Pitt engaging as a rival with Dryden, naturally observed his failures and avoided them; and, as he wrote after Pope's Iliad, he had an example of an exact, equable, and fplendid verfification. With these advantages, feconded by great diligence, he might fuccefsfully labour particular paffages, and efcape many errors. If the two verfions are compared, perhaps the refult would be, that Dryden leads the reader forward by his general vigour and fprightlinefs, and Pitt often ftops him to contemplate the excellence of a fingle couplet; that Dryden's faults are forgotten in the hurry of delight, and that Pitt's beauties are neglected in the languor of a cold and liftlefs perusal; that Pitt pleases the criticks and Dry

den

den the people; that Pitt is quoted, and Dryden read.

He did not long enjoy the reputation which this great work defervedly conferred; for he left the world in 1748, and lies buried under a ftone at Blandford, on which is this infcription:

In memory of

CHR. PITT, clerk, M. A.
Very eminent

for his talents in poetry;

and yet more

for the universal candour of

his mind, and the primitive
fimplicity of his manners.

He lived innocent,

and died beloved

Apr. 13, 1748,

aged 48.

den the people; that Pitt is quoted, and Dryden read.

He did not long enjoy the reputation which this great work defervedly conferred; for he left the world in

1748, and lies buried under a ftone at Bland

ford, on which is this infcription:

In memory of

CHR. PITT, clerk, M. A.
Very eminent

for his talents in poetry;

and yet more

for the universal candour of

his mind, and the primitive.

fimplicity of his manners.

He lived innocent,

and died beloved

Apr. 13, 1748,

aged 48.

What fuch an author has told, who would tell again? I have made an abftract from his larger narrative; and shall have this gratification from my attempt, that it gives me an opportunity of paying due tribute to the memory of a departed genius.

Τὸ γὰρ γέρας ἐςὶ θανόντων.

THOMAS PARNELL was the fon of a commonwealthfman of the fame name, who at the Restoration left Congleton in Chefhire, where the family had been established for feveral centuries, and, fettling in Ireland, purchafed an eftate, which, with his lands in Cheshire, defcended to the poet, who was born at Dublin in 1679; and,

after