temptible French rhymers, talked impertinently about the [1]tinsel of Tasso; and the conceit has been echoed by criticks as frigid as himself. Such weak assailants cannot shake the reputation of Tasso; for it is founded upon a rock. A Colossus in genius must always expect a shower of harmless Lilliputian arrows. Homer had his Zoïlus, and Pope his Dennis, two generals of these pigmy troops. Nay, Pope to this day, is not allowed to be a poet by some of his learned Aristotelian countrymen; those passionate, and delirious admirers of antiquity, who mistake prejudice for rapture; and are fond of a book because it is written in Greek characters, and because it is long, very long ago since it's author lived. Thus merely the rarity, the sanctifying mould, and the defaced inscription of a medal make it of more value, than the most precious jewel in the estimation of the doting virtuoso.
I beg pardon for this digression, which I shall close by venturing two assertions. I am far from pretending to dictate: I am now expressing my dislike of dictators. I am very sensible that my
- ↑ Tous les jours à la cour, un sot de qualité
Peut juger à travers avec impunité;
A Malherbe, à Racan préférer Théophile,
Et le Clinquant de Tasse à tout l'or de Virgile.
Boileau, Satire ix.
opinion,
