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In the Library at Oxford is the following ludicrous Analysis of Pocockius:

EX AUTOGRAPHO.

Written by the Author.

OPUSCULUM hoc, Halberdarie amplif fime, in lucem proferre hactenus distuli, judicii tui acumen fubveritus magis quam bipennis. Tandem aliquando Oden hanc ad te mitto fublimem, teneram, flebilem, fuavem, qualem demum divinus (fi mufis vacaret) fcripfiffet Gaftrellus. Adeo fcilicet fublimem ut inter legendum dormire, adeo flebilem ut ridere velis. Cujus elegantiam ut melius infpicias, verfum, ordinem & materiam breviter referam. Imus verfus de duobus præliis decantatis. 2dus & 3us de Lotharingio, cuniculis fubterraneis, faxis, ponto, hoftibus, & Afia. 4tus & 5us de catenis, fudibus, uncis, draconibus, tigribus & crocodilis. 6us, 7us, 8us, gus, de Gomorrha, de Babylone, Babele, & quodam domi fuæ peregrino. 10us aliquid de quodam Pocockio. 11, 12us, de Syriâ, Solymâ. 13", 14us, Hofeâ & quercu & de juvene quodam valde fene. 15us, 16us, de Ætnâ & quomodo Pocockio fit valde fimilis. 17", 18us, de tubâ, aftro, umbrâ, flammis, rotis, Pocockio non neglecto. Cætera de Chriftianis. Ottomanno, Babyloniis, Arabibus, & graviffimâ agrorum melancholiâ, de Cæfare, Flacco, Neftore, & miferando juvenis cujufdam florentiffimi fato, anno ætatis fuæ cente

fimo præmaturè abrepto. Quæ omnia cum accuratè expenderis, neceffe eft ut Oden hanc meam admirandä planè varietati conftare fatearis. Subito ad Batavos proficifcor lauro ab illis donandus. Prius vero Pembrochienfes voco ad certamen Poeticum. Vale.

Illuftriffima tua deofculor crura.

E. SMITH.

Mm

POMFRET.

POMFRE T.

OF

F Mr. JOHN POMFRET, nothing is known but from a flight and confufed account prefixed to his poems by a nameless friend; who relates, that he was the fon of the Rev. Mr. Pomfret, rector of Luton in Bedfordfhire; that he was bred at Cambridge, entered into orders, and was rector of Malden in Bedfordshire, and might have rifen in the Church; but that, when he applied to Dr. Compton, bishop of London, for inftitution to a living of confiderable value, to which he had been prefented, he found a troublesome obftruction raised by a malicious interpretation of fome paffage in his Choice; from which it was inferred, that he confidered happiness as more likely to be found in the company of a mistress than of a wife.

This reproach was eafily obliterated: for it had happened to Pomfret as to almost all other men who plan schemes of life; he had departed from his purpose, and was then married. The malice of his enemies had however a fatal confequence: the delay constrained M m 2

very

his

his attendance in London, where he caught the fmall-pox, and died in 1703, in the thirtyfixth year of his age.

He published his poems in 1699; and has been always the favourite of that class of readers, who, without vanity or criticism, feek only their own amufement.

His Choice exhibits a fyftem of life adapted to common notions, and equal to common expectations; such a state as affords plenty and tranquility, without exclufion of intellectual pleafures. Perhaps no compofition in our language has been oftener perused than Pomfret's Choice.

In his other poems there is an easy volubility; the pleasure of smooth metre is afforded to the ear, and the mind is not oppreffed with ponderous or entangled with intricate fentiment. He pleases many, and he who pleases many must have merit.

HUGHES.

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