Upon this piece he appears to have set a high value; for he was all his life-time improving it by successive revisals, so that there is scarcely any poem to be found of which the last edition differs more from the first. Amongst other changes, mention is made of some compositions of Dryden, which were written after the first appearance of the Essay.
At the time when this work first appeared, Milton's fame was not yet fully established, and therefore Tasso and Spenser were set before him. The two last lines were these. The Epic Poet, says he,
Must above Milton's lofty flights prevail,
Succeed where great Torquato, and where greater Spenser fail.
The last line in succeeding editions was shortened, and the order of names continued; but now Milton is at last advanced to the highest place, and the passage thus adjusted:
Must above Tasso's lofty flights prevail,
Succeed where Spenser, and ev'n Milton fail.
Amendments are seldom made without some token of a rent: lofty does not suit Tasso so well as Milton.
