such acquaintance with mankind, and fuch knowledge both of ancient and modern learning, as are not often attained by the maturest age and longest experience. It was published about two years afterwards, and being praised by Addison in the Spectator with sufficient liberality, met with so much favour as enraged Dennis, "who," he says, "found " himself attacked, without any manner of provocation on his side, and attacked in his person, instead of his writings, by one who was wholly a stranger to him, at a time " when all the world knew he was perfecuted by fortune; and not only saw that this was attempted in a clandestine manner, with " the utmost falsehood and calumny, but " found that all this was done by a little af"fected hypocrite, who had nothing in his "mouth at the same time but truth, can"dour, friendship, good-nature, humanity, " and magnanimity."

66

66

How the attack was clandestine is not eafily perceived, nor how his person is depreciated; but he seems to have known something of Pope's character, in whom may be discovered

an

an appetite to talk too frequently of his own virtues.

The pamphlet is such as rage might be expected to dictate. He supposes himself to be asked two questions; whether the Essay will fucceed, and who or what is the author.

Its success he admits to be secured by the false opinions then prevalent; the author he concludes to be young and raw.

First, because he discovers a sufficiency beyond his little ability, and hath rafhly " undertaken a task infinitelyabove his force. Secondly, while this little author struts, " and affects the dictatorian air, he plainly "shews that at the fame time he is under the

66

rod; and while he pretends to give law to others, is a pedantick flave to authority and opinion. Thirdly, he hath, like schoolboys, borrowed both from living and dead. Fourthly, he knows not his own mind, and frequently contradicts himself. Fifthly, he " is almost perpetually in the wrong."

All these positions he attempts to prove by

quotations and remarks; but his defire to do mischief mischief is greater than his power. He has, however, justly criticised some passages, in these lines,

There are whom heaven has bless'd with store of wit,

Yet want as much again to manage it;
For wit and judgment ever are at strife-

it is apparent that wit has two meanings, and that what is wanted, though called wit, is truly judgment. So far Dennis is undoubtedly right; but, not content with argument, he will have a little mirth, and triumphs over the first couplet in terms too elegant to be forgotten. By the way, what rare num"bers are here! Would not one fwear that "this youngster had espoused some antiquated

Muse, who had fued out a divorce on account of impotence from some fuperannuated finner; and, having been p-xed

by her former spouse, has got the gout in " her decrepit age, which makes her hobble " so damnably." This was the man who would reform a nation sinking into barbarity.

In another place Pope himself allowed that

Dennis had detected one of those blunders

VOL. IV.

C

which which are called bulls. The first edition had this line:

What is this wit

Where wanted, scorn'd; and envied where acquir'd?

"How," says the critick, "can wit be fcorn'd "where it is not? Is not this a figure fre

quently employed in Hibernian land? The "person that wants this wit may indeed be scorned, but the scorn shews the honour "which the contemner has for wit." Of this remark Pope made the proper use, by correcting the passage.

I have preserved, I think, all that is reasonable in Dennis's criticism; it remains that justice be done to his delicacy. "For his ac

quaintance (says Dennis) he names Mr. "Walsh, who had by no means the qualifi"cation which this author reckons absolutely

neceffary to a critick, it being very certain "that he was, like this Essayer, a very indif"ferent poct; he loved to be well-dressed; " and I remember a little young gentleman "whom Mr. Walsh used to take into his

company, as a double foil to his person and "capacity.

** capacity.--Enquire between Sunninghilland Oakingham for a young, short, squab gen"tleman, the very bow of the God of Love, " and tell me whether he be a proper author " to make personal reflections?-He may. "extol the antients, but he has reason to "thank the gods that he was born a modern; " for had he been born of Grecian parents, " and his father consequently had by law had "the abfolute disposal of him, his life had "been no longer than that of one of his poems, the life of half a day. Let the perfon of a gentleman of his parts be ne

ver so contemptible, his inward man is ten " times more ridiculous; it being impossible "that his outward form, though it be that "of downright monkey, should differ fo " much from human shape, as his unthink" ing immaterial part does from human un"derstanding." Thus began the hoftility between Pope and Dennis, which, though it was fufpended for a short time, never was appeased. Pope seems, at first, to have attacked him wantonly; but though he always professed to despise him, he discovers, by mentioning him very often, that he felt his force or his venom.