Observe here, that if we take the Fable for granted, as it was believed to be in that Age when the Epigram was written, the Turn appears to have Piety to the Gods, and a resigning Spirit in its Application.  But if we consider the Point with respect to our present Knowledge, it will be less esteem’d; though the Author himself, because he believ’d it, may still be more valued than any one who should now write with a Point of the same Nature.

    On Homer, by Alpheus of Mytilene.

    ’Still in our Ears_ Andromache complains,
    And still in sight the Fate of Troy remains;
    Still Ajax fights, still Hector’s dragg’d along,
    Such strange Enchantment dwells in Homer’s Song;
    Whose Birth cou’d more than one poor Realm adorn,
    For all the World is proud that he was born.’

The Thought in the first part of this is natural, and depending upon the Force of Poesy:  In the latter part it looks as if it would aim at the History of seven Towns contending for the Honour of Homer’s Birth-place; but when you expect to meet with that common Story, the Poet slides by, and raises the whole World for a kind of Arbiter, which is to end the Contention amongst its several Parts.

    On Anacreon by Antipater.

    ’This Tomb be thine,_ Anacreon; all around
    Let Ivy wreath, let Flourets deck the Ground,
    And from its Earth, enrich’d with such a Prize,
    Let Wells of Milk and Streams of Wine arise: 
    So will thine Ashes yet a Pleasure know,
    If any Pleasure reach the Shades below.’

The Poet here written upon, is an easy gay Author, and he who writes upon him has filled his own Head with the Character of his Subject.  He seems to love his Theme so much, that he thinks of nothing but pleasing him as if he were still alive, by entering into his Libertine Spirit; so that the Humour is easy and gay, resembling Anacreon in its Air, raised by such Images, and pointed with such a Turn as he might have used.  I give it a place here, because the Author may have design’d it for his Honour; and I take an Opportunity from it to advise others, that when they would praise, they cautiously avoid every looser Qualification, and fix only where there is a real Foundation in Merit.

    On Euripides, by Ion.

    ’Divine_ Euripides, this Tomb we see
    So fair, is not a Monument for thee,
    So much as thou for it, since all will own
    Thy Name and lasting Praise adorns the Stone.’

The Thought here is fine, but its Fault is, that it is general, that it may belong to any great Man, because it points out no particular Character.  It would be better, if when we light upon such a Turn, we join it with something that circumscribes and bounds it to the Qualities of our Subject.  He who gives his Praise in gross, will often appear either to have been a Stranger to those he writes upon, or not to have found any thing in them which is Praise-worthy.

    On Sophocles, by Simonides.