Nor was the fublime more within their reach than the pathetick; for they never attempted that comprehenfion and expanfe of thought which at once fills the whole mind, and of which the firft effect is fudden aftonishment, and the fecond rational admiration. Sublimity is produced by aggregation, and littleness by difperfion. Great thoughts are always general, and confift in pofitions not limited by exceptions, and in descriptions not descending to minutenefs. It is with great propriety that Subtlety, which in its original import means exility of particles, is taken in its metaphorical meaning for nicety of diftinction. Those writers who lay on the watch for novelty could have little hope of greatnefs; for great things cannot have efcaped former observation. Their attempts were always analytick; they broke every image into fragments: and could no more. reprefent, by their flender conceits and laboured particularities, the prospects of nature, or the fcenes of life, than he, who diffects a fun-beam with a prifm, can exhibit the wide effulgence of a fummer noon. What What they wanted however of the fublime; they endeavoured to fupply by hyperbole ; their amplification had no limits; they left not only reason but fancy behind them; and produced combinations of confused magnifi cence, that not only could not be credited, but could not be imagined. Yet great labour, directed by great abili ties, is never wholly loft: if they frequently threw away their wit upon falfe conceits, they likewife fometimes ftruck out unex→ pected truth: if their conceits were far fetched, they were often worth the carriage. To write on their plan, it was at least necess fary to read and think. No man could be born a metaphyfical poet, nor affume the diguity of a writer, by defcriptions copied from defcriptions, by imitations borrowed from imitations, by traditional imagery, and hereditary fimilies, by readiness of rhyme, and volubility of fyllables. In perufing the works of this race of au thors, the mind is exercifed either by recol lection or inquiry; either fomething already learned learned is to be retrieved, or fomething new is to be examined. If their greatness seldom elevates, their acuteness often furprises; if the imagination is not always gratified, at leaft the powers of reflection and comparifon are employed; and in the mafs of materials which ingenious abfurdity has thrown together, genuine wit and useful knowledge may be fometimes found, buried perhaps in groffnefs of expreffion, but ufeful to thofe who know their value; and fuch as, when they are expanded to perfpicuity, and polished to elegance, may give luftre to works which have more propriety though lefs copiousness of fentiment. This kind of writing, which was, I believe, borrowed from Marina and his followers, had been recommended by the example of Donne, a man of very extenfive and various knowledge; and by Jonfon, whofe manner refembled that of Donne more in the ruggednefs of his lines than in the caft of his fentiments. When their reputation was high, they had -undoubtedly more imitators, than time has left left behind. Their immediate fucceffors, of whom any remembrance can be faid to remain, were Suckling, Waller, Denham, Cow ley, Cleiveland, and Milton. Denham and Waller fought another way to fame, by im proving the harmony of our numbers. Milton tried the metaphyfick ftyle only in his lines upon Hobfon the Carrier. Cowley adopted it, and excelled his predeceffors, having as much fentiment, and more mufick. Suckling neither improved verfification, nor abounded in conceits. The fafhionable style remained chiefly with Cowley; Suckling could not reach it, and Milton difdained it. CRITICAL REMARKS are not eafily understood without examples; and I have therefore collected inftances of the modes of writing by which this fpecies of poets, for poets they were called by themselves and their admirers, was eminently diftinguished. S the authors of this race were perhaps more defirous of being admired than understood, they fometimes drew their concits from receffes of learning not very much fre frequented by common readers of poetry. Thus Cowley on Knowledge: The facred tree midft the fair orchard grew ; And built his perfum'd nest, That right Porphyrian tree which did true lo gick fhew. Each leaf did learned notions givė, So clear their colour and divine, The very fhade they caft did other lights outs fhine. On Anacreon continuing a lover in his old · age: Love was with thy life entwin'd, Close as heat with fire is join'd, Of thine, like Meleager's fate. Th' antiperiftafis of age More enflam'd thy amorous rage. In the following verses we have an allufion to a Rabbinical opinion concerning Manna Variety I afk not give me one To live perpetually upon. The perfon Love does to us fit, Like manna, has the tafte of all in it. VOL. I. D Thus |