Page:The Lives of the Most Eminent English Poets, Volume 4.djvu/285

Rh spritely, and the diction is seldom faulty. They are not loaded with much thought, yet, if they had been written by Addison, they would have had admirers: little things are not valued but when they are done by those who cannot do greater.

In his translations from Pindar he found the art of reaching all the obscurity of the Theban bard, however he may fall below his sublimity; he will be allowed, if he has less fire, to have more smoke.

He has added nothing to English poetry yet at least half his book deserves to be read: perhaps he valued most himself that part which the critick would reject.