any other, he did not enlarge his reputation. Of this uniformity the certain confequence was readiness and dexterity. By perpetual practice, language had in his mind a systematical arrangement; having always the fame ufe for words, he had words fo felected and combined as to be ready at his call. This increase of facility he confeffed himself to have perceived in the progress of his translation.

But what was yet of more importance, his effufions were always voluntary, and his fubjects chofen by himself. His independence secured him from drudging at a task, and labouring upon a barren topick: he never exchanged praise for money, nor opened a shop of condolence or congratulation. His poems, therefore, were fcarce ever temporary. He suffered coronations and royal marriages to pass without a fong, and derived no opportunities from recent events, or popularity from the accidental difpofition of his readers. He was never reduced to the neceffity of foliciting the fun to fhine upon a birth-day, of calling the Graces and Virtues to a wedding, or of faying what multitudes have faid

before him. When he could produce nothing new, he was at liberty to be filent.

His publications were for the fame reason never hafty. He is faid to have fent nothing to the press till it had lain two years under his inspection: it is at least certain, that he ventured nothing without nice examination. He fuffered the tumult of imagination to fubfide, and the novelties of invention to grow familiar. He knew that the mind is always enamoured of its own productions, and did not truft his first fondness. He confulted his friends, and listened with great willingness to criticism; and, what was of more importance, he confulted himself, and let nothing pass against his own judgement.

He profeffed to have learned his poetry from Dryden, whom, whenever an opportunity was prefented, he praised through his whole life with unvaried liberality; and perhaps his character may receive fome illustration, if he be compared with his master.

Integrity of understanding and nicety of difcernment were not allotted in a lefs proportion

4

portion to Dryden than to Pope. The rectitude of Dryden's mind was fufficiently shewn by the difmiffion of his poetical prejudices, and the rejection of unnatural thoughts and rugged numbers. But Dryden never defired to apply all the judgement that he had. He wrote, and profeffed to write, merely for the people; and when he pleased others, he contented himself. He spent no time in ftruggles to roufe latent powers; he never attempted to make that better which was already good, nor often to mend what he must have known to be faulty. He wrote, as he tells us, with very little confideration; when occafion or neceffity called upon him, he poured out what the present moment happened to fupply, and, when once it had paffed the prefs, ejected it from his mind; for when he had no pecuniary interest, he had no further folicitude.

Pope was not content to fatisfy; he defired to excel, and therefore always endeavoured to do his best: he did not court the candour, but dared the judgement of his reader, and, expecting no indulgence from others, he fhewed none to himself. He examined lines

and

and words with minute and punctilious obfervation, and retouched every part with indefatigable diligence, till he had left nothing to be forgiven.

For this reafon he kept his pieces very long in his hands, while he confidered and reconfidered them. The only poems which can be supposed to have been written with fuch regard to the times as might haften their publication, were the two fatires of Thirty-eight; of which Dodsley told me, that they were brought to him by the author, that they might be fairly copied. "Every line," faid he, "was then written twice over; I

gave him a clean transcript, which he fent "some time afterwards to me for the prefs, "with every line written twice over a second "time."

His declaration, that his care for his works ceased at their publication, was not strictly true. His parental attention never abandoned them; what he found amifs in the firft edition, he filently corrected in those that followed. He appears to have revised the Iliad, and freed it from fome of its imperfections;

and

and the Effay on Criticifm received many im provements after its first appearance. It will feldom be found that he altered without adding clearness, elegance, or vigour. Pope had perhaps the judgement of Dryden; but Dryden certainly wanted the diligence of Pope.

In acquired knowledge, the fuperiority must be allowed to Dryden, whose education was more fcholaftick, and who before he be came an author had been allowed more time for study, with better means of information. His mind has a larger range, and he collects his images and illuftrations from a more extenfive circumference of science. Dryden knew more of man in his general nature, and Pope in his local manners. The notions of Dryden were formed by comprehenfive fpeculation, and those of Pope by minute attention. There is more dignity in the knowledge of Dryden, and more certainty in that of Pope.

Poetry was not the fole praife of either; for both excelled likewife in profe; but Pope did not borrow his profe from his predecef

for.