Page:The Lives of the Most Eminent English Poets, Volume 2.djvu/184

178 almost all other poets, very frequent use of mythology, and sometimes connects religion and fable too closely without distinction.

He descends to display his knowledge with pedantick ostentation; as when, in translating Virgil, he says, "tack to the larboard"—and "veer starboard;" and talks, in another work, of "virtue spooning before the wind." —His vanity now and then betrays his ignorance: They Nature's king through Nature's opticks view'd; Revers'd, they view'd him lessen'd to their eyes. He had heard of reversing a telescope, and unluckily reverses the object.

He is sometimes unexpectedly mean. When he describes the Supreme Being as moved by prayer to stop the Fire of London, what is his expression? A hollow crystal pyramid he takes,
 * In firmamental waters dipp'd above,

Of this a broad extinguisher he makes,
 * And hoods the flames that to their quarry strove.

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