To Mr. at Sunning-Hill,

Berks.

SIR,

I Here send you my Answer to the two Questions which I lately received from you, which are whether the Essay upon Criticism, which I lately sent you is like to take in Town, and who is the Author of that anonymous Rhapsody.

In answer to the first Question, my Opinion is that it will take very well. For the same thing is true of great Bodies of Men, which has been observ'd of particular Persons; and that is, that when Genius thinks fit to depart from among them, good Taste never cares to be very long after it. When the Italian Opera drove Poetry from out this Island, Criticism thought it a very great Impertinence for her to stay long behind. Besides that the elegant Translations of the Italian Opera's which Mr. Tonson has published by the most eminent Hands, have prepared People to like any thing that is of an equal Merit with those Translations, and with Tom Sternhold's Version.

For the second Quære, Mr. - is of Opinion that this Essay was writ by some experienced judicious Person, who knows what Quantity of base Alloy is at this Juncture requisite to debase the Coin of Parnassus, and reduce it to the current Standard. But I am inclin'd to believe that it was writ by some young, or some raw Author, for the following Reasons.

First, He discovers in every Page a Sufficiency that is far beyond his little Ability; and hath rashly undertaken a Task which is infinitely above his Force; a Task that is only fit for the Author, with the just Encomium of whose Essay my Lord Roscommon begins his own.

Happy that Author whose correct Essay
Repairs so well our old Horatian way.

There is nothing more wrong, more low, or more incorrect than this Rhapsody upon Criticism. The Author all along taxes others with Faults of which he is more guilty himself. He tells us in the very two first Lines, that

'Tis hard to say if greater want of Skill
Appear in writing, or in judging ill.

Now whereas others have been at some Pains and Thought to shew each of these wants of Skill separately and distinctly, his comprehensive Soul hath most ingeniously contriv'd to shew them both in a supreme Degree together.

Secondly, While this little Author struts and affects the Dictatorian Air, he plainly shews that at the same time he is under the Rod; and that while he pretends to give Laws to others, he is himself a pedantick Slave to Authority and Opinion, of which I shall give some Instances.

In the beginning of his Essay he lays down this Maxim:

Let such teach others who themselves excel,

And censure others who have written well.

Where he would insinuate, that they alone are fit to be Criticks who have shewn themselves great Poets. And

he brings in Pliny to confirm by his Authority the Truth of a Precept, which is denied by matter of Fact, and by the Experience of above Two thousand Years.

De Pictore, Sculptore, Fictore nisi Artifex judicare non potest.

It has been observed by Writers of Politicks, That they who have succeeded best in these kind of Writings, have never been either Governours of Provinces, or Ministers of State, as Plato and Aristotle in Greece, Machiavel in Italy, and in this Island Harrington. I will not say that this may be applied to Criticks. There are and have been very good ones who have been great Poets, as Horace in Italy, Boileau in France, and in Great Britain my Lord Roscommon, and a living noble Author. Nay I am fully convinc'd, that there never was an admirable Poet, but he was a great Critick. For what can be more absurd than to imagine, that any man can excel in any Art, or Business, or Profession, who does not understand that Profession, Art, or Business. Now he who understands the Art of Poetry is a Critick in Poetry. But this is undeniable at the same time, that there have been Criticks, who have been approv'd of by all the World, who never meddled with Poetry. Was Aristotle himself, the very Father of Criticks, a Poet? Why yes, 'tis pretended that there is a Fragment of an Ode, which was writ by him, remaining in Athenæus. But is that sufficient to denominate him a Poet? Did he ever write either Tragedy or Epick Poem? And yet how freely did he censure both Tragick and Epick Poets? Dionysius Halicarnassæus, and Dionysius Longinus among the Greeks, and Quintilian among the Romans were free Censurers, yet no Poets. And so are Bossu and Dacier at present among the French. And what is still more remarkable, is, that this young Author forgets himself

to that degree, as to commend Longinus and Quintilian for accomplish'd Criticks contrary to his own Precept.

Another Instance which I shall give of his being a Slave to Authority and Opinion, is the servile Deference which he pays to the Ancients.

Still Green with Bays each ancient Altar stands
Above the reach of sacrilegious Hands,

Secure from Flames, from Envy's fiercer Rage,
Destructive War, and all devouring Age.

See from each Clime the Learn'd their Incense bring,
Hear in all Tongues triumphant Paans ring!

In Praise so just let ev'ry Voice be join'd,
And fill the general Chorus of Mankind.

Which is just the opposite Extravagance and Extreme to that of Monsieur Perrault.

For the French-man with an insolent Stupidity contemn'd and blasphem'd, even those those Hero's of Antiquity, whose Writings are admirable and Divine: This Essayer deifies Authors, whose Writings are but tolerable and indifferent. Boileau, as a reasonable Man, took the Path that lay in the middle of the two Extremes, as we shall see by what follows:

"For what remains, says he, I would not have any one "think, that in this number of ancient Writers approv'd "of by all Ages, 'tis my Intention to comprehend some "Authors, who indeed are ancient, but who have only "acquir'd a moderate Esteem, as Lycophron, Nonnus, "Silius Italicus, and the Author of the Tragedies which "are attributed to Seneca, to whom in my mind we may "not only boldly compare, but justly prefer several of "the modern Writers. I only admit into that exalted "Rank that small number of admirable Writers, whose "Name alone is their Panegyrick, as Homer, Plato,

"Cicero, Virgil, &c. And I do not regulate the Esteem "which I have for them, by that length of Time which "their Works have lasted, but by the number of Years "which they have been admir'd; of which 'tis convenient "to advertise a great many People, who otherwise perhaps "might indiscreetly believe, what Monsieur Perrault has "a mind to insinuate, that we commend the Ancients for "no other Reason, but because they are Ancients; and "blame the Moderns for no other Reason, but because "they are Moderns; which is utterly false; since there "are several among the Ancients whom we do not admire, "and several among the Moderns whom all the World "extols. The Antiquity of a Writer is no certain proof "of his Merit; but the ancient and constant Admiration "which all the World has had for his Writings, is a "certain and infallible proof that we ought to admire "them. Boileau Reflect. the 7th on Longinus.

Thus hath Boileau determin'd this matter like a dextrous Distinguisher, and a most rightful Judge. If I may be allow'd to speak my Sentiments after so great a Master, I must freely declare my Opinion, that of all the Poets among the Græcians, I only admire Homer, Sophocles, Pindar, and Euripides, tho' I am very much pleas'd with some of the rest; and of all the Poets among the Romans, I admire only Virgil and Horace, and some parts of Lucretius; tho' I am very much pleas'd with Catullus, Tibullus, Terence, and others. For as for Lycophron, Nonnus, Apollonius Rhodius, Valerius Flaccus, Silius Italicus, Statius, I prefer the Paradise lost of Milton before them all together: Nay I will go yet farther, and declare, that tho' I must freely own, that Virgil has infinitely the Advantage of Milton, in the wonderful Contrivance of his Poem, in the Harmony of his Versification, and in the constant Tenor of his