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He hath a knack at smooth verfe, but without either Genius or good Senfe, or any tolerable knowledge of English. The qualities which distinguish Homer are the beauties of his Diction, and the Harmony of his Verfification-But this little author, who is fo much in vogue, has neither Senfe in his thoughts, nor English in his expreffions.

Mr. POP E understood no Greek.

He hath undertaken to tranflate Homer from the Greek, of which he knows not one word, into English, of which he understands as little P. I wonder how this Gentleman would look, fhould it be difcovered, that he has not translated ten verfes together in any book of Homer with justice to the Poet, and yet he dares reproach his fellow-writers with not understanding Greek 9. He has fuck fo little to his Original as to have his knowledge in Greek called in queftion'. I fhould be glad to know which it is of all Homer's Excellencies which has so delighted the Ladies, and the Gentlemen who judge like Ladies s.

But he has a notable talent at Burlefque; his genius flides fo naturally into it, that he hath burlesqued Homer without defigning it t.

Mr. POPE tricked his Subfcribers. It is indeed fomewhat bold, and almoft prodigious,

for

• Character of Mr. P. p. 17. and Remarks on Hom. P. 91. P Dennis's Remarks on Homer, p. 12. Suppl. to the

9 Daily Jour. April 23, 1728.

Profound, Pref.

p. 66.

s Oldmixon, Effay on Criticism,

t Dennis's Remarks, p. 28.

not to hope that those who can read for themselves, will be impofed upon, merely by a partiality and unseasonably celebrated Name *. "Poetis quidlibet audendi” fhall be Mr. Dryden's Motto, though it should extend to picking of pockets y.

Names beftowed on Mr. DRYDEN.

An APE.] A crafty Ape dreft up in a gawdy gown -Whips put into an Ape's paw, to play pranks with -None but Apish and Papish brats will heed him 2.

An Ass.] A camel will take upon him no more burden than is fufficient for his strength, but there is another beast that crouches under all a.

A FROG.] Poet Squab endued with Poet Maro's Spirit! an ugly, croaking kind of Vermin, which would fwell to the bulk of an Ox b.

A COWARD.] A Clinias or a Damætas, or a man of Mr. Dryden's own Courage c,

A KNAVE.] Mr. Dryden has heard of Paul, the Knave of Jefus Chrift: And if I mistake not, I've read fomewhere of John Dryden, Servant to his Majefty d.

A FOOL.] Had he not been fuch a self-conceited Fool.-Some great Poets are pofitive Blockheads f. A THING.] So little a Thing as Mr. Dryden 8.

x Milb. p. 192.

Key, Pref.

Pag. 176.

f Milb. p. 34.

y Pag. 125. z Whip and a Milb. p. 105. b Pag. 11.

d Pag. 57:

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Whip and Key, Pr,

g Ibid. p. 35:

for a fingle man to undertake fuch a work: But it is too late to diffuade by demonftrating the madness of the Project. The Subscribers expectations have been raised in proportion to what their Pockets have been drained of ". Pope has been concerned in Jobs, and hired out his Name to Bookfellers w.

Names beftowed on Mr. POPE.

An APE.] Let us take the initial letter of his Chriftian name, and initial and final letters of his furname, viz. A PE, and they give you the fame Idea of an Ape as his Face *, &c.

An Ass.] It is my duty to pull off the Lion's skin from this little Afs y.

A FROG.] A fquab short Gentleman-a little creature that, like the Frog in the Fable, fwells, and is angry that it is not allowed to be as big as an Ox*.

A COWARD.] A lurking, way-laying coward 2. A KNAVE.] He is one whom God and nature have marked for want of common honesty b.

A FOOL.] Great Fools will be chriftened by the names of great Poets, and Pope will be called Homer c A THING.] A little abject Thing d.

u Homerides, p. 1, &c.

British Journal, Nov.

25, 1727. * Dennis, Daily Journal, May 11, 1728. 7 Dennis's Rem. on Hom. Pref.

z Dennis's

Rem. on the Rape of the Lock, Pref. p. 9. a Char.

of Mr. P. p. 3.

on Homer, p. 37.

b Ibid.
d Ibid. P. 8.

c Dennis's Rem.

INDEX

O F

Perfons celebrated in this POEM.

The firft Number fhews the Book, the fecond the VERSE.

A

A

MBROSE Philips, i. 105. iii. 326.

Attila, iii. 92.

Alaric, iii. 91.

Alma Mater, iii. 338.

Annius, an antiquary, iv. 347.

Arnal, William, ii. 315.

B

BLACKMORE, Sir Richard, i. 104. ii. 268.

Befaleel Morris, ii. 126. iii. 168.

[blocks in formation]

Bavius, ibid.

Burmannus, iv. 237.

Benfon, William, Esq. iii. 325. iv. 110.

Burgerfdick, iv. 198.

Boeotians,

Boeotians, iii. 50.

Bruin and Bears, i. 101.

Bear and Fiddle, i. 224.

C

CIBBER, Colley, Hero of the Poem, paffim.

Cibber, jun. iii. 139. 326.

Caxton, William, i. 145.

Curll, Edm. i. 40, ii. 3. 58. 167, &c.

Cooke, Thomas, ii. 138.

Concanen, Matthew, ii. 299.

Centlivre, Sufannah, ii. 411.

Cæfar in Ægypt, i. 251.

Chi Ho-am-ti, emperor of China, iii, 75.
Crouzaz, iv. 198.

Codrus, ii. 144.

D

DE FOE, Daniel, i. 103. ii. 147.

De Foe, Norton, ii. 415.

De Lyra, or Harpsfield, i. 153.

Dennis, John, i. 106. ii. 239. iii. 173.

Dunton, John, ii. 144.

D'Urfey, iii. 146.

Dutchmen, ii. 405. iii. 51.

Doctors, at White's, i. 203.

Douglas, iv. 394.

E

EUSDEN, Laurence, Poet Laureat, i. 104.

Eliza Haywood, ii. 157, &c.

FLECKNO, Richard, ii. 2.

Fauftus, Dr. iii. 233.
Fleetwood, iv. 326.
Free Mafons, iv. 576.
French Cooks, iv. 553.

F

GILDON,

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