Of genius, that power which constitutes a poet; that quality without which judgment is cold, and knowledge is inert; that energy which collects, combines, amplifies, and animates; the superiority must, with some hesitation, be allowed to Dryden. It is not to be inferred that of this poetical vigor Pope had only a little, because Dryden had more; for every other writer since Milton must give place to Pope; and even of Dryden it must be said, that if he has brighter paragraphs, he has not better poems.
BYRON.
Ancient of days! august Athena! where,
Where are thy men of might—thy grand in soul?
Gone—glimmering through the dream of things that were.
First in the race that led to Glory's goal,
They won, and passed away. Is this the whole?
A school-boy's tale—the wonder of an hour!
The warrior's-weapon and the sophist's stole
Are sought in vain, and o'er each mouldering tower,