A T Stowe in Buckinghamshire, the feat of Earl Temple, is a building called The Temple of British Worthies, defigned by Kent. One of the niches has a buft of Pope, with the following inscription: ALEXANDER POPE, Who uniting the correctness of judgment to the fire of Genius, by the melody and power of his numbers, gave sweetness to sense, and grace to philofophy. He employed the pointed brilliancy of wit to chastise the vices, and the eloquence of poetry to exalt the virtues of human nature; and being without a rival in his own age, imitated and tranflated, with a spirit equal to the originals, the best poets of Antiquity. T TO MR. POPE. o move the springs of nature as we please, To think with spirit, but to write with ease: 'Tis yours, like these, with curious toil to trace The pow'rs of language, harmony, and grace, D 4 5 ΙΟ How How nature's felf with living luftre shines ; 15 20 25 O ever worthy, ever crown'd with praise; I cannot rival- -and yet dare to praise, 35 So feems fome Picture, where exact defign, And curious pains, and strength and sweetness join: Where Where the free thought its pleafing grace bestows, And each warm ftroke with living colour glows: 40 Soft without weakness, without labour fair; Wrought up at once with happiness and care! How bleft the man that from the world removes To joys that MORDAUNT, or his POPE approves; Whose taste exact each author can explore, And live the prefent and past ages o'er: Who free from pride, from penitence, or strife, Move calmly forward to the verge of life: Such be my days, and fuch my fortunes be, To live by reason, and to write by thee! Nor deem this verfe, tho' humble, thy difgrace; All are not born the glory of their race: The Muse who now this early homage pays, Who knows no envy, and who grieves no friend; And fix her fame immortal on thy own. 45 50 55 59 WALTER HARTE. |