Imatges de pàgina
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human genius. The opinion of Hiero may, however, be questioned with an appearance of plausibility, when it is considered, that his character, as a critic, was established by his courtiers, who, to gain his favour, might not seruple to violate the truth.

The gay, the sprightly, the voluptuous Anacreon is known to every reader. His subjects, and his manner of treating them, have captivated all who are susceptible either of pleasure or of poetry. There is, indeed, an exquisite tenderness, delicacy, and taste in the sentiments, but I have always thought he derived no small share of his beauty from the choice of expressions, and the peculiar harmony of his verses. It has been objected to him, by rigid moralists, that his writings tend to promote drunkenness and debauchery. But this objection might in some degree be extended to a great part of the finest writers, ancient and modern. A man of sense and judgment will admire the beauties of a composition, without suffering its sentiments to influence his principles or his conduct. He will look upon the more licentious sallies of Anacreontic writers, as little j'eux d'esprit designed to please in the hour of convivial festivity, but not to regulate his thoughts and actions in the serious concerns of life. Whatever may be the moral tendency of his writings, it is certain that as a poet he is unrivaled in that species of composition which he adopted. Many have been the imitations of him, but few have succeeded. The joys of love and wine have indeed been described by his followers, but their touches are more like the daubings of an unskilful painter, than the exquisite traits of a master hand. Cowley, whose genius certainly partook more of the Anacreontic than of the Pindaric, has been one of his happiest imitators, for he is rather to be called an

imitator than a translator; but the English reader will not form a just idea of the merits of Anacreon, from those Bacchanalian songs which so frequently appear under the title of Anacreontic.

The passion of love was never more strongly felt or described than by the sensible Sappho. The little Greek ode, preserved by Longinus, the metre of which derives its name from her, has been translated by Mr. Phillips with all the air of an original. The Latin translation of Catullus appears much inferior to that of our countryman. The Greek indeed is much corrupted, and, as it now stands, is less pleasing than the English. Every one, who on reading it recollects its occasion, must lament that so warm a passion, so feelingly represented, was excited by an improper object.

Modern

Scaliger, whose judgment, though sometimes called in question,, ought certainly to have great weight, bestowed very extraordinary praises on the writings of Oppian; a poet, who, though he has been compared to Virgil in his Georgics, is only perused by the curious in Grecian literature, and is known only by name to the common reader. The emperor Caracalla, under whom he flourished, is said to have been so charmed with his poems, as to have ordered him a stater for each verse. critics will, however, dare to call in question the taste of Caracalla. The works of Oppian consisted of halieutics, cynogetics, and ixeutics, the latter of which have perished by the injuries of time. He was a grammarian, which, in the idea of the Greeks, meant a professed scholar; and in every age, the works of men, who professed literature, have been less admired than the vigorous and wild productions of uncultivated genius. The former are contented to avoid faults, but genius labours after beauties

Jonson than Shakspeare; but Apollonius and Jonson are coldly approved, while Homer and Shakspeare are beheld with astonishment almost equal to idolatry. It should however be remarked to the honour of Apollonius, that the judicious Virgil borrowed several of his most celebrated similes from him, and perhaps he is not to be ranked among the poetæ minores. Oppian has met with the usual fate of grammarians, and has scarcely been read; but the reader of taste will yet find many passages, which, if they are not sublime, he must confess to be beautiful.

Tryphiodorus has been introduced to the English reader, by the excellent translation of the ingenious Mr. Merrick. Homer he certainly imitated, and has succeeded in the imitation. Copies taken by great masters, though inferior in general, yet in some parts commonly rival their originals. Tryphiodorus reaches not the sublimer flights of the Mæonian bard, but he sometimes follows his less daring excursions at no distant interval. It is enough to recommend him to general approbation, that with a moderate portion of Homer's fire, he has more correctness. He may be read with advantage not only in a poetical, but in an historical view. Where Homer discontinued the thread of his story, Tryphiodorus has taken it up. Indeed this poem is a necessary supplement to the Iliad, without which the reader is left unsatisfied. Tryphiodorus is said to have written another poem, called Οδυσσεια λειπογραμματη, in which he has omitted, through each book, the letter which marked the number of it. Such a kind of composition is trifling, and beneath a man of genius; but it must be allowed to be a work of great difficulty, and consequently a proof of great application. Nor ought it

but to be viewed as the wanton production of an ingenious, but ill-employed grammarian. If Homer wrote the battle of the Frogs and Mice, and Virgil descanted on his Gnat, without losing the dignity of their characters; inferior writers may indulge the inoffensive sallies of whim, without the imputation of folly or puerility.

In the perusal of some of these, and other of the Minor Poets, whose works are extant, the lover of the Grecian Muse finds a pleasing variety, after reading the more sublime and beautiful productions of Homer.

No. CLXXIX.

A Concluding Essay.

THE writers of periodical papers have usually subjoined, at the close of their lucubrations, an account of the origin and progress of their work, explained the signatures of correspondents, and assigned each paper to its proper claimant.-I am now arrived at the End of the Third Volume, the boundary prescribed to my excursions: but I have, I believe, no information of this kind remaining to be communicated. I have already accounted for the origin of this work, and intimated, that the composition of it has served, at various times and in different situations, to amuse a few intervals of literary leisure; and, with respect to assistants and correspondents, the nature of the undertaking could not possibly admit them. If, therefore, any praise should be

to lessen whatever severity of censure may be incurred, the whole weight of which must fall without participation.

I mean not, however, to delude myself with an idea of influencing a reader by apologies: the submissions and excuses of authors are of little importance; the Public claims an uncontrovertible right to decide for itself on every composition which solicits regard: its final decisions are usually no less just than immutable.

Instead then of dwelling on such topics, I will take leave of the candid reader, if any reader should have had patience to accompany me so far, by a summary recapitulation, and perhaps addition of a few admonitions which may be salutary. I pretend not to collect all the scattered remarks, which have preceded, into one point of view, but merely to repeat and add such as may possibly occur in filling up the paper which now lies before me. I hope the egotism will be pardoned on this and several other occasions, as it is by no means easy at all times to speak in the third person of one's self, without evident affectation.

I have endeavoured, throughout the whole series of these papers, to warn those who are entering into life (and to them my admonitions are chiefly addressed) against the fashionable examples of the rich and great vulgar, which often militate against all that is decent, regular, virtuous, and learned. Unless we are taught in our youth to be on our guard against their destructive influence, we shall certainly incur imminent danger of corrupting our principles and practice, by a blind and bigoted imitation. Experience daily evinces, that, without this precaution, all the advantages of a virtuous and learned education, all the documents of paternal

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