.

When Dryden came into the world, he found poetry in a very imperfect
state; its numbers were unpolished; its cadences rough, and there was
nothing of harmony or mellifluence to give it a graceful of flow. In
this harsh, unmusical situation, Dryden found it (for the refinements of
Waller were but puerile and unsubstantial) he polished the rough
diamond, he taught it to shine, and connected beauty, elegance, and
strength, in all his poetical compositions. Though Dryden thus polished
our English numbers, and thus harmonized versification, it cannot be
said, that he carried his art to perfection. Much was yet left undone;
his lines with all their smoothness were often rambling, and expletives
were frequently introduced to compleat his measures. It was apparent
therefore that an additional harmony might still be given to our
numbers, and that cadences were yet capable of a more musical
modulation. To effect this purpose Mr. Pope arose, who with an ear
elegantly delicate, and the advantage of the finest genius, so
harmonized the English numbers, as to make them compleatly musical. His
numbers are likewise so minutely correct, that it would be difficult to
conceive how any of his lines can be altered to to advantage. He has
created a kind of mechanical versification; every line is alike; and
though they are sweetly musical, they want diversity, for he has not
studied so great a variety of pauses, and where the accents may be laid
gracefully. The structure of his verse is the best, and a line of his is
more musical than any other line can be made, by placing the accents
elsewhere; but we are not quite certain, whether the ear is not apt to
be soon cloy'd with this uniformity of elegance, this sameness of
harmony. It must be acknowledged however, that he has much improved upon
Dryden in the article of versification, and in that part of poetry is
greatly his superior. But though this must be acknowledged, perhaps it
will not necessarily follow that his genius was therefore superior.

The grand characteristic of a poet is his invention, the surest
distinction of a great genius. In Mr. Pope, nothing is so truly original
as his Rape of the Lock, nor discovers so much invention. In this kind
of mock-heroic, he is without a rival in our language, for Dryden has
written nothing of the kind. His other work which discovers invention,
fine designing, and admirable execution, is his Dunciad; which, tho'
built on Dryden's Mac Flecknoe,