Et nos voisins frustrez de ces tributs serviles,
Que paiat a leur Art, le Luxe de nos Villes.
No more by foreign Tributes are we griev'd,
Which, from our Luxury, alien Arts receiv'd.
Why these are better Verses than all other best Verses, is the Mystery we are speaking of, and like that of the Free-Masons, it cannot be unfolded but by a Brother; nay, one may suspect of this Mystery what is justly suspected of that; they do not tell it us, for fear we shou'd laugh at it.
Of this Kind, doubtless, is the famous Couplet, taken out of Sir John Denham's Coopers-Hill, which Dryden says, are the two best Verses in the English Tongue:
Tho' Deep, yet clear; tho' Gentle, yet not dull;
Strong without Rage, without o'erflowing full.
He said he would not reveal the Secret why they were the best Verses, but left it as a Riddle to Posterity. I dare say, there are a Thousand as good Verses in Mr. Pope's Homer, if by good Verses he means smooth ones, and one would think Three such Monysyllables as Yet, Not, Dull, all together, was enough to set aside the Claim of that Line.
Having said so much already of my honest Intention In this Essay, I must, at last, refer it to the Judgement of the Reader, and whatever it is, shall receive it with Pleasure, when it is given with Candour.
If he approves of what I have said, I cannot but be pleased with having given some few Hints to another.
If he does not approve of it, 'twill please me still more to receive new Light my self.
Since this Essay was finish'd, I have seen a Book written by a French Gentleman, which has been receiv'd with much Civility; and as that Gentleman is commanded to make Remarks on our Manners in England, he will not do us Justice unless he puts the Reception his Book has met with, among the Instances of our Humanity to Strangers.