perly remarked, that in the Battle of Mice and Frogs the Greek names have not in English their original effect.

He tells us, that the Bookworm is borrowed from Beza; but he fhould have added, with modern applications

and

when he discovers that Gay Bacchus is tranflated from Augurellus, he ought to have remarked, that the latter part is purely Parnell's. Another poem, When Spring comes on, is, he says, taken from the French. I would add, that the defcription of Barrenness, in his verses to Pope, was borrowed from Secundus; but lately. fearching for the paffage which I had formerly read, I could not find it. The Night-piece on Death is indirectly pre

ferred

ferred by Goldsmith to Gray's Churchyard; but, in my opinion, Gray has the advantage in dignity, variety, and originality of fentiment. He obferves that the ftory of the Hermit is in More's Dialogues and Howell's Letters, and suppofes it to have been originally Arabian.

Goldsmith has not taken any notice of the Elegy to the old Beauty, which is perhaps the meaneft; nor of the Allegory on Man, the happieft of Parnell's performances. The hint of the Hymn to Contentment I fufpect to have been borrowed from Cleiveland.

The general character of Parnell is not great extent of comprehenfion, or

fertility of mind. Of the little that appears still lefs is his own. His praise must be derived from the eafy sweetness of his diction: in his verses there is more happiness than pains; he is spritely without effort, and always delights though he never ravishes; every thing is proper, yet every thing feems cafual. If there is fome appearance of elaboration in the Hermit, the narrative, as it is lefs airy, is lefs pleafing. Of his other compofitions it is impoffible to say whether they are the productions of Nature, so excellent as not to want the help of Art, or of Art fo refined as to resemble Nature.

This criticism relates only to the pieces published by Pope. Of the large appendages which I find in this edition, I can only fay that I know not whence they came, nor have ever enquired whither they are going. They ftand upon the faith of the compilers.