and has betrayed his ignorance of the ease and beauty of Epiftolary method, as well as the moft grofs mifapprehenfion, by his ridiculous analysis of the work, refolving it into thirty-fix parts. He seems, however, to have not ill conceived the genius of the poem, in saying that it relished of SATIRE. This he has urged in many parts of his Poeticks, particularly in the Dedicatory Epiftle to his fon, not omitting, however, his conftant charge of Art-without Art. Horatius ARTEM cum infcripfit, ADEO SINE ULLA DOCET ARTE, UT SATYRÆ PROPIUS TOTUM OPUS ILLUD ESSE VIDEATUR. This comes almost home to the opinion of the Author of the elegant commentaries on the two Epiftles of Horace to the Pifos and to Auguftus, as expreffed in the Dedicacation to the latter: With the recital of that opinion I fhall conclude this long note. "The genius of "Rome was bold and elevated: but Criticism of "any kind, was little cultivated, never profeffed as "an art, by this people. The fpecimens we have "of their ability in this way (of which the most "elegant, beyond all difpute, are the two epiftles "to Auguftus and the Pifos) are flight occafional at"tempts; made in the negligence of common fense, " and adapted to the peculiar exigencies of their own “ taste and learning; and not by any means the re"gular 66 "gular productions of art, profeffedly bending itfelf "to this work, and ambitious to give the last finish"ing to the critical system.' Tranflated from Horace.] In that very entertaining and inftructive publication, entitled An Effay on the Learning and Genius of Pope, the Critick recommends, as the propereft poetical measure to render in English the Satires and Epiftles of Horace, that kind of familiar blank verfe, used in a verfion of Terence, attempted fome years fince by the Author of this tranflation. I am proud of the compliment; yet I have varied from the mode prescribed: not because Roscommon has already given fuch a version; or because I think the fatyrical hexameters of Horace. lefs familiar than the irregular Iambicks of Terence. English Blank Verfe, like the Iambick of Greece and Rome, is peculiarly adapted to theatrical action and dialogue, as well as to the Epick, and the more elevated Didactick Poetry: but after the models left by DRYDEN and POPE, and in the face of the living example of JOHNSON, who fhall venture to reject. rhyme in the province of Satire and Epiftle? 9.-TRUST ME, MY PISOS!] Credite Pifones! Monfieur Monfieur Dacier, at a very early period, feels the influence of the perfonal addrefs, that governs this Epiftle. Remarking on this paffage, he observes that Horace, anxious to inspire the Pifos with a just tafte, fays earnestly Trust me, my Pifos! Credite Pifones! an expreffion that betrays fear and diftrust, left the young Men should fall into the dangerous error of bad poets, and injudicious criticks, who not only thought the want of unity of subject a pardonable effect of Genius, but even the mark of a rich and luxuriant imagination. And although this Epiftle, continues Monfieur Dacier, is addressed indifferently to Pifo the father, and his Sons, as appears by v. 24 of the original, yet it is to the fons in particular that these precepts are directed; a confideration which reconciles the difference mentioned by Porphyry. Scribit ad Pifones, viros nobiles difertofque, patrem et filios; vel, ut alii volunt, AD PISONES FRATRES. Defprez, the Dauphin Editor, obferves also, in the fame ftrain, Porro fcribit Horatius ad patrem et filios Pifones, PRÆSERTIM VERO AD HOS. The family of the Pifos, to whom Horace addreffes this Epiftle, were called Calpurnii, being defcended defcended from Calpus, fon of Numa Pompilius, whence he afterwards ftyles them of the Pompilian Blood. Pompilius Sanguis! 10. THE VOLUME SUCH,] LIBRUM perfimilem. Liber, obferves Dacier, is a term applied to all literary productions, of whatever defcription. This remark is undoubtedly juft, confirms the fentiments of Jafon de Nores, and takes off the force of all the arguments founded on Quintilian's having ftiled this Epiftle LIBER de arte poeticâ. Voffius, fpeaking of the cenfure of Scaliger, "de arte, fine arte," fubjoins fed fallitur, cum swipapny putat effe ab Horatio; qui infcripferat EPISTOLAM AD PISONES. Argumentum vero, ut in Epiftolarum cæteris, ita in hâc etiam, ab aliis poftea appofitum fuit. 19.--OFT WORKS OF PROMISE LARGE, AND HIGH ATTEMPT.] Inceptis gravibus plerumque, &c. Buckingham's Effay on Poetry, Rofcommon's Efay Tranflated Verfe, as well as the Satires, and Art Poetique of Boileau, and Pope's Essay on Criticism, abound with imitations of Horace. This paffage of our Author seems to have given birth to the following lines of Buckingham. "Tis not a flash of fancy, which fometimes, True Wit is everlasting, like the Sun; Which though fometimes behind a cloud retir'd, The following lines of Pope may perhaps appear to bear a nearer refemblance to this paffage of Ho race. Some to Conceit alone their taste confine, And glitt'ring thoughts ftruck out at ev'ry line; One glaring chaos, and wild heap of wit. Effay on Criticifm. 34. SIMPLE BE ALL YOU EXECUTE, AND ONE!] Denique fit quidvis fimplex duntaxat & ипит! Suppofing for a moment that the elder 'Pifo had actually fubmitted fome poetical effort to the judgement of Horace, it is natural to conclude that the work was, in our Poet's opinion, of the character defcribed in the opening of this Epiftle: ftudded with brilliant thoughts, and adorned with flowery paffages; but void of plan, inco herent, |