That among the moderns, their success has been, greatest who have most endeavoured to make these antients their pattern.  The most considerable genius appears in the famous Tasso, and our Spenser.  Tasso in his Aminta has far excelled all the pastoral writers, as in his Gierusalemme he has outdone the Epic Poets of his own country.  But as this piece seems to have been the original of a new sort of poem, the Pastoral Comedy, in Italy, it cannot so well be considered as a copy of the antients.  Spenser’s Calendar, in Mr. Dryden’s opinion, is the most compleat work of this kind, which any nation has produced ever since the time of Virgil.  But this he said before Mr. Pope’s Pastorals appeared.

Mr. Walsh pronounces on our Shepherd’s Boy (as Mr. Pope called himself) the following judgment, in a letter to Mr. Wycherly.

’The verses are very tender and easy.  The author seems to have a particular genius for that kind of poetry, and a judgment that much exceeds the years, you told me he was of.  It is no flattery at all to say, that Virgil had written nothing so good at his age.  I shall take it as a favour if you will bring me acquainted with him; and if he will give himself the trouble, any morning, to call at my house, I shall be very glad to read the verses with him, and give him him my opinion of the particulars more largely than I can well do in this letter.’

Thus early was Mr. Pope introduced to the acquaintance of men of genius, and so improved every advantage, that he made a more rapid progress towards a consummation in fame, than any of our former English poets.  His Messiah; his Windsor-Forest, the first part of which was written at the same time with his pastorals; his Essay on Criticism in 1709, and his Rape of the Lock in 1712, established his poetical character in such a manner, that he was called upon by the public voice, to enrich our language with the translation of the Iliad; which he began at 25, and executed in five years.  This was published for his own benefit, by subscription, the only kind of reward, which he received for his writings, which do honour to our age and country:  His religion rendering him incapable of a place, which the lord treasurer Oxford used to express his concern for, but without offering him a pension, as the earl of Halifax, and Mr. Secretary Craggs afterwards did, though Mr. Pope declined it.

The reputation of Mr. Pope gaining every day upon the world, he was caressed, flattered, and railed at; according as he was feared, or loved by different persons.  Mr. Wycherley was amongst the first authors of established reputation, who contributed to advance his fame, and with whom he for some time lived in the most unreserved intimacy.  This poet, in his old age, conceived a design of publishing his poems, and as he was but a very imperfect master of numbers, he entrusted his manuscripts to Mr. Pope, and submitted them to his correction.  The freedom which our young bard was under a necessity to use, in order to