_To the Editor._
Sir--In reply to the inquiries of your correspondent G. J. D. at p. 136,
I beg to state, that the person he alludes to was the translator of
Hesiod, immortalized by Pope in his Dunciad.
The Rev. Thomas Cooke was a profound Greek and Latin scholar, and
consequently much better versed in the beauties of Homer, &c. than the
irritable translator of the Iliad and Odyssey: his remarks on, and
expositions of Pope’s glaring misconceptions of many important passages
of the ancient bard drew down the satirical vengeance of his illustrious
translator.
It would, however, appear that Pope was not the assailant in the first
instance, for in the Appendix to the Dunciad we find “A list of Books,
Papers, and Verses, in which our author (Pope) was abused, before the
publication of that Poem;” and among the said works “The Battle of the
Poets, an heroic Poem, by Thomas Cooke, printed for J. Roberts, folio,
1725,” is particularly mentioned. In book ii. of the Dunciad, we have
the following line,--
“Cooke shall be Prior, and Concanen Swift;”
to which the following note is appended:--
“The man here specified writ a thing called _The Battle of the Poets_,
in which Philips and Welsted were the heroes, and Swift and Pope utterly
routed.”
Cooke also published some “malevolent things in the British, London, and
daily journals, and at the same time wrote letters to Mr. Pope,
protesting his innocence.”
His chief work was a translation of “Hesiod, to which Theobald writ
notes, and half notes, which he carefully owned.”
Again, in the testimonies of authors, which precede the Dunciad, we find
the following remark:--
“_Mr. Thomas Cooke_,
“After much blemishing our author’s Homer, crieth out
“But in his other works what beauties shine,
While sweetest music dwells in ev’ry line!
These he admir’d, on these he stamp’d his praise,
And bade them live t’ enlighten future days!”
I have somewhere read that Cooke was a native of Sussex; that he became
famous for his knowledge of the Greek and Latin languages while at
Cambridge; and was ultimately settled in some part of Shropshire, where
he soon became acquainted with the family of the young lady celebrated
by his muse, in the fifth number of the _Table Book_, and where he also
greatly distinguished himself as a clergyman, and preceptor of the
younger branches of the neighbouring gentry and nobility. This may in
some measure account for the respectable list of subscribers alluded to
by G. J. D.
It is presumed, however, that misfortune at length overtook him; for we
find, in the “Ambulator, or London and its Environs,” under the head
“Lambeth,” that he lies interred in the church-yard of that parish, and
that he died extremely poor: he is, moreover, designated “the celebrated
translator of Hesiod, Terence, &c.”
I have seen the poem entitled “The Immortality of the Soul,” mentioned
by G. J. D., though I have no recollection of its general features or
merit; but of “The Battle of the Poets” I have a copy; and what renders
it more rare and valuable is, that it was Mr. Cooke’s own impression of
the work, and has several small productions upon various occasions,
written, I presume, with his own hand, each having the signature
“Thomas Cooke,” on the blank leaves at the commencement of the book.
On my return from the continent, I shall have no objection to intrust
this literary curiosity to your care for a short time, giving you the
liberty of extracting any (and all if you think proper) of the pieces
written on the interleaves: and, in the mean time, I will do myself the
pleasure of selecting one from the number, for insertion in the _Table
Book_, which will, at least, prove that Mr. Cooke’s animosity was of
transient duration, and less virulent than that of Pope.
It is possible that at some future time I may be able to enlarge upon
this subject, for the better information of your correspondent; and I
beg, in the interim, to remark that there is no doubt the Annual
Register, from about the year 1750 to 1765, or works of that
description, will fully satisfy his curiosity, and afford him much more
explanation relative to Mr. Cooke than any communications from existing
descendants.
In Mr. Cooke’s copy of “The Battle of the Poets,” the lines before
quoted run thus:--
“But in his other works what beauties shine--
What sweetness also dwells in ev’ry line!
These all admire--these bring him endless praise,
And crown his temples with unfading bays!”