In the Poem call'd Abfalom and Achitophel are notorioufly traduced, The KING, the QUEEN, the LORDS and GENTLEMEN, not only their Honourable Perfons expofed, but the WHOLE NATION and its REPRESENTATIVES notoriously libell'd; It is Scandalum Magnatum, yea of MAJESTY itself. (e)

He looks upon God's Gospel as a foolio Fable, like the Pope, to whom he is a pitiful Purveyor. (f) His very Christianity may be queftioned. (g) He ought to expect more Severity than other men, as he is moft unmerciful inhis own Reflections on others. (b) With as good right as his Holiness, he fets up for Poetical Infallibility. (i)

Mr. DRYDEN only a Verfifyer.

His whole Libel is all bad matter, beautify'd (which is all that can be faid of it) with good metre. (k). Mr. Dryden's Genius did not appear in any thing more than his Verfification, and whether he is to be ennobled for that only, is a queftion? (1)

Mr: DRYDEN'S VIRGIL.

Tonfon calls it Dryden's Virgil, to show that this is not that Virgil fo admired in the Auguftæan age, but a Virgil of another ftamp, a filly, impertinent, nonfenfical Writer. (m) None but a Bavius,a Mævius, or a Bathyllus carp'd at Virgil, and none but fuch unthinking Vermin admire his Tranflator. (n) It is true, foft and eafy lines might be come Ovid's Epiftles or Art of Love But Virgil who is all great and majeftic, &c. requires ftrength of lines, weight of words, and clofenefs of expreffions, not an ambling Mufe running on a Carpet-ground, and fhed as lightly as a Newmarket racer. He has numberless faults in

(e) Whip and Key, 4. printed for R. Janeway 1682. Preface. (f) ibid. (g) Milbourn, p. 9. (b) ibid. p. 175. (1) pag. 39. (k) Whip and Key Pref (1) Oldmixon, Elley on Criticism, p. 84, (m) Milbourn, pag. 2. () Pagi 45+

In his Mifcellanies, the Perfons abufed are, The KING, the QUEEN, His late MAJESTY, both Houfes of PARLIAMENT, the Privy-Council, the Bench of Biops the Eftablish'd CHURCH, the prefent MINISTRY, &c. To make sense of fome paffages, they must be conftru'd into ROYAL SCANDAL. (f)

He is a Popi Rhymefter, bred up with a Contempt of the Sacred Writings. (g) His Religion allows him to destroy Hereticks, not only with his pen, but with fire and fword; and fuch were all those unhappy Wits whom he facrificed to his accurfed Popiß Principles. (b) It deferved Vengeance to fuggeft, that Mr. Pope had lefs Infallibility than his Namefake at Rome. (i)

Mr. POPE only a Verfifyer.

The smooth numbers of the Dunciad are all that recommend it, nor has it any other merit. (k) It must be own'd that he hath got a notable Knack of rhymeing, and writ→ ing smooth verfe. (1)

Mr. POPE'S HOMER.

The Homer which Lintot prints, does not talk like Ho mer, but like Pope; and he who tranflated him one wou'd fwear had a Hill in Tipperary for his Parnaffus, and a puddle in fome Bog for his Hippocrene. (m) He has no Admirers among thofe that can diftinguish, difcern, and judge. (n)

He hath a knack at fmooth verfe, but without either Genius or good Senfe, or any tolerable knowledge of Englife. The qualities which diftinguish Homer are the beauties of his Diction and the karmony of his Verfification But this little Author who is so much in vogue, has nei

(ƒ) Lift, at the end of a Collection of Verfes, Letters, Advertisements, 8. Printed for A. Moore, 1728. and the Preface to it, pag. 6 (g) Dennis's Remarks on Homer, p. 27. (b) Preface to Gulliveriana, p: 11. (1) Dedication to the Collection of Verses, Letters, pag. 9. (k) Mifl's Journal, of June 8, 1728. (1) Character of Mr. P. and Deni mis on Homer. (m) Dennis's Remarks on Pope's Homer, pag. 12. (n) Ibid. ther

R

his English, in fenfe, in his Author's meaning, and in propriety of Expreffion. (a)

Mr. DRYDEN understood no Greek or Latin.

Mr. Dryden was once, I have heard, at Westminster School: Dr. Busby wou'd have whipt him for fo childish a Paraphrafe. (p) The meaneft Pedant in England wou'd whip a Lubber of twelve for conftruing fo abfurdly. (q) The Tranflator is mad, every line betrays his Stupidity. (r) The faults are innumerable, and convince me that Mr. Dryden did not, or would not understand his Author. (s) This fhows how fit Mr. D. may be to tranflate Homer! A mistake in a fingle letter might fall on the Printer well enough, but Eixas for "Ixes must be the error of the Author: Nor had he art enough to correct it at the Prefs. (t) Mr. Dryden writes for the Court Ladies-He writes for the Ladies, and not for ufe. (u)

The Tranflator puts in a little Burlesque now and then into Virgil, for a Ragout to his cheated Subscribers. (w)

Mr. DRYDEN trick'd his Subfcribers.

I wonder that any man who cou'd not but be conscious of his own unfitnefs for it, fhou'd go to amufe the learned world with fuch an Undertaking! A man ought to value his Reputation more than Money; and not to hope that those who can read fot themselves, will be Imposed upon, merely by a partially and unfeasonably-celebrated Name. (x) Poetis quidlibet audendi fhall be Mr. Dryden's Motto, tho' it fhould extend to picking of Pockets. (y)

(e) Pag. 22, and 192. (p.) Milbourn, pag. 72. (9) Pag. 203. (r) Pag. 28. () Pag. 206. (1) Pag. 19. (4) Pag. 124, 190, (w) Pag. 67, (x) Milbourn, p. 198. (y) Zbid. p. 125.

Names

ther Sense in his Thoughtss, nor English in his Expreffe ons. (0)

Mr. POPE understood no Greek.

He hath undertaken to translate Homer from the Greek, of which he knows not one word, into English, of which he understands as little. (p) I wonder how this Gentleman wou'd look fhould it be discover'd, that he has not tranflated ten verfes together in any book of Homer with juftice to the Poet, and yet he dares reproach his fellowwriters with not understanding Greek. (9) He has stuck fo little to his Original, as to have his knowledge in Greek called in question. (r) I fhould be glad to know which it is of all Homer's Excellencies, which has fo delighted. the Ladies, and the Gentlemen who judge like Ladies? (S) But he has a notable talent at Burlesque; his genius flides fo naturally into it, that he hath burlefqu'd Homer with out defigning it. (t)

Mr. POPE trick'd his Subfcribers.

'Tis indeed fomewhat bold, and almost prodigious, for a fingle man to undertake fuch a work! But 'tis too late to diffuade by demonftrating the madness of your Project: The Subfcribers expectations have been rais'd, in proportion to what their Pockets have been drain'd of. (u) Pope has been concern'd in Jobbs, and hired out his Name to Bookfellers. (x)

(0) Character of Mr. P. pag. 17. and Remarks on Homer, p. 91. (p) Dennis's Remarks on Homer, F. 12. (9) Daily Journal of April 23, 1728. (r) Supplement to the Profund. Pref. () Olmixon, Effay on Criticifm, p, 66. (t) Dennis's Remarks, p. 28. (#) Burnet, Homerides, 2. 1. &c. (x) British Journal, Nov; 25. 1727.

Names beftow'd on Mr. DRYDEN.

An APE.] A crafty Ape dreft up in a gaudy GownWhips put into an Ape's paw, to play pranks with None but Api and Papi Brats will heed him. Whip and Key, Pref.

An Ass.] A Camel will take upon him no more burden than is fufficient for his ftrength, but there is another Beaft that crouches under all: Mr. Dryden, &c. Milb. p. 105.

A FROG.] Poet Squab indued with Poet Maro's Spirit! an ugly, croaking kind of Vermine, which would fwell to the bulk of an Oxe. pag. 11.

A COWARD.] A Clinias or a Damætas, or a man of Mr. Dryden's own Courage. p. 176.

AKNAVE.] Mr. Dryden has heard of Paul, the Knave of Jefus Chrift: And if I mistake not, I've read fomewhere of John Dryden, Servant to his Majesty. p. 57.

A FOOL. Had he not been fuch a self-conceited Fool-Whip and Key, pref. Some great Poets are pofitive Blockheads, Milbourn, p. 34.

ATHING.] So little a Thing as Mr. Dryden. Ibid.

pag. 35.

Mr. POPE