Mr. DRYDEN'S Virgil. Tonson calls it Dryden's Virgil, to show that this is not that Virgil so admired in the Augustan age; but a Virgil of another stamp, a silly, impertinent, nonsensical writer.12 None but a Bavius, a Mævius, or a Bathyllus, carped at Virgil; and none but such unthinking vermin admire his translator.13 It is true, soft and easy lines might become Ovid's Epistles or Art of Love; but Virgil, who is all great and majestic, &c., requires strength of lines, weight of words, and closeness of expression; not an ambling muse running on carpet-ground, and shod as lightly as a Newmarket racer. He has numberless faults in his author's meaning, and in propriety of expression.14 Mr. DRYDEN understood no Greek nor Latin. Mr. Dryden was once, I have heard, at Westminster School: Dr. Busby would have whipped him for so childish a paraphrase.15 The meanest pedant in England would whip a lubber of twelve for construing so absurdly 16 The translator is mad, every line betrays his stupidity.17 The faults are innumerable, and convince me that Mr. Dryden did not, or would not, understand his author.18 This shows how fit Mr. D. may be to translate Homer! A mistake in a single letter might fall on the printer well enough, but exwp for ixwp must be the error of the author. Nor had he art enough to correct it at the press.19 Mr. Dryden writes for the court ladies-he writes for the ladies, and not for use.20 The translator puts in a little burlesque now and then into Virgil, for a ragout to his cheated subscribers.21 Mr. DRYDEN tricked his Subscribers. I wonder that any man, who could not but be conscious of his own unfitness for it, should go to amuse the learned world with such an undertaking! A man ought to value his reputation more than money; and not to hope that those who can read for themselves, will be imposed upon, merely by a partially and unseasonably celebrated name.22 Poetis quidlibet audendi shall be Mr. Dryden's motto, though it should extend to picking of pockets.23 Names bestowed on Mr. DRYDEN. An Ape.-A crafty 'ape, dressed up in a gaudy gown-whips put into an ape's paw, to play pranks with-none but apish and papish brats will heed him.24 Mr. POPE's Homer. The Homer which Lintot prints, does not talk like Homer, but like Pope; and he who translated him, one would swear, had a hill in Tipperary for his Parnassus, and a puddle in some bog for his Hippocrene 12 He has no admirers among those that can distinguish, discern, and judge.13 He hath a knack at smooth verse, but without either genius or good sense, or any tolerable knowledge of English. The qualities which distinguish Homer are the beauties of his diction and the harmony of his versification.—But this little author, who is so much in vogue, has neither sense in his thoughts, nor English in his expressions.14 Mr. POPE understood no Greek. He hath undertaken to translate Homer from the Greek, of which he knows not one word, into English, of which he understands as little.15 I wonder how this gentleman would look, should it be discovered, that he has not translated ten verses together in any book of Homer with justice to the poet, and yet he dares reproach his fellow-writers with not understanding Greek.16 He has stuck so little to his original as to have his knowledge in Greek called in question.17 I should be glad to know which it is of all Homer's excellences which has so delighted the ladies, and the gentlemen who judge like ladies.18 But he has a notable talent at burlesque; his genius slides so naturally into it, that he had burlesqued Homer without designing it.19 Mr. POPE tricked his Subscribers. 'Tis indeed somewhat bold, and almost prodigious, for a single man to undertake such a work; but 'tis too late to dissuade by demonstrating the madness of the project. The subscribers' expectations have been raised in proportion to what their pockets have been drained of.20 Pope has been concerned in jobs, and hired out his name to booksellers.21 Names bestowed on Mr. POPE. An Ape.-Let us take the initial letter of his Christian name, and the initial and final letters of his surname, viz., A P E, and they give you the same idea of an ape as his face,22 &c. 12 Dennis, Rem. on Pope's Homer, p. 12. 14 Character of Mr. P., p. 17, and Remarks on Homer, p. 91. 15 Dennis's Rem. on Homer, p. 12. 17 Suppl. to the Profund, Pref. 19 Dennis's Rem., p. 28. 21 British Journal, Nov. 25, 1727. VOL. III. 13 Ibid. p. 14. 16 Daily Journ., April 23, 1728. 18 Oldmixon, Essay on Criticism, p. 66. 20 Homerides, p. i., &c. 22 Dennis, Daily Journal, May 11, 1728. M An Ass.-A camel will take upon him no more burden than is sufficient for his strength, but there is another beast that crouches under all,25 A Frog.-Poet Squab endued with Poet Maro's spirit! an ugly, croaking kind of vermin, which would swell to the bulk of an ox.26 A Coward.-A Clinias or a Damætas, or a man of Mr. Dryden's own courage.27 A Knave.—Mr. Dryden has heard of Paul, the knave of Jesus Christ: and, if I mistake not, I've read somewhere of John Dryden, servant to his majesty.28 A Fool. Had he not been such a self-conceited fool.29 Some great poets are positive blockheads,80 A Thing. So little a thing as Mr. Dryden,81 25 Milb. p. 105. es Page 57. 26 Page 11. 27 Page 176. 29 Whip and Key, Pref. 30 Milbourn, p. 84. An Ass. It is my duty to pull off the lion's skin from this little ass,23 A Frog.-A squab short gentleman-a little creature, that, like the frog in the fable, swells, and is angry that it is not allowed to be as big as an ox.24 A Coward.-A lurking waylaying coward.25 A Knave. He is one whom God and nature have marked for want of common honesty.26 A Fool. Great fools will be christened by the names of great poets, and Pope will be called Homer.27 A Thing.-A little abject thing.28 23 Dennis, Kem. on Hom. Pref. 24 Dennis's Rem. on the Rape of the Lock, Pref., p. 9. 25 Char, of Mr. P., p. 3, 27 Dennis, Rem. on Homer, p. 37. 26 Ibid. 28 Ibid. p. 8. |