CREECH.

Creech hurt his translation of Lucretius very much by imitating Cowley, and bringing in turns even into some of the most grand parts. He has done more justice to Manilius* than he has to Lucretius.-"That was much easier to do."-That is trueNo, he could never be of the high age (speaking of Manilius.)—Mr. Pope.

DRYDEN.

Dryden has assured me that he got more from the Spanish critics alone than from the Italian and French, and all others put together.-Lord Bolingbroke.

Even Dryden was very suspicious of rivals. He would compliment Crown, when a play of his failed, but was cold to him if he met with success. He sometimes used to own that Crown had some genius, but

*Creech did not translate Manilius. The translation of that poet was made by Sir Edward Sherburne, I think.-M.

then he always added, that his father and Crown's mother were very well acquainted. -Old Jacob Tonson.

I was about seventeen when I first came to town; an odd looking boy, with short rough hair, and that sort of awkwardness which one always brings up first out of the country with one. However, in spite of my bashfulness and appearance, I used now and then to thrust myself into Will's, to have the pleasure of seeing the most celebrated wits of that time, who used to resort thither. The second time that ever I was there, Mr. Dryden was speaking of his own things, as he frequently did, especially of such as had been lately published. "If

any thing of mine is good," says he, “it is my Mac-Fleckno; and I shall value myself the more on it, because it is the first piece of ridicule written in heroics." Lockier overhearing this, plucked up his spirit so far as to say in a voice just loud enough to be heard, that Mac-Fleckno was a very fine poem, but that he had not imagined it

to be the first that ever was wrote that way. On this Dryden turned short upon him as surprised at his interposing; asked him how long he had been a dealer in poetry, and added with a smile, "but pray, sir, what is that you did imagine to have been writ so before?" Lockier named Boileau's Lutrin, and Tassoni's Secchia Rapita, which he had read, and knew Dryden had borrowed some strokes from each. "It is true," says Dryden, "I had forgot them." A little after Dryden went out; and in going spoke to Lockier again, and desired him to come to see him the next day. Lockier was highly delighted with the invitation, went to see him accordingly, and was well acquainted with him as long as he lived.-Lockier*.

* Of Dr. Lockier, Dean of Peterborough, the following account is given by that dull prosing writer, Dr. Newton, Bishop of Bristol, in his own Life, p. 58, octavo edit.

His partiality for Peterborough [he is speaking of Dr. Zachary Pearce, afterwards Bishop of Rochester] was owing to his connexion to Dr. Lockier the Dean, with whom he generally passed some time in every

Dryden allowed the Rehearsal to have a great many good strokes in it, "though so

summer. Dr. Lockier was a man of ingenuity and learning, had seen a great deal of the world, and was a most pleasant and agreeable companion; was one of Dr. Pearce's most intimate friends, and at his death bequeathed to him his library, which was a good one. As Dr. Lockier was himself a story-teller, so he had written in a large quarto book every good story that ever he had heard in company; and this used to lie in his parlour, for his visitors to turn over and amuse themselves till he could come to them. It contained a fund of entertainment, and it is a sign that it was conceived to do so, because some one or other thought it worth while to steal it it never came to Dr. Pearce's hands, and he often regretted the loss of it. Dr. Lockier in the former part of his life was Chaplain to the Factory at Hamburgh, from whence he went every year to visit the Court of Hanover, whereby he became very well known to the King, George the First, who knew how to temper the cares of royalty with the pleasures of private life, and commonly invited six or eight of his friends to pass the evening with him. His Majesty seeing Dr. Lockier one day at Court, spoke to the Duchess of Ancaster, who was almost always of the party, that she should ask Dr. Lockier to come that evening. Dr. Lockier was not there, and the King asked the Duchess if she had spoken to him, as he desired. Yes, she said; but the Doctor presents his

severe (added he) upon myself; but I can't help saying that Smith and Jonson are two of the coolest, most insignificant fellows I ever met with on the stage." This, if it was not spoke out of resentment, betrayed

humble duty to your Majesty, and hopes your Majesty will have the goodness to excuse him at present, for he is soliciting some preferment from your Majesty's ministers, and he fears it might be some obstacle to him, if it should be known that he had the honour of keeping such good company.

The King laughed very heartily, and said he believed he was in the right. Not many weeks afterwards Dr. Lockier kissed the King's hand for the deanery of Peterborough; and as he was raising himself from kneeling, the King inclined forwards, and with great good humour whispered in his ear, "Well, now, Doctor, you will not be afraid to come in an evening; I would have you come this evening."

Dr. Lockier died in July or August 1740, I believe abroad. Mr. Spence probably met him at Hamburgh in 1730; for though he was made dean of Peterborough before 1727, he might have retained his chaplaincy some time afterwards. All the observations and anecdotes which Mr. Spence collected from him are so curious, and mark so excellent an understanding, that the quarto volume above mentioned cannot but be a most valuable compilation.-M.