INQUIRY INTO THE NATURE AND EXTENT OF POETICK LICENCE. By N. A. VIGORS, jun. Esq. Μηδε ήμεις ουν την ποιητικὴν ἡμερίδα των μέζων εκκοπτωμεν, μηδ' αφανιζωμεν· αλλ' ὁπε μεν ὑφ ἡδονης ακρατε προς δόξαν αυθαί δως θραςυνομενον εξυβρίζει και ύλομανει το μυθώδες αυτής και θεατρικον, επιλαμβανόμενοι κολυωμεν και πιεζομεν· όπε δε από Πεται τινος μέζης τη χαριτι, και το γλυκυ τε λόγε και αγωγον, εκ ακάρπον εστιν, εδε κενον, ενταυθα φιλοσοφιαν εισαγωμεν και και ταμιγνυωμεν. PLUT. de audiend. Poet. LONDON: PRINTED FOR J. MACKINLAY, 87, STRAND, BY T. BENSLEY, BOLT COURT, FLEET STREET. c. INTRODUCTION. AMONG the works of invention, which are intended to promote the convenience, or increase the elegancies of society, the compositions of the Fine Arts are distinguished by a marked peculiarity in their end and execution. As they are directed to the object of contributing to the gratification, not of administering to the necessities of mankind, they seem, by their nature, to claim an exemption from that exactness and regularity of representation, which characterize the works of mere utility. Pursuing thus a peculiar end, they have been indulged in peculiar immunities; and to such an extent has the right of their professors to these exclusive privileges been acknowledged, that they have been allowed to heighten their delineations by such adscititious or imaginary embellishment, as, lying beyond the boundaries of nature and reality, appear more calculated to awaken our interest, or add to our delight. B But among the arts, thus privileged by universal suffrage, poetry not only stands the first in point of rank, but preserves this elevation in nearly the same degree of superiority, as their productions surpass the inferiour works of invention. The powers by which the less exalted of these sister arts excite the emotions of taste, are nearly limited to the use they are enabled to make of material objects; they may be almost said to find their verge terminate where there is no beauty or sublimity of colour, sound, or form. But not only all the sublimity and beauty of matter, but of mind, come under the poet's controul; he not only raises a new creation more novel, more fanciful, and more perfect than exists any where in reality; he not only animates his scenery with characters, but informs his characters with sentiments, and endows them with language suitable to their ideal existence. Indeed poetry in its imagery, excels the other fine arts, not merely in the same degree that the intellectual world excels the corporeal: the power of a poet over his materials is nothing less than enchantment; he can as easily transfer the property of one object to another, as substitute one object for another; he can animate |