Page:The lives of the poets of Great Britain and Ireland to the time of Dean Swift - Volume 4.djvu/248

238 Mills ſen. and Mr. Cibber jun. the latter of whom ſpoke a prologue on the occaſion, written by Mr. Pope.

Mr. Dennis was leſs happy in his temper, than his genius; he poſſeſſed no inconſiderable erudition, which was joined to ſuch natural parts, as if accompanied with prudence, or politenefs, might have raiſed him, not only above want, but even to eminence. He was happy too in having very powerful patrons, but what could be done for a man, who declared war againſt all the world? Dennis has given evidence againſt himſelf in the article of politeneſs; for in one of his letters he ſays, he would not retire to a certain place in the country, left he ſhould be diſturbed in his ſtudies by the ladies in the houſe: for, ſays he, I am not over-fond of the converſation of women. But with all his foibles, we cannot but conſider him as a good critic, and a man of genius.

His perpetual misfortune was, that he aimed at the empire of wit, for which nature had not ſufficiently endowed him; and as his ambition prompted him to obtain the crown by a furious oppoſition to all other competitors, ſo, like Cæſar of old, his ambition overwhelmed him.