under this stone, or under this sod, or under whatsoever his kind heir chose, or a comrade kinder than his heir, or a traveller lighting by good hap on his remains. For what would befall him he could not tell, but neither did he esteem his empty carcass enough to desire to provide for it an urn in his lifetime; howbeit in his lifetime he provided this inscription for his sepulchre, if any sepulchre he was hereafter to have.” -MATT. ARNOLD.

It may not be improper here to observe, that since Johnson wrote, the discoveries of Mr. Dilke (see Athenæum, 1854) and Mr. Elwin (in the edition just completed by Mr. Courthope's Life) have proved that Pope carried the manufacture of correspondence much farther than Johnson supposed, and have opened a new chapter in the history of Pope's reputation. But the poet's character, nevertheless, remains much where Johnson left it.

PITT.

HRISTOPHER PITT, of whom whatever I shall re

late, more than has been already published, I owe to the kind communication of Dr. Warton, was born in 1699 at Blandford, the son of a physician much esteemed.

He was, in 1714, received as a scholar into Winchester College, where he was distinguished by exercises of uncommon elegance; and, at his removal to New College in 1719, presented to the electors, as the product of his private and voluntary studies, a compleat version of Lucan's poem, which he did not then know to have been translated by Rowe.

This is an instance of early diligence which well deserves to be recorded. The suppression of such a work, recommended by such uncommon circumstances, is to be regretted. It is indeed culpable, to load libraries with superfluous books; but incitements to early excellence are never superfluous, and from this example the danger is not great of many imitations.

When he had resided at his College three years, he was presented to the rectory of Pimpern in Dorsetshire (1722), by his relation, Mr. Pitt of Stratfeildsea in Hampshire; and, resigning his fellowship, continued at Oxford two years longer, till he became Master of Arts (1724).

He probably about this time translated "Vida's Art of Poetry," which Tristram's splendid edition had then made

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1 De Arte Poetica, Libri III. accedunt Bombycum Lib. II. et Sacchia

popular. In this translation he distinguished himself, both by its general elegance, and by the skilful adaptation of his numbers, to the images expressed; a beauty which Vida' has with great ardour enforced and exemplified.

He then retired to his living, a place very pleasing by its situation, and therefore likely to excite the imagination of a poet; where he passed the rest of his life, reverenced for his virtue, and beloved for the softness of his temper and the easiness of his manners. Before stangers he had something of the scholar's timidity or distrust; but when he became familiar he was in a very high degree chearful and entertaining. His general benevolence procured general respect; and he passed a life placid and honourable, neither too great for the kindness of the low, nor too low for the notice of the great.

At what time he composed his miscellany, published in 1727, it is not easy not necessary to know: those which have dates appear to have been very early productions, and I have not observed that any rise above mediocrity.

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The success of his "Vida" animated him to a higher undertaking; and in his thirtieth year he published a version of the first book of the Eneid." This being, I suppose, commended by his friends, he some time afterwards added three or four more; with an advertisement, in which he represents himself as translating with great indifference, and with a progress of which himself was hardly conscious. This can hardly be true, and, if true, is nothing to the reader.

At last, without any further contention with his modesty, or any awe of the name of Dryden, he gave us a complete English "Eneid," which I am sorry not to see joined in the Indus, Oxon, 1701. 8vo. Editio secunda cum notis J. Tristram, 1723. 12mo. The Art of Poetry, translated into English verse by Chr. Pitt. Lond. 1725.

Marcus. Hier. Vida, Pope's "immortal Vida." Essay on Criticism, 1. 704. His Art of Poetry was written about 1520, and was the first of the many similar discourses by Italian poets.