Page:The Lives of the Most Eminent English Poets, Volume 3.djvu/64

60 His petty poems are seldom worth the cost of criticism; sometimes the thoughts are false, and sometimes common. In his verses on lady Gethin, the latter part is an imitation of Dryden's ode on Mrs. Killigrew; and Doris, that has been so lavishly flattered by Steele, has indeed some lively stanzas, but the expression might be mended; and the most striking part of the character had been already shewn in Love for Love. His Art of Pleasing is founded on a vulgar, but perhaps impracticable principle, and the flatness of the sense is not concealed by any novelty of illustration or elegance of diction.

The tissue of poetry, from which he seems to have hoped a lasting name, is totally neglected, and known only as it appended to his plays.

While comedy or while tragedy is regarded, his plays are likely to be read; but, expect what related to the stage, I know not that he has written a stanza that is sung, or a couplet that is quoted. The general character is his Miscellanies is, that they shew little wit, and little virtue.

Yet to him it must confessed that we are indebted for the correction of a national error, and