all things written from the heart, as this certainly was, have fome merit. The Poet here defcribes forrows and misfortunes which were by no means imaginary; and thus there runs a truth of thinking through this poem, without which it would be of little value, as Savage is, in other refpects, but an indifferent poet.

THE POET AND HIS PATRON.

Mr. More was a poet that never had juftice done him while living; there are few of the moderns have a more correct taste, or a more pleafing manner of expreffing their thoughts. It was upon these fables he chiefly founded his reputation, yet they are by no means his best production.

AN EPISTLE TO A LADY.

This little poem, by Mr. Nugent, is very plea-· fing. The eafinefs of the poetry, and the juftice of the thoughts, conftitute its principal beauty.

HANS