If high exalted on the Throne of Wit, 55 60 65 Of thee more worthy were the task to raise A lafting Column to thy Country's Praise, To fing the Land, which yet alone can boast That Liberty corrupted Rome has loft; Where Science in the arms of Peace is laid; And plants her Palm beneath the Olive's fhade. Such was the Theme for which my lyre I ftrung, Such was the People whofe exploits I fung; Brave, yet refin'd, for Arms and Arts renown'd, With diff'rent bays by Mars and Phoebus crown'd, Dauntless oppofers of Tyrannic Sway, But pleas'd, a mild AUGUSTUS to obey." If these commands fubmiffive thou receive, Immortal and unblam'd thy name shall live; 71 VER. 60. Addrefs the leaft] It is to be wished that Pope had attended to this advice, and employed his great genius in the higher fpecies of poetry. The noble and ingenious author of this useful admonition, who honoured me with his friendship, told me, that he frequently, in many converfations, preft it on Pope. He that could write thefe excellent lines, deferved more praise than Dr. Johnson thought proper to give him in the Lives of the Poets. Envy to black Cocytus fhall retire, 75 GEORGE LYTTELTON. "T TO MR. POPE, ON HIS TRANSLATION OF HOMER's ILIAD. Is true, what fam'd Pythagoras maintain❜d, That fouls departed in new bodies reign'd: We must approve the doctrine, fince we fee The foul of god-like Homer breathe in thee. Old Ennius first, then Virgil felt her fires; But now a British Poet the inspires. To you, O Pope, the lineal right extends, Το you th' hereditary mufe defcends. At a vast distance we of Homer heard, Till you brought in, and natʼraliz'd the Bard; To thank his Succeffor, who fets him free Than his ungrateful Greece, the living Bard before. shown, Tho' worlds contend, we claim him for our own; Our blooming boys proud Ilion's fate bewail; 21 Our lifping babes repeat the dreadful tale, Ev'n in their flumbers they pursue the theme, 25 Start, and enjoy a fight in every dream. By turns the Chief and Bard their fouls inflame, In every hand we see the glorious fong, 30 And Whig and Tory fide with Greece and Troy; Neglect their feuds and feem more zealous grown To push those countries Interests, than their own. 36 Our busiest Politicians have forgot How Sommers counfel'd, and how Marlbro' fought; But o'er their fettling coffee gravely tell, What Neftor spoke, and how brave Hector fell. 40 Our foftest Beaux and Coxcombs you inspire, With Glacus' courage, and Achilles' fire. Now they resent affronts which once they bore, And draw thofe fwords that ne'er were drawn before; Nay Nay ev❜n our Belles inform'd how Homer writ, 45 Learn thence to criticize on modern Wit. Let the mad Critics to their fide engage The envy, pride, and dulness of the age: And lo! his fecond labour claims thy care, Hafte to the work; the ladies long to fee The pious frauds of chafte Penelope. 50 55 Helen they long have seen, whose guilty charms Some future Bard fhall thus record thy Praife; Fate, Had rais'd Britannia to her happiest state, When wide around fhe faw the World fubmit, 65 69 And own her Sons fupreme in Arts and Wit; And Greece no more was Homer's native earth, On her fev'n cities, he look'd down with fcorn, 75 CHRISTOPHER PITT. VOLTAIRE AU ROI DE PRUSSE. -Horace avec Boileau: Vous y cherchiez le vrai, vous y goutez le beau; Dans leurs piquans ecrits brillent par intervalle; Mais Pope approfondit ce qu'ils ont effleuré; 5 Il porta le flambeau dans l'abime de l'etre, |