and defires. Ovid and Cervantes will inform them that Love has no power but over those whom he catches unemployed; and Hector, in the Iliad, when he fees Andromache overwhelmed with terrors, fends her for confolation to the loom and the diftaff.

It is certain that any wild wish or vain imagination never takes fuch firm poffeffion of the mind, as when it is found empty and unoccupied. The old peripatetick principle, that Nature abbors a

vacuum, may be properly applied to the intellect, which will embrace any thing, however abfurd or criminal, rather than be wholly without an object. Perhaps every man may date the predominance of those defires that disturb his life and contaminate his confcience, from fome unhappy hour when too much leisure expofed him to their incurfions; for he has lived with little obfervation either on himself or others, who does not know, that to be idle is to be vicious.

NE of the ancients has obferved, encreafed upon princes by the virtues of their immediate predeceffors. It is, indeed, always dangerous to be placed in a ftate of unavoidable comparison with excellence, and the danger is still greater when that excellence is confecrated by death; when envy and intereft cease to act against it; and thofe paffions by which it was at first vilified and opposed, now stand in it's defence, and turn their vehemence against honest emulation.

He that fucceeds a celebrated writer, has the fame difficulties to encounter; he ftands under the fhade of exalted merit, and is hindered from rifing to his natural height, by the interception of those beams which fhould invigorate and quicken him. He applies to that attention which is already engaged, and unwilling to be drawn off from certain fatisfaction; or perhaps to an attention already wearied, and not to be recalled to the fame object.

a

One of the old poets congratulates himfelf that he has the untrodden regions of Parnaffus before him, and that his garland will be gathered from plantations which no writer had yet culled. But the imitator treads beaten walk, and with all his diligence can only hope to find a few flowers or branches untouched by his predeceffor, the refuse of contempt, or the omiflions of negligence. The Macedonian conqueror, when he was once invited to hear a man that fung like a nightingale, replied with contempt, that he had

HOR.

ELPHINSTON.

heard the nightingale herself; and the

whofe praife is that he imitates another.

Yet, in the midst of thefe difcouraging reflections, I am about to offer to my reader some observations upon Paradife Loft; and hope that, however I may fall below the illustrious writer who has fo long dictated to the commonwealth of learning, my attempt may not be wholly useless. There are, in every age, new errors to be rectified, and new prejudices to be oppofed. Falfe tafte is always bufy to mislead thofe that are entering upon the regions of learning; and the traveller, uncertain of his way, and forfaken by the fun, will be pleafed to fee a fainter, orb arife on the horizon, that may refcuer him from total darkness, though with weak and borrowed lustre.

Addison, though he has confidered this poem under most of the general topicks of criticifm, has barely touched upon the verfification; not probably because he thought the art of numbers unworthy of his notice, for he knew with how minute attention the ancient criticks confidered the difpofition of fyllables, and had himself given hopes of fome metrical obfervations upon the great Roman poet; but being the first who undertook to difplay the beauties, and point out the defects of Milton, he had many objects at once before him, and paffed willingly over thofe which were moft barren of ideas, and required la bour, rather than genius.

Yet verfification, or the art of mo.. dulating his numbers, is indispens bly Bb neceffary

2

neceffary to a poet. Every other power by which the understanding is enlightened, or the imagination enchanted, may be exercised in profe. But the poet has this peculiar fuperiority, that to all the powers which the perfection of every other compofition can require, he adds the faculty of joining mufick with reafon, and of acting at once upon the fenfes and the paffions. I fuppofe there are few who do not feel themselves touched by poetical melody; and who will not confefs that they are more or lefs moved by the fame thoughts, as they are conveyed by different founds, and more affected by the fame words in one order than in another. The perception of harmony is indeed conferred upon men in degrees very unequal, but there are none who do not perceive it, or to whom a regular feries of proportionate sounds cannot give delight.

In treating on the verfification of Mil ton I am defirous to be generally underfood, and shall therefore ftudioufly decline the dialect of grammarians; though, indeed, it is always difficult, and fometimes fcarcely poffible, to deliver the precepts of an art, without the terms by which the peculiar ideas of that art are expreffed, and which had not been invented but because the language already in ufe was infufficient. If therefore I shall fometimes feem obfcure, it may be imputed to this voluntary interdiction, and to a defire of avoiding that offence which is always given by unusual words.

The heroick measure of the English language may be properly confidered as pure or mixed. It is pure when the accent refts upon every fecond fyllable through the whole line."

The repetition of this found or percuflion at equal times, is the most com plete harmony of which a fingle verse is capable, and should therefore be exactly. kept in diftiches, and generally in the lat line of a paragraph, that the ear may reft without any fenfe of imper-fection

But, to preferve the series of founds: untranfpofed in a long compofition, is not only very difficult, but tiresome and difgufting; for we are foon wearied with the perpetual recurrence of the fame cadence. Neceffity has therefore enforced the mixed measure,, in which fome variation of the accents is allowed; this, though it always injures the harmony of the line confidered by itself, yet com penfates the lofs by relieving us from the continual tyranny of the fame found, and make us more fenfible of the harmony of the pure measure.

Of thefe mixed numbers every poet affords us innumerable inftances; and Milton feldom has two pure lines together, as will appear if any of his paragraphs be read with attention merely to the mufick.

Thus at their shady lodge arriv'd, both stood
Both turn'd, and under open fky ador'd
The God that made both sky, air, earth, and
heav'n,

globe,

Which they beheld; the moon's refplendent And ftarry pole: thou also mad' the night, Maker omnipotent! and thou the day, Which we in our appointed work employ' Have finish'd, happy in our mutual help, And mutual love, the crown of all our blifs Ordain'd by thee; and this delicious place, For us too large; where thy abundance wants Partakers, and uncrop'd falls to the ground; But thou haft promis'd from us two a race To fill the earth, who fhall with us extol Thy goodness infinite, both when we wake, And when we feck, as now, thy gift of deep.

In this paffage it will be at first obferved, that all the lines are not equally harmonious, and upon a nearer examination it will be found, that only the fifth and ninth lines are regular, and the reft are more or lefs licentious with refpect to the accent. In fome the accent

is equally upon two fyllables together, and in both trong. As

Thus at their fhady lodge'arriv'd, both flood,
Both turn'd, and under open sky ador'd
The God that made both sky, air, earth, and,
La

In others the accent is equally upon two fyllables, but upon both weak."

a race

To fill the earth, who fhall with us extol Thy goodness infinite, both when we wake, And when we feek, as now, thy gift of sleep.

In the first pair of fyllables the accent may deviate from the rigour of exact nefs, without any unpleafing diminution of harmony, as may be obferved in the Tines already cited, and more remarkably in this

Thou alfo mad'ft the night, Maker omnipotent! and thou the day.

But, excepting in the first pair of fylables, which may be confidered as arbitrary, a poet who, not having the invention or knowledge of Milton, has more need to allure his audience by mufical cadences, should feldom fuffer more than one aberration from the rule in any fingle verfe.

There are two lines in this paffage more remarkably unharmonious:

This delicious place, For us too large; where thy abundance wants Partakers, and uncrop'd falls to the ground.

Here the third pair of fyllables in the firft, and fourth pair in the fecond verfe, have their accents retrograde or inverted; the first fyllable being ftrong or acute, and the fecond weak. The detriment which the measure fuffers by this inverfion of the accents is fometimes lefs per

ceptible, when the verses are carried one into another, but is remarkably ftriking in this place, where the vicious verle concludes a period; and is yet more offenfive in rhyme, when we regularly attend to the flow of every fingle line. This will appear by reading a couplet, in which Cowley, an author not sufficiently ftudious of harmony, has committed the fame fault:

-his harmless life

Does with fubftantial blessedness abound, And the foft wings of peace cover him round.

In these the law of metre is very grofsly violated by mingling combinations of found directly oppofite to each other, as Milton expreffes in his fonnet, by committing bort and long, and fetting one part of the measure at variance with the reft. The ancients, who had a language more capable of variety than ours, had two kinds of verfe, the Iambick, confifting of short and long fyllables alternately, from which our heroick measure is derived, and the Trochaick, confifting in a like alternation of long and fhort. These were confidered as oppofites, and conveyed the contrary images of fpeed and flowness; to confound them, therefore, as in these lines, is to deviate from the established practice. But where the fenfes are to judge, authority is not neceffary, the ear is fufficient to detect diffonance, nor fhould I have fought auxiliaries on fuch an occafion against any name but that of Milton.

T

HOR

HAT few things are fe liberally beftowed, or fquandered with fo little effect, as good advice, has been generally obferved; and many fage pofizions have been advanced concerning the reafons of this complaint, and the means removing it. It is indeed an impor

FRANCIS.

tant and noble enquiry, for little would be wanting to the happiness of life, if every man could con orm to the right as foon as he was flown it.

This perverfe neglect of the most falutary precepts, and stubborn ¡eliftance of the most pathetick perfuafion, is u.ually Bb a imputed

imputed to him by whom the counsel is received; and we often hear it mentioned as a fign of hopeless depravity, that though good advice was given, it has wrought no reformation.

Others, who imagine themselves to have quicker fagacity and deeper penetration, have found out, that the inefficacy of advice is ufually the fault of the counsellor, and rules have been laid down, by which this important duty may be fuccefsfully performed: we are directed by what tokens to discover the favourable moment at which the heart is difpofed for the operation of truth and reafon, with what addresses to administer, and with what vehicles to disguise the catharticks of the foul.

But, notwithstanding this fpecious expedient, we find the world yet in the fame state; advice is still given, but ftill received with difguft; nor has it appear ed that the bitterness of the medicine has

been yet abated, or it's power increased, by any methods of preparing it.

If we confider the manner in which those who affume the office of directing the conduct of others execute their undertaking, it will not be very wonderful that their labours, however zealous or affectionate, are frequently ufelefs. For what is the advice that is commonly given? A few general maxims, enforced with vehemence and inculcated with importunity, but failing for want of particular reference and immediate appli

cation.

It is not often that any man can have fo much knowledge of another, as is neceffary to make inftruction useful. We are fometimes not ourselves confcious of the original motives of our actions, and when we know them, our first care is to hide them from the fight of others, and often from thofe molt diligently, whofe fuperiority either of power or understanding may intitle them to infpect our lives; it is therefore very probable that he who endeavours the cure of our intellectual maladies, miftakes their caufe; and that his prefcriptions avail nothing, because he knows not which of the paffions or defires is -vitiated.

Advice, as it always gives a temporary appearance of fuperiority, can never be very grateful, even when it is most neceifary or moft judicious. But for the fame reafon every one is eager to

inftruct his neighbours. To be wife or to be virtuous, is to buy dignity and importance at a high price; but when nothing is neceffary to elevation but detection of the follies or the faults of others, no man is so insensible to the voice of fame as to linger on the ground.

Tentanda via eft, qua me quoque poffim Tollere bumo, victorque virum volitare per ora. VIRG.

New ways I must attempt, my groveling name To raife aloft, and wing my flight to fame. DRYDEN.

Vanity is fo frequently the apparent motive of advice, that we, for the molt part, fummon our powers to oppose it without any very accurate enquiry whe ther it is right. It is fufficient that another is growing great in his own eyes at our expence, and affumes authority over us without our permiffion; for many would contentedly fuffer the confequences of their own mistakes, rather than the infolence of him who triumphs as their deliverer.

It is, indeed, feldom found that any advantages are enjoyed with that mode ration which the uncertainty of all human good fo powerfully enforces; and therefore the adviser may juftly fufpect, that he has inflamed the oppofition which he laments by arrogance and fupercilioufnefs. He may fufpect, but needs not haftily to condemn himself, for he can rarely be certain that the fofteft language, or the most humble diffidence, would have escaped refentment; fince fcarcely any degree of circumfpection can prevent or obviate the rage with which the flothful, the impotent, and the unfuccefsful, vent their discontent upon thofe that excel them. Modelty itfelf, if it is praised, will be envied; and there are minds fo impatient of inferiority, that their gratitude is a fpecies of revenge, and they return benefits, not becaufe recompence is a pleasure, but becaufe obligation is a pain.

The number of thofe whom the love of themselves has thus far corrupted, is perhaps not great; but there are few lo free from vanity, as not to dictate to thofe who will hear their inftructions with a vifible fenfe of their own beneficence; and few to whom it is not unpleating to receive documents, however tenderly and cautiously delivered, or whọ

are

are not willing to raise themselves from pupillage, by difputing the propofitions of their teacher.

It was the maxim, I think, of Alphonfus of Arragon, that dead counsellors are fafeft. The grave puts an end to flattery and artifice, and the information that we receive from books is pure from intereft, fear, or ambition. Dead counfellors are likewise most instructive; because they are heard with patience and with reverence. We are not unwilling to believe that man wifer than ourselves, from whose abilities we may receive advantage, without any danger of rivalry or oppofition, and who affords us the Tight of his experience, without hurting our eyes by flashes of insolence.

By the confultation of books, whether of dead or living authors, many temptations to petulance and oppofition, which occur in oral conferences, are avoided. An author cannot obtrude his advice unasked, nor can be often fufpected of any malignant intention to infult his readers with his knowledge or his wit. Yet fo prevalent is the habit of comparing ourfelves with others, while they remain within the reach of our paffions, that books are seldom read with complete impartiality, but by thofe from whom the writer is placed at such a distance that his life or death is indifferent.

We fee that volumes may be perused, and perused with attention, to little effect; and that maxims of prudence, or principles of virtue, may be treasured in the memory without influencing the conduct. Of the numbers that país their lives among books, very few read to be made wifer or better, apply any general reproof of vice to themselves, or try their own manners by axioms of juftice. They purpofe either to confume thofe hours for which they can find no other amufe,

ment, to gain or preferve that refpect which learning has always obtained; or to gratify their curiofity with knowledge, which, like treasures buried and forgotten, is of no use to others or themfelves.

The preacher,' fays a French author, may spend an hour in explaining and ⚫ enforcing a precept of religion, without feeling any impreffion from his own performance, because he may have no further defign than to fill up his hour. A ftudent may easily exhauft his life in comparing divines and moralifts, without any practical regard to morality or religion; he may be learning, not to live, but to reafon; he may regard only the elegance of ftyle, juft nels of argument, and accuracy of method; and may enable himself to criticife with judgment, and difpute with fubtilty, while the chief ufe of his volumes is unthought of, his mind is unaffected, and his life is unreformed.

But though truth and virtue are thus frequently defeated by pride, obftinacy, or folly, we are not allowed to defert them; for whoever can furnish arms which they hitherto have not employed, may enable them to gain fome hearts which would have refifted any other method of attack. Every man of genius has fome arts of fixing the attention peculiar to himself, by which, honeftly exerted, he may benefit mankind; for the arguments for purity of life fail of their due influence, not becaufe they have been confidered and confuted, but because they have been passed over without confideration. To the pofition of Tully, that if Virtue could be feen, the must be loved, may be added, that if Truth could be heard, the must be obeyed.

N° LXXXVIIL