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of this fort may be useful; fince, if compiled with any share of judgement, it may at onte unite precept and example, fhew them what is beautiful, and inform them why it is fo: I therefore offer this, to the best of my judgement, as the best collec tion that has yet appeared: though, as taftes are various, numbers will be of a very different opinion. Many perhaps may wish to fee in it: the poems of their favourite Authors,: others may wish that I had felected from works lefs generally read, and others:fill may wish, that I had selected from their own. But my design was to give a useful, unaffected compilation; one that might tend to advance the reader's tafte, and not imprefs him with exalted ideas of mine. Nothing fo common, and yet fo abfurd, as affectation in criticifm. The defire of being thought to

have a more difcerning tafte than others, has often led writers to labour after error, and to be foremost in promoting deformity. In this compilation I run but few risques of that kind; every poem here is well known, and poffeffed, or the public has been long mistaken, of peculiar merit: every poem has, as Ariftotle expreffes it, a beginning, a middle, and an end, in which, however trifling the rule may feem, most of the poetry in our language is deficient: I claim no merit in the choice, as it was obvious, for in all languages the best productions are most easily found.. As to the fhort introductory criticisms to each poem, they are rather defigned for boys than men; for it will be feen that I declined all refinement, satisfied with being obvious and fincere. In fhort, if this work be useful in schools, or amusing in

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the closet, the merit all belongs to others; I have nothing to boast, and, at best, can expect, not applause, but pardon..

OLIVER GOLDSMITH:.

THE

THE

BEAUTIES

O F

ENGLISH POESY.

The Rape of the Lock.

This feems to be Mr. Pope's moft, finished production, and is, perhaps, the mol perfect in our language. It exhibits ftronger powers of imaginatian, more harmony of numbers, and a greater knowledge of the world, than any other of this poet's works: and it is probable, if our country were called upon to fhew a fpecimen of their genius to foreigners, this would be the work here fixed upon.

WHAT dire offence from am'rous caufes fprings,

WH

vouchsafe to view :

What mighty contests rise from trivial things, I fing-This verse to CARYL, Muse! is due: This, ev'n Belinda may Slight is the fubject, but not fo the praise, If She infpire, and He approve my lays. VOL. I.

B

Say

Say what ftrange motive, Goddefs! could compel A well-bred Lord t'assault a gentle Belle ? O fay what ftranger caufe, yet unexplor'd, Could make a gentle Belle reject a Lord ? In tasks so bold, can little men engage, And in foft bofoms dwells fuch mighty rage? Sol thro' white curtains shot a tim❜rous ray, And ope'd thofe eyes that must eclipse the day: Now lap-dogs gave themfelves the rouzing fbake," And fleepless lovers, juft at twelve, awake: Thrice rung the bell, the flipper knock'd the ground, And the prefs'd watch return'd a filver found. Belinda ftill her downy pillow prest;

...

Her guardian Se prong'd the balmy reft:
'Twas He had fummon to her filent bed

The morning dream that hover'd o'er her head.
A youth more glittring than a birth-night beau,
(That e'nin flumber caus'd her cheek to glow)
Seem'd to her ear his winning lips to lay,
And thus in whispers faid, or feem'd to say.
Fairest of mortals, thou diftinguish'd care
Of thousand bright inhabitants of air!
If e'er one Vifion touch thy infant thought,
Of all the Nurse and all the Priest have taught;
Of airy Elves by moonlight fhadows feen,

The filver token, and the circled green,

Or virgins vifited by Angel-pow'rs,

With golden crowns and wreaths of heav'nly flow'rs;
Hear and believe! thy own importance know,
Nor bound thy narrow views to things below.

Some

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