THE RAPE OF THE LOCK.
This seems to be Mr. Pope’s most finished production, and is, perhaps, the most perfect in our language. It exhibits stronger powers of imagination, more harmony of numbers, and a greater knowledge of the world, than any other of this poet’s works; and it is probable, if our country were called upon to show a specimen of their genius to foreigners, this would be the work here fixed upon.
THE HERMIT.
This poem is held in just esteem, the versification being chaste, and tolerably harmonious, and the story told with perspicuity and conciseness. It seems to have cost great labour, both to Mr. Pope and Parnell himself, to bring it to this perfection.* It may not be amiss to observe that the fable is taken from one of Dr. Henry More’s Dialogues.
*Parnell’s Poems, 1770, xxiv.
IL PENSEROSO.
I have heard a very judicious critic say, that he had an higher idea of Milton’s style in poetry, from the two following poems [Il Penseroso and l’Allegro], than from his Paradise Lost. It is certain the imagination shown in them is correct and strong. The introduction to both in irregular measure is borrowed from the Italian, and hurts an English ear.
AN ELEGY, WRITTEN IN A COUNTRY CHURCH YARD.
This is a very fine poem, but overloaded with epithet.† The heroic measure with alternate rhyme is very properly adapted to the solemnity of the subject, as it is the slowest movement that our language admits of. The latter part of the poem is pathetic and interesting.
†This is a strange complaint to come from Goldsmith, whose own Hermit, as was pointed out to the present Editor by the late Mr. Kegan Paul, is certainly open to this impeachment.