with great of Auguftus to that of Louis XIV. A lady afked why, talents, we fcarcely ever now compofe works of genius? "Mr Andrews replied, Because works of genius were compofed in the last age. This idea was ingenious and deep, yet true.” of Forty Crowns. In another place, Voltaire has the following lines: Heureux qui les premiers marchent dans la carriere ¦ Fame then was cheap, and the first comers fped; Man Whenever it becomes fashionable to praise an old writer, it is aftonishing what eulogies are lavished upon him; even his having had common fenfe becomes a subject of wonder and admiration. Thus the old editors of the Greek tragedians generally mark with commas those paffages in which it is afferted that life is fport, or fortune is changeable, astonished that Pagans should make fuch profound discoveries. The Earl of Orford in his Anecdotes, and J. Warton in his Effay on Pope, extol Milton to the skies, and pronounce him the father of modern gardening, because he has not introduced clipt hedges, gravel walks, and marble fountains, into the Garden of Eden; as if there was much merit in avoiding a fault which no writer of common fenfe could poffibly have committed. We fee that Leifure is painted by him as taking his pleasure in trim gardens; but he had judgement enough to avoid painting the hand of art as appearing where Nature “wanton'd as in her prime." These critics might as well praise that moft divine of bards because he does not defcribe Adam as wearing a cocked hat, or, instead of a bower, living in a palace adorned with paintings fimilar to those of Titian and Corregio. An expreffion, of this last painter is often quoted. I think one of Dominichino ought to be as well known. This great painter, being a modest patient man, met with many directors. One day, his rival Lanfranc, among other criticisms, faid, that a certain limb was too fhort: "It will be long enough (replied Dominichino) a few years hence." Note (s) p. 58.-When Voltaire was attacked by the journalists of Trevoux, he was not quite so patient as Malebranche when in the fame predicament. This philofopher being urged to reply to the journalists, « Je ne dispute (replied he) avec des gens, qui font un livre tous les mois." Both Pope and Voltaire indeed pretended to laugh at their opponents, but "utinam qui male mihi volunt, sig rideant." Note (1) p. 59. Mais il revient; il rêpare sa honte ; Le temps l'éclaire: oui, mais la mort plus prompte En attendant que les fiens foient ouverts: Voltaire Epitre a Madame Denis. I am forry at the use of the word pauvre in this passage; 4 injureş the tender melancholy of the other lines. END OF THE NOTES. |