Sect. II.] Didactic Poetri). \$ 



spects of inferior excellence, has been incompara- 

 bly more read, and, in general, more highly- ap- 

 plauded.. This performance is not distinguished 

 by miicli novelty of sentiment, or felicity of in- 

 vention; but seldom have common ideas been 

 presented with so much " b«;'.auty of embellish- 

 ment," or so much " sweetness of melody." Sel- 

 dom have opinions of questionable propriety been 

 more happily disguised, or exhibited with such 

 " dazzling splendour of imagery," and " seduc- 

 tive powers of eloquence." The Fleece, by Mr. 

 Dyer, notwithstanding the small degree of di- 

 stinction which it has attained, is pronounced, by 

 good judges, to stand among the most excellent 

 poems of the didactic kind which the moderns, 

 have produced. Tlie Pleasures of the Imagina- 

 tion, by Dr. Akcnside, is also a performance wiiich 

 belongs to this class; and is, doubtless, one of the 

 most beautiful specimens that our language af- 

 fords. Genius, learnmg, taste, pure morality, and 

 liberal philosophy, shine in every page. Dr. 

 Armstrong, in his celebrated poem on the Art of 

 Presey^ving Health, though he did not aim at so 

 elevated a strain as Akenside, lias produced a_ 



broke, in prose, and that Mr. Pope did no more than piU it into 

 verse: that he had read lord Bolingbroke's manuscript in hi* 

 own hand-writing, and remembered Avell that he Mas at a loss 

 whether most to admire the elegance of lord Bolingbroke's 

 prose, or the beauty of Mr. Pope's verse. When lord Bathurst 

 told this, Mr. Mallet bade me attend, and remember this remark- 

 ^able piece of information ; as by the course of nature! might 

 survive his lordship, and be a witness of his having said so." 

 — Bosuell's Life o/Johason^ vol. iii, p. 133. 



