To what I have formerly said of his writings may be added, that his
diction was often harsh, unskilfully laboured, and injudiciously
selected. He affected the obsolete when it was not worthy of
revival: and he puts his words out of the common order, seeming to
think, with some later candidates for fame, that not to write prose
is certainly to write poetry. His lines commonly are of slow
motion, clogged and impeded with clusters of consonants. As men are
often esteemed who cannot be loved, so the poetry of Collins may
sometimes extort praise when it gives little pleasure.

Mr. Collins's first production is added here from the Poetical
Calendar:--

TO MISS AURELIA C--R,

ON HER WEEPING AT HER SISTER'S WEDDING.

"Cease, fair Aurelia, cease to mourn;
Lament not Hannah's happy state;
You may be happy in your turn,
And seize the treasure you regret.
With Love united Hymen stands,
And softly whispers to your charms,
'Meet but your lover in my bands,
You'll find your sister in his arms.'"



DYER.