Pope.

S. von ihm B. I. S. 148. Unter allen Lehrgedich‹ ten dieser Gattung verdient sein Essay on Criticism einen eben so ausgezeichneten Nang, als sein Effay on Man unter den philofophischen Gedichten nicht nur seiner, sondern aller übrigen Nationen. Jenes Gedicht besteht aus drei Theilen, die aber sehr glücklich in Ein Ganzes verschmolzen find. Zus crft Regeln für den angehenden Kunßrichter, dann Aufzählung der Ursachen des fehlerhaften und falschen Geschmacks in der Kritik, und zulest Vorschriften für den Kunstrichter, in Ansehung seines Verhaltens. Mit den Regelu der Kritik sind übrigens die vornehmsten Regeln des Geschmacks und der gutenSchreibart überhaupt, beståndig verbunden ; auch ist dieß treffliche Gedicht sten so reich an scharfsinnigen und treffenden Bemerkungen, als an fein abgezogenen und lehrs reichen Vorschriften. Beide werden durch die Gedrungenheit des Ausdrucks und durch die Lebhaftigkeit eingewebter Bilder, desto stärker und eindringlicher. Einen vortrefflichen Kommentar über dieses Gedicht findet man in Dr. Warton's Effay on POPE'S Genius and Writings, Vol. L Sect. III. p. 101--219. S. auch D. 1OHNSON'S Lives of the Engl. Poets, Vol. IV. p. 16. f. Er nennt diesen Versuch mit Necht ein Werk, welches einen so weiten Umfang von Einsichten, so viel feinen Scharfsinn, so viel genaue Menschenkenntniß, und eine so vertraute Bekanntschaft mit der alten und neus ern Literatur verräth, als man nicht leicht im reifsten Alter und durch die långste Erfahrung zu erreichen vermag. Und doch schrieb es Pope schon in seinem zwei und zwanzigsten Jahre! Vergl. Dusch's Briefe, Th. 1. n. A. Br. XIX.

ESSAY ON CRITICISM, v. 68-200.

First follow Nature, and your judgment frame
By her juft Standard, which is ftill the fame:
Unerring Nature, ftill divinely bright,
One clear unchang'd, and univerfal light,

Life, force, and beauty, muft to all impart,
At once the fource, and end, and test of Art.
Art from that fund each juft fupply provides,
Works without fhow, and without pomp prefi-

des.

In fome fair body thus th' informing Soul,
With fpirits feeds, with vigour fills, the whole,
Each motion guides, and ev'ry nerve fuftains;
Itfelt unfeen, but in th' effects remains.
Some, to whom Heav'n in wit has been profufe,
Want as much more to turn it to its ufe;
For wit and judgment often are at strife.
Though meant each other's aid, like man and
wife,

"Tis more to guide, than fpur the Mufe's Steed;
Restrain his fury, than provoke his fpeed;
The winged courfer, like a gen'rous horfe
Shows moft true mettle when you check his
courfe.

Thole RULES of old discover'd, not devis'd
Are Nature still, but Nature methodiz'd.
Nature, like Liberty, is but reftrain'd

By the fame laws which first herself ordain'd.
Hear how learn'd Greece her ufeful rules indi-
tes,

When to reprefs, and when indulge our flights:
High on Parnaffus' top her fons she show'd,
And pointed out thofe arduous paths they trod;
Held from afar, aloft, th' immortal prize,
And urg'd the reft by equal steps to rile.
Juft precepts thus from great examples giv'n

She drew from them what they deriv'd from

Heav'n..

The gen'rous critic fann'd the poet's fire,
And taught the world with reafon to admire.
Then criticism the Mufe's handmaid prov'd
To drefs her charms, and make her more belov'd,
But following wits from that intention ftray'd,
Who could not win the miftrefs, woo'd the maid;

Pope.

pope.

Against the poets their own arms they turn'd
Sure to hate moft the men from whom they

learn'd.

So modern 'pothecaries, taught the art
By doctor's bills to play the doctor's part,
Bold in the practice of mistaken rules,

Prefcribe, apply, and call their mafters fools.
Some on the leaves of ancient authors prey,
Nor time nor moths e'er fpoil'd fo much as
they;

Some dryly plain, without invention's aid,
Write dull receipts how poems may be made.
Thefe leave the fenfe, their learning to difplay,
And thofe explain the meaning quite away.

You then, whofe judgment the right courfe
would steer

Know well each ANCIENT's proper character;
H's fable, fubject, fcope in ev'ry page;
Religion, country, genius of his age:
Without all thefe at once before your eyes
Cavil you may, but never criticile.

Be Homer's works your ftudy and delight,
Read them by day, and meditate by night;
Thence form your judgment, thence your maxims
bring

And trace the Mufes upward to their spring,
Still with itself compar'd, his text peruse;
And let your comment be the Mantuan muse,

When firft young Maro in his boundless mind
A work t'outlaft immortal Rome defign'd,
Perhaps he feem'd above the critic's law,
And but from Nature's fountains fcorn'd to draw:
But when t'examine ev'ry part he came,
Nature and Homer were, he found, the fame.
Convinc'd, amaz'd, he checks the bold defign;
And rules as ftrict his labour'd work confine,
As if the Stagirite o'erlook'd each line.

}

Le:

Learn hence for ancient rules a juft esteem;.
Nature is to copy them.

То сору

Some beauties yet no precepts can declare, For there's happiness as well as care.

Mufic refembles poetry; in each

Are nameless graces which no methods teach
And which a mafter-hand alone can reach.
If where the rules not far enough extend,

Pope.

}

(Since rules were made but to promote their end)
Some lucky licence answer tho the full
Th' intent propos'd, that licence is a rule.
Thus Pegafus, a nearer way to take,
May boldly deviate from the common track,
From vulgar bounds with brave diforder part,
And snatch a grace beyond the reach of art.
Which, without paffing through the judgment,
gains

}

The heart, and all its end at once attains.
In profpects thus fome objects please our eyes,
Which out of nature's common order rife,
The fhapelefs rock, or hanging precipice.
Great wits fometimes may gloriously offend,
And rife to faults true critics dare not mend,
But though the ancients thus their rules in-

vade,

(As kings dispense with laws themfelves have.
made)

Moderns, beware! or if you must offend
Against the precept, ne'er transgrefs its end;
Let it be feldom, and compell'd by need;
And have, at leaft, their precedent to plead,
The critic elfe proceeds without remorle,
Seizes your fame, and puts his laws in force.

I know there are, to whofe prefumptuous thoughts
Thole freer beauties, ev'n in them, feem faults.
Some figures monftrous and mis fhap'd appear
Confider'd fingly, or beheld too near;

Which, but proportion'd to their light or place,

pope.

Due diftance reconciles to form and grace,
A prudent chief not always must display
His pow rs in equal ranks and fair array,
But with th occafion and the place comply.
Conceal his force, nay feem fometimes to fly.
Thofe oft are ftratagems which errors feem;
Nor is it Homer nods, but we that dream.

Still green with bays each ancient altar ftands,
Above the reach of facrilegious hands;
Secure from flames, from Envy's fierce rage,
Destructive war, and all-involving Age.

See from each clime the Learn'd their incenfe bring!
Hear, in all tongues confenting, paeans ring!
In praise fo just let ev'ry voice be join'd
And fill the gen'ral chorus of mankind.
Hail, bards triumphant! born in happier days;
Immortal heirs of univerfal praise!

Whofe honours with increafe of ages grow,
As ftreams roll down, enlarging as they flow;
Nations unborn your mighty names fhall found
And worlds applaud that must not yet be found!
O may fome fpark of your celeftial fire
The last, the meaneft of your fons inspire,
That on weak wings, from far, purfues your flights;
Glows while he reads, but trembles as the writes,
To teach vain wits a fçience little known,
T'admire fuperior fenfe, and doubt their own!

Bu