ABSTRACT
The Literary Magazine for January 1758 published 'A Poctical Scalc' awarding points out of eighty to the chief English poets, with copious notes on the placings. The twenty-nine authors in the list include Drayton, Lee, Aaron Hill, Rowe, Garth, Southern, and Hughes; but DOlll1c is omittcd, and a note cxplains why. The following are some itcms from the scale, with thc comment on Donne. (Given in]. W. M. Gibbs, The Works oJOliver Goldsmith, 1885, iv, pp. 417-28. Gibbs attributes the piece to Goldsmith.)
Gcnius Judgment Learning Versification Chaucer 16 12 10 14 Spencer 18 12 14 18 Shakespear 19 14 14 19 Milton 18 16 17 18 Pope 18 18 15 19
(ii) Dr Donne was a man of wit, but he seems to havc becn at pains not to pass for a poct.
