Part 62

Towards the close of 1712 Tickell published his poem on the Prospect of Peace. "The description," Pope wrote to Caryll, "of the several parts of the world in regard to our trade has interfered with some lines of my own in Windsor Forest, though written before I saw his. I transcribe both, and desire your sincere judgment whether I ought not to strike out mine, either as they seem too like his, or as they are inferior." The close resemblance arose from their having copied a common original. The couplet of Pope on the West India islands, which he subsequently omitted, has no counterpart in Tickell, because it was not derived from the passage in Addison.]

Here nearer suns prepare the ripening gem, And here the ore, &c.]

Nor are his blessings to his banks confined, But free and common as the sea or wind.--WAKEFIELD.]

While by your valour and your bounteous mind, Nations, divided by the sea, are joined.--WAKEFIELD.]

Let none admire That riches grow in hell; that soil may best Deserve the precious bane.

"Admire" has the same signification in Windsor Forest. Pope means that the savages would be astonished at "our speech, our colour, and our strange attire," and not that they would admire them in our present laudatory sense of the term, which would be contrary to the fact. "A fair complexion," says Adam Smith, "is a shocking deformity upon the coast of Guinea. Thick lips and a flat nose are a beauty."]

Beneath her feet pale envy bites her chain, And snaky discord whets her sting in vain.]

Quo, Musa, tendis? desine pervicax Referre sermones Deorum et Magna modis tenuare parvis.--WARBURTON.

Addison's translation of Horace's Ode:

But hold, my muse, forbear thy tow'ring flight Nor bring the secrets of the gods to light.

Pope says that he will not presume "to touch on Albion's golden days," and "bring the scenes of opening fate to light," oblivious that the speech which Father Thames has just delivered is entirely made up of these two topics. As might be inferred from their feebleness, the lines from ver. 426 formed part of the original Windsor Forest, with the exception of the couplet beginning "Where Peace descending," which is of another order of poetry. The second line is exquisite.]

But I've already troubled you too long, Nor dare attempt a more adventurous song. My humble verse demands a softer theme, A painted meadow, or a purling stream: Unfit for heroes; whom immortal lays And lines like Virgil's, or like yours, should praise.]

Whilst I at Naples pass my peaceful days, Affecting studies of less noisy praise.--WAKEFIELD.

The conclusion is feeble and flat. The whole should have ended with the speech of Thames.--WARTON.]

END OF VOL. I.

BRADBURY, EVANS, AND CO., PRINTERS, WHITEFRIARS.