Come then, my Friend ! my Genius! come along; Oh, maier of the poet and the fong! And while the Muse now ftops, or now afcends, To man's low paffions or their glorious ends, Teach me, like thee, in various Nature wife, To fall with dignity, with temper rise- On! while along the ftream of time thy name Expanded Aies, and gathers all its fime, Pursue the triumph, and partake the gale? Shall then this Ver se to future age pretend Thou wert my guide, philofopher, and friend! That, urg'd by thee,' I turn'd the tuneful art From sounds to things, from fancy to the heart? For Wit's falle mirror held up Nature's light, Shew'd erring Pride whatever is is right- That virtue only makes our bliss below, Lo do.: C. COOKE. THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER POPE. THIS illustrious poet was born at London in 1688, and was descended from a good family of that name in Oxfordshire, the head of which was the earl of Downe, whose sole heiress married the earl of Lindsey. His father, a man of primitive simplicity and integrity of manners, was a merchant of London, who, upon the Revolution, quitted trade, and converted his effects into money, amounting to near 10,000l. with which he retired into the country, and died in 1717, at the age of seventy-five. Our poet's mother, who lived to a very advanced age, being ninety-three years old when the died in 1733, was the daughter of William Turner, Esq. of York. She had three brothers, one of whom was killed'; another died in the service of king Charles; and the eldest, following his fortunes, and becoming a general officer in Spain, left her what eftate remained after sequestration and forfeitures of her family. To these circumstances our Poet alludes in his Epistle to Dr. Arbuthnot, in which he mentions his parents. of gentle blood (part thed in Honour's cause, would ever try; VOL. I. b The |