try; and a third be bless'd with the most delicate Organs of Sense; and yet every one of these be deficient in that internal Senfation called Tafte. On the contrary, a fourth, in whofe Frame indulgent Nature has twisted his triple Cord, fhall feel it constantly vibrate within, whenever the fame Unifon of Harmony is ftruck from without; either in the original Works of Nature; in the mimetic Arts; or in Characters and Manners. That worthy Man, and amiable Writer, Mr.ADDISON, was no greatScholar; he was indifferentCritic, and a worse Poet; yet from the happy Mixture, juft mention'd, he was bless'd with a Taste truly delicate and refin'd. This render'd him capable of distinguishing what were Beauties in the Works of others, tho' he could not account fo well why they were so, for want of that deep Philofophical Spirit which is requifite in Works of Criticifm. He likewife tranflated the Poetical Descriptions of OVID very elegantly and faithfully into his own Language, tho'

a very

he

Nor

he fell infinitely fhort of 'em in his own original Compofitions, for want of that unconstrain'd Fire of Imagination which conftitutes the true Poet. Hence we may be enabled to account for that peculiar Fatality which attends Mr. ADDISON's poetical Writings, that his Tranflations feem Originals, whilft his own Compofitions have the confined Air of Tranflations. think I exemplify too far by obferving, that your Friend POPE was a better Tranflator than he was a Poet. Many Instances might be produc'd from his Tranflation of the ILIAD to prove the Truth of this Affertion. One I will particularly mention, which is the fublime Defcription of NEPTUNE in the 13th Book.

"In Samothracia on a Mountain's Brow,

"Whose waving Woods o'er-hung the Deeps below,
"He fate; and round him cast his Azure Eyes
"Where Ida's mifty Tops confus'dly rife;
"Beneath fair Ilion's glitt'ring Spires were feen;
"The crouded Ships, and fable Seas between.
"There from the crystal Chambers of the Main
"Emerg'd he fate; and mourn'd his Argives flain.

" At

"At Jove incens'd with Grief and Fury ftung,
"Prone down the steepy Rock he pour'd along,
"Fierce as he pafs'd the lofty Mountains nod,
"The Forefts shake, Earth trembled as he trod,
"And felt the Footsteps of th' immortal God."

}

you

I chose to select this Paffage in Preference to any other, as the Original is a favorite one with LONGINUS, who had the most taste of all the ancient Critics. In my Opinion the Translation is not at all inferior to the Original. From which may infer that I do not degrade Mr. POPE, tho' I fay he is a better Translator than he is a Poet.-I have this Morning read over the Latin Poem you sent me, which gave me no fmall Entertainment. The Author has fhew'd his Tafte and command of the Stile of LuCRETIUS, HORACE, and VIRGIL, but more particularly of the former, all which he has elegantly blended, or, as his Subject occafionally requir'd, us'd feparately. thank you likewife for the two Tranflations of the fame Poem, tho' I must confess they did not give me equal Satisfac

I

tion, if any at all. If the two Gentlemen, who have charitably undertaken to do it into English, for the Benefit of those who don't understand the Original, had poffefs'd Taste or even common Judgment enough, to have diftinguish'd that the chief Merit of that Poem confifts in the Language of it, they would have spent their Time much better by a more proper Application of their refpective Talents, which have defervedly rais'd both their Characters, not only in their different Profeffions, but in the World of Letters. Mr. writes me word he has a Letter by him from Count MAFFEI concerning VOLTAIRE's, and HILL'S MEROPE, which I want much to fee. When you write next pray tell me whether the little Group of Figures, I invented for you, is yet executed in baffo relievo by our favourite Artift GossET. Adieu.

LETTER

in

LETTER VI.

To the Same.

Find, EUPHEMIUS, you don't thoroughly concur with me in a Remark I made my laft Letter, that "ADDISON was an indifferent Critic, and a worfe "Poet." But however extenfive my Regard to the Memory of that great and good Man may be, and however inimitable and certainly justly admir'd he ever will be as a Profe Writer, for those moral and humourous Effays, but more particularly those delightful Allegories his Muse CLIO has left us; yet true Criticism will never allow him to be at the Head even of the second Class of our English Poets. You answer that there are feveral Paffages in fome of his Poetical Compofitions, which breathe a Spirit of Genius equal to any thing extant, either among the Moderns or Ancients; and at the fame time, point out the famous Simile of the Angel