The locus classicus of the eighteenth century portrayal of the American Indian is that of Alexander Pope , unquestionably the most famous and widely-translated poet of his day . In his philosophical poem , `` Essay on Man '' ( 1734 ) , Pope wrote : Lo , the poor Indian ! The locus classicus of the 18th-century portrayal of the American Indian are the famous lines from Alexander Pope 's `` Essay on Man '' ( 1734 ) : Lo , the poor Indian !