Page:The Dunciad - Alexander Pope (1743).djvu/263

232 He looks upon God's gospel as a foolish fable, like the Pope, to whom he is a pitiful purveyor. His very christianity may be questioned. He ought to expect more severity than other men, as he is most unmerciful in his own reflections on others. With as good a right as his Holiness, he sets up for poetical infallibility.

His whole Libel is all bad matter, beautify'd (which is all that can be said of it) with good metre. Mr. Dryden's genius did not appear in anything more than his Versification, and whether he is to be ennobled for that only, is a question.

Tonson calls it Dryden's Virgil, to shew that this is not that Virgil so admir'd in the Augustæan age; but a Virgil of another stamp, a silly, impertinent, nonsensical writer. None but a Bavius, a Mævius, or a Bathyllus carp'd at Virgil; and none but such unthinking Vermin admire his Translator. It is true, soft and easy lines might become Ovid's Epistles or Art of Love—But Virgil, who is all great and majestic, &c. requires strength of lines, weight of words, and closeness of expressions; not an ambling Muse running on Carpet-ground, and shod as lightly as a Newmarket-racer.—He has numberless faults in his Author's meaning, and in propriety of expression.

Mr. Dryden was once, I have heard, at Westminster School: Dr. Busby would have whipt him for so childish a Paraphrase. The meanest Pedant in England would whip a Lubber of twelve for construing so absurdly. The Translator is mad, every line betrays his Stupidity. The faults are innumerable, and convince me that Mr. Dryden did not, or would not understand his Author. This shews how fit Mr. D. may be to translate Homer! A mistake in a single letter might fall on the Printer well enough, but for  must be the error of the Author: Nor had he art enough to correct it at the Press. Mr. Dryden writes for the Court Ladies.—He writes for the Ladies, and not for use.

The Translator puts in a little Burlesque now and then into Virgil, for a Ragout to his cheated Subscribers.