Page:The Dunciad - Alexander Pope (1743).djvu/264

Rh He is a Popish Rhymester, bred up with a contempt of the Sacred Writings. His Religion allows him to destroy Hereticks, not only with his pen, but with fire and sword; and such were all those unhappy Wits whom he sacrificed to his accursed Popish Principles. It deserved Vengeance to suggest, that Mr. Pope had less Infallibility than his Namesake at Rome.

The smooth numbers of the Dunciad are all that recommend it, nor has it any other merit. It must be own'd that he hath got a notable knack of rhyming and writing smooth verse.

The Homer which Lintot prints, does not talk like Homer, but like Pope; and he who translated him one would swear had a Hill in Tipperary for his Parnassus, and a puddle in some Bog for his Hippocrene. He has no Admirers among those that can distinguish, discern, and judge.

He hath a knack at smooth verse, but without either Genius or good sense or any tolerable knowledge of English. The qualities which distinguish Homer are the beauties of his Diction and the Harmony of his Versification.—But this little Author, who is so much in vogue, has neither sense in his Thoughts, nor English in his Expressions.

He hath undertaken to translate Homer from the Greek, of which he knows not one word, into English, of which he understands as little. I wonder how this Gentleman would look, should it be discover'd, that he has not translated ten verses together in any book of Homer with justice to the Poet, and yet he dares reproach his fellow-writers with not understanding Greek. He has stuck so little to his Original as to have his knowledge in Greek call'd in question. I should be glad to know which it is of all Homer's Excellencies which has so delighted the Ladies, and the Gentlemen who judge like Ladies.

But he has a notable talent at Burlesque; his genius slides so naturally into it, that he hath burlesqu'd Homer without designing it.