TO WILLIAM COWPER, ESQ.
Eartham, March 4, 1793.
Honoured King of Bards,—Since you deign to demand the observations of an humble and inexperienced servant of yours, on a work of one who is so much his superior (as he is ever ready to serve you with all his might), behold what you demand! But let me desire you not to censure me for my unskilful and perhaps (as they will undoubtedly appear to you) ridiculous observations; but be so kind as to receive them as a mark of respectful affection from
Your obedient servant,
Thomas Hayley.
| Book. | Line. | |
| I. | 184 | I cannot reconcile myself to these |
| 195 | expressions, "Ah cloth'd with | |
| impudence," &c., and "Shameless | ||
| 196 | wolf," and "Face of flint." | |
| I. | 508 | "Dishonoured foul," is, in my opinion, |
| an uncleanly expression. | ||
| I. | 651 | "Reel'd," I think makes it appear |
| as if Olympus was drunk. | ||
| I. | 749 | "Kindler of the fires of Heaven," |
| I think makes Jupiter appear | ||
| too much like a lamp-lighter. | ||
| II. | 317 | These lines are, in my opinion, below |
| to 319 | the elevated genius of Mr. | |
| Cowper. | ||
| XVIII. | 300 | This appears to me to be rather |
| Irish, since in line 300 you say, | ||
| "No one sat," and in line 304, | ||
| "Polydamas rose." |