(41)

inftances, which are enumerated by different writers, we find from various parts of the book of Genefis, that the Patriarchs raised altars, where God had appeared unto them. See Genefis, Chap. XI. v. 7. C. XXV. v. 25. &c. To this cuftom of the primitive and patriarchal Ages MILTON feems to have alluded. The learned painters POUSSIN and Le BRUN were studious of illustrating their fubjects by fuch circumftances of Costume, collected from the scattered notices of Antiquity which gave that propriety and character to their defign, for which their works are famous.

From circumftances of place and fituation some of the finest paffages in the poets derive their chief beauty and power of expreffion. The contemplation of places which were frequented by those whofe memory we reverence, excites fenfations and emotions fimilar to those, which have been felt by every man at the fight of places familiar to his childhood, or dear to him by the recognizance of past events, which recall to the mind

days, which never but in fancy can return, and fcenes, which can never be repeated. To the above paffage of MILTON I am tempted to add another, not merely from its relation to the prefent fubject, for the poets are full of fuch paffages, but because it will afford an opportunity of vindicating the propriety of part of it, which was called in queftion by Mr. ADDISON. Paradife Loft, B. XII.

They looking back all th' eaftern part beheld.
Of Paradife, fo late their happy feat,
Wav'd over by that flaming brand, the gate
With dreadful faces throng'd, and fiery arms. 9
Some natural tears they dropt, but wip'd them foon.
The world was all before them, where to choose
Their place of reft, and Providence their guide:
They hand in hand with wandering steps and flow
Through Eden took their folitary way.

Mr. Addison thought the poem would end better if the two laft verfes were omitted; because they renew in the mind of the reader

a Such in a very eminent degree is Eve's complaint on hearing fhe was to be removed from Paradife ; with which may be compared the farewell of Philoctetes to his Cave, in Sophocles.

that

that anguish, which was pretty well laid by the confideration of the two foregoing verfes. Mr. SPENCE in his Effay on Pope's Odyssey, p. 246, obferves that, "confidering the moral "and chief defign of this Poem, Terror is "the last paffion to be left upon the mind "of the reader." May we not add further, that the Poet in concluding with this description of their departure through Eden, recalls in a very lively manner the subject of the Poem,

Of Man's firft difobedience and the fruit

Of that forbidden tree, whofe mortal taste
Brought death into the world, and all our woe,
With lofs of Eden.

and leaves very powerfully on the mind of the reader the impreffion with which he set out, by which the Poem becomes more unique and perfect.

II.

II. *

Next to the language of a People, is defervedly placed their Political Origin, their fabulous history, and MYTHOLOGY: which derive fo much light from a minute examination of the fimple and original parts of language. To give an imaginary dignity to the early conftitution of their several governments, the pride of every people with whose history we are acquainted, has thrown their origin far beyond the reach of those certain records, which more enlightened ages have established as memorials of past transactions, and fixed criteria of truth.

From the mixed tradition of the first Ages extended and improved by the ingenuity of Poets and other fablers was formed the variegated texture of ancient Mythology, which indeed fuits not with the gravity of History, but carries with it fomething more amufing to the fancy. It is in revolving the mysterious fictions of Mythology, perhaps more than in

+ See Obfervation V.

* See pag. 7.

F 2

any

any other fubject, that the mind feels thofe Obf. II. pleafing fenfations, as well as more powerful emotions of Enthufiafm, which fo totally and abstractedly poffefs the imagination. The magnificent images of the Universe which they represented, though erroneous, afforded materials to the first poets of Greece, who fang of the birth of the Gods, and the generation of the World: Like the fublime Theory of BURNET, which though often conducted on false principles, does not therefore present a scene lefs wonderful, less striking to the fancy.

But the fictions of Mythology when confidered in a cooler temper of mind are found to contain manifeft indications of the manners and customs of thofe early ages by the reference, which they have to their wants, fituation, and conveniences. The idea of an invifible, omniprefent Deity, was too great for the apprehenfion; and too refined to arreft the attention of minds rude and uninformed. Some external reprefentative was requifite, which, while it was an object of

the