is certainly as you say, Sir.«
    Booth was, by this, pretty well satisfied of the Author's profound Learning;
however, he was willing to try him a little further. He asked him, therefore,
what was his Opinion of Lucan in general, and in what Class of Writers he ranked
him.
    The Author stared a little at this Question; and after some Hesitation,
answered, »Certainly, Sir, I think he is a fine Writer, and a very great Poet.«
    »I am very much of the same Opinion,« cries Booth; »but where do you class
him, next to what Poet do you place him?«
    »Let me see,« cries the Author, »where do I class him! next to whom do I
place him! - Ay! - why! - why, pray, where do you yourself place him?«
    »Why, surely,« cries Booth, »if he is not to be placed in the first Rank,
with Homer, and Virgil, and Milton - I think clearly, he is at the Head of the
second; before either Statius, or Silius Italicus. - Tho' I allow to each of
these their Merits; but, perhaps, an Epic Poem was beyond the Genius of either.
I own I have often thought, if Statius had ventured no farther than Ovid or
Claudian, he would have succeeded better: For his Sylvoe are, in my Opinion,
much better than his Thebaïs.«
    »I believe I was of the same Opinion formerly,« said the Author.
    »And for what Reason have you altered it?« cries Booth.
    »I have not altered it,« answered the Author; »but, to tell you the Truth, I
have not any Opinion at all about these Matters at present. I do not trouble my
Head much with Poetry: For there is no Encouragement to such Studies in this
Age. It is true, indeed, I have now and then wrote a Poem or two for the
Magazines; but I never intend to write any more: For a Gentleman is not paid for
his Time. A Sheet is a Sheet with the Booksellers; and, whether it be in Prose
or Verse, they make no Difference; tho' certainly there is as much Difference to
a Gentleman in the Work, as there is to a Taylor, between making a plain and a
laced Suit. Rhimes are difficult Things; they are stubborn Things, Sir. I have
been sometimes longer in tagging a Couplet, than I have been in