sometimes wanders in generalities, and utters the same praises over different tombs.
The scantiness of human praises can scarcely be made more apparent, than by remarking how often Pope has, in the few epitaphs which he composed, found it necessary to borrow from himself. The fourteen epitaphs, which he has written, comprise about an hundred and forty lines, in which there are more repetitions than will easily be found in all the rest of his works. In the eight lines which make the character of Digby, there is scarce any thought, or word, which may not be found in the other epitaphs.
The ninth line, which is far the strongest and most elegant, is borrowed from Dryden. The conclusion is the same with that on Harcourt, but is here more elegant and better connected.
VIII.
On Sir Godfrey Kneller.
In Westminster-Abbey, 1723.
Kneller, by Heaven, and not a master taught,
Whose art was nature, and whose pictures thought,
Now for two ages, having snatch'd from fate
Whate'er was beauteous, or whate'er was great,
