DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.53269#0202
in oppofition to Pope's tranfiation, was really written by him. Pope al-
ways thought it was the performance of Addifon ; and. of this opinion was
Sir Richard Steele* and Dr. Young, who was bred at the fame univerfity
with Tickell, and his contemporary there, and lived in fuch intimacy
with him, that he faid it was impoffible that a poetical tranfiation of that
length could have been made by Tickell without his having feen or heard
of it. The truth, however, probably is, that this tranfiation was made
originally by Tickell, and revifed at a fubfequent period by Addifon; and*
fuch was the account given by Mr. Watts, an old printer, who faid that
he had feen the tranfiation in Tickell’s hand-writing, with feveral inter-
lineations and corrections by Addifon.
All the contemporary accounts reprefent Mr. Tickell as no leis amiable;
in private life, than diftinguifhed as an elegant and nervous poet. Of his
lighter poetical compofitions, his ballad of Colin and Lucy is perhaps
belt known, and has been long admired by readers of that fpecies of poetry.
Among his graver pieces, on which- his fame is principally founded, the
verfes on the death of Lord Cadogan deferve to be particularly mentioned,
becaufe they have not been noticed by Dr. Johnfon, though perhaps little
inferior to his admirable elegy on the death of Addifon ; “ than which,”
fays that judicious critick, “ a more fublime or more elegant funeral poem
is not to be found in the whole compafs of Englifh literature.”
* See his Epiftle to Mr, Congreve, prefixed to the comedy of the Drummer, 410. xyzz.
ways thought it was the performance of Addifon ; and. of this opinion was
Sir Richard Steele* and Dr. Young, who was bred at the fame univerfity
with Tickell, and his contemporary there, and lived in fuch intimacy
with him, that he faid it was impoffible that a poetical tranfiation of that
length could have been made by Tickell without his having feen or heard
of it. The truth, however, probably is, that this tranfiation was made
originally by Tickell, and revifed at a fubfequent period by Addifon; and*
fuch was the account given by Mr. Watts, an old printer, who faid that
he had feen the tranfiation in Tickell’s hand-writing, with feveral inter-
lineations and corrections by Addifon.
All the contemporary accounts reprefent Mr. Tickell as no leis amiable;
in private life, than diftinguifhed as an elegant and nervous poet. Of his
lighter poetical compofitions, his ballad of Colin and Lucy is perhaps
belt known, and has been long admired by readers of that fpecies of poetry.
Among his graver pieces, on which- his fame is principally founded, the
verfes on the death of Lord Cadogan deferve to be particularly mentioned,
becaufe they have not been noticed by Dr. Johnfon, though perhaps little
inferior to his admirable elegy on the death of Addifon ; “ than which,”
fays that judicious critick, “ a more fublime or more elegant funeral poem
is not to be found in the whole compafs of Englifh literature.”
* See his Epiftle to Mr, Congreve, prefixed to the comedy of the Drummer, 410. xyzz.