F. B. RELTON.
The question whether Flatman borrowed from Pope or Pope from Flatman (the former seems far more probable) may perhaps be decided by the date of Flatman's composition, if that can be ascertained. Pope's ode was composed in November, 1712, as recorded in the interesting series of letters in the correspondence between Pope and Steele (Letters iv. to ix.) and in the 532nd number of the Spectator. From Steele's letter it appears that the stanzas were composed for music: is any setting of them known, anterior to that by Harwood, which has obtained such universal popularity, in spite of its many undeniable errors in harmony? Is anything known of this composer? he certainly was not deficient either in invention or taste, and must have written other pieces worthy to be remembered.
E. V.
It seems probable that the coincidence between the passages of Thomas Flatman and Pope, indicated at p. 132., arises from both imitating the alliteration of the original:
"Animula, vagula, blandula,
Hospes, comesque corporis,
Quæ nunc abibis in loca,
Pullidula, rigida, undula?
Nec, ut soles, dabis jocos."
Casaubon (Hist. Ang. Script., t. i. p. 210. ed. Lug. Bat.) has totally lost sight of this in his Greek translation.