This mellifluous piece of nonsense was published in the _Miscellanies_ of Alexander Pope, but it was also inserted amongst the poems of Dean Swift, where it was entitled _A Love Song in Modern Taste_. It ridiculed an affected style of poetry then much in vogue, and which continued in fashion for many years, culminating in the writings of a clique, known as the _Della Cruscans_, which was originated by a few English, of both sexes, assembled at Florence in 1785. They were named _Della Cruscans_ because their leader, one Robert Merry, signed his trashy effusions as a member of the Acadamy Della Crusca at Florence. Merry wrote a tragedy, entitled _Lorenzo_, which was more successful than many comedies, for it made the audience laugh immoderately, besides innumerable poems long since forgotten. By a deliberate system of mutual puffing the Della Cruscans forced their absurd productions upon the public, and in the early years of the present century nearly every journal contained some of their poems, published over assumed names, such as Laura Maria, Edwin, Anna Matilda, &c. These were afterwards gathered into volumes, with a few poems by really able writers such as M. G. Lewis, Robert Southey, and S. T. Coleridge, and published by subscription. There is no knowing how long this twaddle might have held the public taste had not William Gifford (Editor of the Quarterly Review) produced his famous satires _The Baviad_, and _The Maeviad_, in which he mercilessly exposed the inflated nonsense written by the Della Cruscans; and by well chosen extracts from their poems turned the laugh so completely against them that they slunk back into their native obscurity. Gifford’s satires are still read with pleasure, and the extracts given in the notes show that Pope’s nonsense verses were excelled by the would-be-serious Della Cruscans; as for example―― “Slighted love the _soul_ subduing _Silent_ sorrow _chills_ the _heart_, _Treach’rous_ fancy still _pursuing_, Still _repels_ the _poisoned_ dart. _Soothing_ those fond _dreams_ of pleasure _Pictur’d_ in the _glowing_ breast, _Lavish_ of her sweetest _treasure_, Anxious _fear_ is _charm’d_ to _rest_. Fearless o’er the whiten’d _billows_, _Proudly_ rise, sweet bird of night, _Safely_ through the bending _willows_ _Gently_ wing thy _aery_ flight.” When the brothers Smith projected their famous _Rejected Addresses_ they included an imitation of the Della Cruscan poetry, entitled Drury’s Dirge, of which Lord Jeffery wrote “The verses are very smooth and very nonsensical――as was intended; but they are not so good as Swift’s celebrated song by a Person of Quality; and are so exactly in the same measure, and on the same plan, that it is impossible to avoid making the comparison.” ―――― DRURY’S DIRGE. BY LAURA MATILDA.[36]