words and things are prefented with a new appearance, and novelty is always grateful where it gives no pain. But the merit of fuch performances begins and ends with the first author. He that fhould again adapt Milton's phrase to the grofs incidents of common life, and even adapt it with more art, which would not be difficult, muft yet expect but a small part of the praife which Philips has obtained; he can only hope to be confidered as the repeater of a jeft. The parody on Milton," fays Gildon, "is the only tolerable production of its author." This is a cenfure too dogmatical and violent. The poem of Blenheim was never denied to be tolerable, even by those who do not allow it fupreme excellence. It is indeed the poem of a scholar, all inexpert of war; of a man who writes books from books, and ftudies the world in a college. He feems to have formed his ideas of the field of Blenheim from the battles of the heroick ages, or the tales of chivalry, with very little comprehenfion of the qualities neceffary to the compofition of a modern hero, 24 hero, which Addison has displayed with fo much propriety. He makes Marlborough behold at distance the flaughter made by Tallard, then hafte to encounter and reftrain him, and mow his way through ranks made headless by his fword. He imitates Milton's numbers indeed, but imitates them very injudicioufly. Deformity is eafily copied; and whatever there is in Milton which the reader wishes away, all that is obfolete, peculiar, or licentious, is accumulated with great care by Philips, Milton's verfe was harmonious, in proportion to the general state of our metre in Milton's age; and, if he had written after the improvements made by Dryden, it is reasonable to believe that he would have admitted a more pleafing more pleafing modulation of numbers into his work; but Philips fits down with a refolution to make no more mufick than he found; to want all that his mafter wanted, though he is very far from having what his mafter had. Those afperities, therefore, that are venerable in the Paradife Loft are contemptible in the Blenbeim. There There is a Latin ode written to his patron St. John, in return for a prefent of wine and tobacco, which cannot be paffed without notice. It is gay, and elegant, and exhibits several artful accomodations of claffick expreffions to new purposes. It feems better turned than the odes of Hannes *. To the poem on Cider, written in imitation of the Georgicks, may be given this peculiar praise, that it is grounded in truth; that the precepts which it contains are exact and juft; and that it is therefore, at once, · a book of entertainment and of science. This I was told by Miller, the great gardener and botanist, whofe expreffion was, that there were many books written on the fame fubject in profe, which do not contain fo much truth as that poem. *This ode I am willing to mention, because there feems to be an error in all the printed copies, which is, I find, retained in the laft. They all read; Quam Gratiarum cura decentium The author probably wrote, Quam Gratiarum cura decentium In the difpofition of his matter, so as to interfperfe precepts relating to the culture of trees, with fentiments more generally plcafing, and in easy and graceful transitions from one fubject to another, he has very diligently imitated his mafter; but he unhappily pleafed himself with blank verfe, and fuppofed that the numbers of Milton, which impress the mind with veneration, combined as they are with fubjects of inconceivable grandeur, could be sustained by images which at most can rife only to elegance. Contending angels may shake the regions of heaven in blank verfe; but the flow of equal measures, and the embellishment of rhyme, must recommend to our attention the art of engrafting, and decide the merit of the redstreak and pear main. What study could confer, Philips had obtained; but natural deficience cannot be fupplied. He feems not born to greatness and elevation. He is never lofty, nor does he often surprise with unexpected excellence; but perhaps to his laft poem may be applied what Tully Tully faid of the work of Lucretius, that it is written with much art, though with few blazes of genius, The following Fragment, written by Edmund Smith, upon the works of Philips, has been tranfcribed from the Bodleian manuscripts. "A prefatory Difcourfe to the Poem on Mr. Philips, with a character of his writings. 66 "IT is altogether as equitable fome account fhould be given of those who have distinguished themfelves by their writtings, as of those who are renowned for great actions. It is but reasonable they, who contribute fo much to the immortality of others, fhould have fome fhare in it themselves; and fince their genius only is difcovered by their works, it is juft that their virtues should be recorded by their friends. For no modest men (as the perfon I write of was in perfec |