but it must be observed, that these lines are to be commended not only for their correct versification or poetical ornament, but also for the strain of calm thought and serious meditation which runs through the whole, and gives a favourable picture of the mind of a youthful poet, expanding itself in its native element, and delighted with the enjoyment of uninterrupted leisure and alternate study and ease.

HAPPY the man, whose wish and care

A few paternal acres bound,

Content to breathe his native air,

In his own ground.

Whose herds with milk, whose fields with bread,
Whose flocks supply him with attire,
Whose trees in summer yield him shade,

In winter fire.

Blest, who can unconcern'dly find

Hours, days, and years slide soft away, In health of body, peace of mind,

Quiet by day,

Sound sleep by night; study and ease,
Together mixt; sweet recreation;
And innocence, which most does please

With meditation.

Thus let me live, unseen, unknown,
Thus unlamented let me die,

Steal from the world, and not a stone

Tell where I lie.

TO THE AUTHOR OF A POEM

INTITLED

SUCCESSIO.

THE following lines to the author of a poem intitled SUCCESSIO, are undoubtedly an early production of Pope, and were published in a volume of Lintot's Miscellanies, of which there were several editions. The author of Successio was Elkanah Settle, who from being at one time the rival of Dryden, wrote himself into such discredit, as deservedly to have occupied a distinguished place in the Dunciad. Some account of him may be found in Mr. Nicholls's Literary Anec., vol. i. p. 41, and in Mr. D'Israeli's Quarrels of Authors, vol. i. p. 298, &c.

Besides the internal evidence which these lines exhibit that they were written by Pope, Mr. D'Israeli has shewn, from an old account book of Bernard Lintot's, which he had the good fortune to meet with, and which contains a list of copies of works purchased by him, that these verses, with those to a Lady on presenting Voiture, and on Silence, were sold to Lintot for three pounds sixteen shillings. That they were omitted by Pope in the first general collection of his poems in 1717, may perhaps be accounted for, from their political tendency, as evincing a disposition hostile to the settlement of the crown on the House of Hanover, which the poem of SUCCESSIO was intended to celebrate.

Mr. D'Israeli says, "that when Pope wrote these lines he had scarcely attained his fourteenth year;" he also justly observes that "this juvenile composition bears the marks of his future excellences; it has the tune of his verse, and the images of his wit. Thirty years afterwards, when occupied by the Dunciad, he transplanted and pruned again some of the original images."

BEGONE, ye Critics, and restrain your spite,
CODRUS writes on, and will for ever write.

5

The heaviest Muse the swiftest course has gone,
As clocks run fastest when most lead is on.*
What tho' no bees around your cradle flew,
Nor on your lips distill'd their golden dew;
Yet have we oft discover'd in their stead
A swarm of drones that buzz'd about your head.
When you, like. Orpheus, strike the warbling lyre,
Attentive blocks stand round you and admire. 10
Wit pass'd thro' thee no longer is the same,
As meat digested takes a different name;
But sense must sure thy safest plunder be,
Since no reprisals can be made on thee.

Thus thou mayst rise, and in thy daring flight 15
(Tho' ne'er so weighty) reach a wond'rous height:
So forc'd from engines, lead itself can fly,
And pond'rous slugs move nimbly thro' the sky.†
Sure BAVIUS copied MÆVIUS to the full,
And CHERILUS taught CODRUS to be dull;
Therefore, dear friend, at my advice give o'er
This needless labour; and contend no more
To prove a dull succession to be true,
Since 'tis enough we find it so in you.

*Thus altered in the Dunciad, book i. V. 183.

As clocks to weights their nimble motion owe, The wheels above urg'd by the load below. †Thus altered in the Dunciad, book i. v. 181.

20

As, forc'd from wind-guns, lead itself can fly, And pond'rous slugs cut swiftl thro' the sky. Perhaps by Charilus, the juvenile satirist designed Flecknoe or Shadwell, who had received their immortality of Dulness from his master Catholic in poetry and opinions, DRYDEN. D'Israeli.

PASTORALS,

WITH

A DISCOURSE ON PASTORAL.

WRITTEN IN THE YEAR MDCCIV.

Rura mihi et rigui placeant in vallibus amnes,
Flumina amem, sylvasque, inglorius!

VIRGIL.