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POPE, GOLDSMITH, GAY, PARNELL AND GRAY.

"

showers

Of sweet discourse, whose powers

Can crown old Winter's head with flowers."

NEW YORK:

PUBLISHED BY LEGGAT BROTHERS,

88 NASSAU-STREET.

1856.

RC4662

HARVARD

COLLEGE

LIBRARY

42*360

Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1852, by
LEGGAT BROTHERS,

in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the South-
ern District of New York.

ADVERTISEMENT.

In giving to the "Republic of Letters" this series of choice selections from the works of the most eminent British Poets, the Publisher hopes to supply a want long felt by that class whom we may denominate the Reading Public; the want of easy access to some of the best writings in the English language-such, in fact, as have become, or at least, whose titles have become "Household Words" wherever that language is spoken, and whose sentiments have been admired by kindred minds, and responded to by millions of hearts, wherever the Art of Printing is known. Of such this collection will mainly consist; and that these volumes will be admitted at once as favorite companions, alike in the Parlor, the Library, and the Boudoir, admits not of a doubt on the part of

THE PUBLISHERS.

NEW YORK, Dec. 1855.

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ALEXANDER POPE.

THIS author was born in London the 22d of May, 1688, "of parents," says Dr, Johnson, "whose rank or station was never ascertained." He evinced a rare precosity in his youth, and not being sent early to school, was taught the rudiments of an English education by an aunt. His love of books was extraordinary for his age. At eight he was placed under a Romish priest, where he first became iniatiated in the art of poetry by the perusal of "Ogilby's Homer," and "Sandys' Ovid." Thence he was removed to a school at Twyford, and afterward to another near Hyde Park Corner, in which he translated more than a fourth part of Ovid's "Metamorphoses." He says of himself that he could not recollect when he began to make rhyme, but that he "lisped in numbers for the numbers came." His success as a translator of the most popular ancient poets was very remarkable for one so young, and being dissatisfied with the system under which he was pursuing his studies, at twelve formed a plan

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