Innumerable Beauties of this Nature are scatter'd thro' his Lyric Poetry. But when he undertakes lofty and noble Subjects, he raifes his Style, and ftrengthens his Expreffion. For Example, when he propofes to do Ho nour to Pindar, and fing the Glories of Auguftus, he reaches the Grecian's nobleft Flights, has all his Magnifi→ cence of Thought, his Strength of Fancy, and daring Liberty of Figures.

The Roman Swan foars as high as the Theban: He equals that commanding Spirit, thofe awful and vigorous Beauties, which he generously pronounces inimitable; and praises both his immortal Predeceffor in Lyric Poetry, and his Royal Benefactor, with as much Grandeur, and exalted Eloquence, as ever Pindar prais'd any of his Heroes.

'Tis a juft Obfervation of Longinus, That tho' Homer and Virgil are chiefly confin'd to the Dactyl and Spondee, and rarely ufe even any equi

valent Feet, yet they temper them together with fuch aftonishing Skill and Diligence, fo carefully vary their Syllables, and adapt their Sounds to the Nature of the Thing defcrib'd, that in their Poems there is all the harmonious Change and Variety of Numbers, which can be compos'd by all the poflible Turns, and different Pofition of all the Feet in the Languages.

I fhall add no more of my own upon this Head, but conclude with those curious and judicious Lines of Mr. Pope.

'Tis not enough, no Harshness gives Offence; The Sound muft feem an Echo to the Sense. Soft is the Strain, when Zephyr gently blows; And the smooth Stream in fmoother Numbers

flows:

But when loud Surges lafh the founding Shore,
The hoarfe rough Verse should like the Torrent

roar.

When

When Ajax ftrives fome Rock's vaft Weight

to throw,

The Line too labours, and the Words move

flow:

Not fo, when swift Camilla fcours the Plain,

Flies o'er th'unbending Corn, and skims along the Main *.

6. A Reader of fuch Authors can scarce ever be weary; he has the Advantage of a Traveller for many Miles round Damafcus; he never removes out of Paradife, but is regal'd with a conftant Succeffion of Pleasures, and enjoys in a small Compafs the Bounty and Gaiety of univerfal Nature. From hence may be seen the Injustice and Folly of thofe People, who would have Tranflations of the Claffics; and then, to fave the Trouble of learning Greek and Latin, throw away the great Originals to Dust and Oblivion.

* Effay on Criticism, pag. 20. Edit. 3.

I would indeed have all the Claffics turn'd into our Language by the most masterly Hands, (as we already have fome) among other Reasons, for this, that ingenious and inquifitive People, who have the Misfortune not to be well acquainted with the learned Tongues, may have fome Taste of their Excellencies. Ignorant Perfons, who know nothing of their Language, would foon be perfuaded to believe.; and fhallow Pretenders, who know nothing of their Beauties, would boldly pronounce, that fome Tranflations we have go beyond the Originals; while Scholars of clear and found Judgment are well fatisfy'd, that 'tis impoffible any Verfion fhould come up to them. A Translation of the noble Claffics out of their native Tongues, fo much in many respects inferior to them, always more or less flattens their Senfe, and tarnishes their Beauties. 'Tis fomething like tranfplanting a precious Tree out of the warm and fruitful Climes in which

it was produc'd, into a cold and barren Country: With much Care and Tenderness it may live, bloffom, and bear; but it can never fo chearfully flourish, as in its native Soil; it will degenerate, and lofe much of its delicious Flavour, and original Richness.. And befides the weakening of the Senfe, (tho' that be by far the most important Confideration) Greek and Latin have fuch a noble Harmony of Sound, fuch Force and Dignity of Numbers, and fuch Delicacy of Turn. in the Periods, that cannot intirely be preferv'd in any Language of the World. These two Languages are so peculiarly fufceptive of all the Graces of Wit and Elocution, that they are read with more Pleasure, and lively. Guft, and confequently with more Advantage, than the most perfect Tranflation that the ableft Genius can compofe, or the strongest modern. Language can bear. The Pleasure a Man takes in reading, engages a close. Attention; raises and chears the Spirits;.

and