$71. work, sewed together with pack- ancient streams; and though your thread. own wit will be improved and heighWhen I see a beautiful building tened by such a strong infusion, yet of exact order and proportion taken the spirit, the thought, the fancy, the down, and the different materials laid expression, which shall flow from together by themselves, it puts me in your pen, will be entirely your own. mind of these common-place men. Felton. The materials are certainly very good, but they understand not the rules of architecture so well, as to form them into just and masterly proportions any more: and yet how beautiful would they stand in another If any one, at this day, in the eighmodel upon another plan! teenth century, takes upon him to For, we must confess the truth: decry the ancient Classics; if he We can say nothing new, at least we pretends to have discovered that Hocan say nothing better than has been mer and Virgil are poets of inconsisaid before; but we may neverthe- derable merit, and that Demosthenes less make what we say our own. and Cicero are not great Orators, we And this is done when we do not may boldly venture to tell such a trouble ourselves to remember in man, that he has come too late with what page or what book we have his discovery. The reputation of read such a passage; but it falls in such writers is established upon a naturally with the course of our own foundation too solid to be now shaken thoughts, and takes its place in our by any arguments whatever; for it is writings with as much ease, and established upon the almost universal looks with as good a grace, as it ap- taste of mankind, proved and tried peared in two thousand years ago. throughout the succession of so many This is the best way of remem- ages. Imperfections in their works bering the ancient authors, when he may indeed point out; passages you relish their way of writing, enter that are faulty he may show; for into their thoughts, and imbibe their where is the human work that is persense. There is no need of tying fect? But if he attempts to discredit ourselves up to an imitation of any their works in general, or to prove of them; much less to copy or tran- that the reputation which they have scribe them. For there is room for gained is on the whole unjust, there vast variety of thought and style; as is an argument against him, which nature is various in her works, and is equal to full demonstration. He is nature still. Good authors, like must be in the wrong; for human the celebrated masters in the several nature is against him. In matters schools of painting, are originals in of taste, such as poetry and oratory, their way, and different in their man- to whom does the appeal lie? where ner. And when we can make the is the standard? and where the ausame use of the Romans as they thority of the last decision? where did of the Grecians, and habituate is it to be looked for, but as I forourselves to their way of thinking merly showed, in those feelings and and writing, we may be equal in sentiments that are found, on the rank, though different from them all, most extensive examination, to be and be esteemed originals as well as the common sentiments and feelings they. of men? These have been fully And this is what I would have you consulted on this head. The Public, do. Mix and incorporate with those the unprejudiced Public, has been tried and appealed to for many cen- opened the general principle, which turies, and throughout almost all must go far in instituting a fair comcivilized nations. It has pronounced parison between them and the Moits verdict; it has given its sanction derns. Whatever superiority the to these writers; and from this tribu- Ancients may have had in point of nal there lies no farther appeal. genius, yet in all arts, where the In matters of mere reasoning, the natural progress of knowledge has world may be long in an error; and had room to produce any consideramay be convinced of the error by ble effects, the Moderns cannot but stronger reasonings, when produced. have some advantage. The world Positions that depend upon science, may, in certain respects, be consiupon knowledge, and matters of fact, dered as a person, who must needs may be overturned according as sci- gain somewhat by advancing in ence and knowledge are enlarged, years. Its improvements have not, I and new matters of fact are brought confess, been always in proportion to to light. For this reason, a system the centuries that have passed over it ; of philosophy receives no sufficient for during the course of some ages sanction from its antiquity, or long it has sunk as into a total lethargy. currency. The world, as it grows Yet when roused from that lethargy, older, may be justly expected to be- it has generally been able to avail come, if not wiser, at least more itself, more or less, of former discoknowing; and supposing it doubtful veries. At intervals, there arose whether Aristotle, or Newton, were some happy genius, who could both the greater genius, yet Newton's improve on what had gone before, philosophy may prevail over Aristo- and invent something new. With tle's, by means of later discoveries, the advantage of a proper stock of to which Aristotle was a stranger. materials, an inferior genius can But nothing of this kind holds as to make greater progress than a much matters of Taste; which depend not superior one, to whom these materion the progress of knowledge and als are wanting. science, but upon sentiment and Hence, in Natural Philosophy, feeling. It is in vain to think of un- Astronomy, Chemistry, and other deceiving mankind, with respect to sciences that depend on an extensive errors committed here, as in Philoso-knowledge and observation of facts, phy. For the universal feeling of modern philosophers have an unmankind is the natural feeling; and questionable superiority over the anbecause it is the natural, it is, for cient. I am inclined also to think, that reason, the right feeling. The that in matters of pure reasoning, reputation of the Iliad and the Æne- there is more precision among the id must therefore stand upon sure moderns, than in some instances ground because it has stood so long; there was among the ancients; owing hough that of the Aristotelian or perhaps to a more extensive literary Platonic philosophy, every one is at intercourse, which has improved and liberty to call in question. sharpened the faculties of men. In Blair. some studies too, that relate to taste and fine writing, which is our object, $ 72. In what Respects the Mo-the progress of society must, in equi derns excel the Ancients. ty, be admitted to have given us some advantages. For instance, in histoLet us guard, however, against a ry; there is certainly more political blind and implicit veneration for the knowledge in several European naAncients in every thing. I have tions at present, than there was in ancient Greece and Rome. We are In history, notwithstanding some better acquainted with the nature defects, which I am afterwards to of government, because we have mention in the ancient historical seen it under a greater variety of plans, it may be safely asserted, that forms and revolutions. The world we have no such historical narration, is more laid open than it was in for- so elegant, so picturesque, so animer times; commerce is greatly en- mated, and interesting as that of Helarged; more countries are civilized; rodotus, Thucydides, Xenophon, Liposts are every where established; vy, Tacitus, and Sallust. Although intercourse is become more easy; the conduct of the drama may be and the knowledge of facts, by con- admitted to have received some imsequence, more attainable. All these provements, yet for poetry and sentiare great advantages to historians; ment, we have nothing to equal Soof which in some measure, as I shall phocles and Euripides; nor any afterwards show, they have availed dialogue in comedy, that comes up themselves. In the more complex to the correct, graceful, and elegant kinds of poetry, likewise, we may simplicity of Terence. We have no have gained somewhat, perhaps, in such love-elegies as those of Tibulpoint of regularity and accuracy. In lus: no such pastorals as some of dramatic performances, having the Theocritus's: and for Lyric poetry, advantage of the ancient models, we Horace stands quite unrivalled. The may be allowed to have made some name of Horace cannot be mentionimprovements in the variety of the ed without a particular encomium. characters, the conduct of the plot, That "curiosa felicitas" which Peattentions to probability, and to de- tronius has remarked in his expresBlair. sion; the sweetness, elegance, and spirit of many of his odes, the tho corum. $73. We must look to the An- rough knowledge of the world, the excellent sentiments, and natural cients for elegant Composition, and to the Moderns for accurate Satires and Epistles, all contribute easy manner which distinguish his Philosophy. to render him one of those very few From whatever cause it happens, authors whom one never tires of so it is, that among some of the an- reading; and from whom alone, were cient writers, we must look for the every other monument destroyed, we highest models in most of the kinds should be led to form a very high of elegant composition. For accurate idea of the taste and genius of the thinking and enlarged ideas, in seve- Augustan age. ral parts of philosophy, to the moderns we ought chiefly to have re in picturesque Narration. Ibid. course. Of correct and finished $74. The ancient Historians excel writing in some works of taste, they may afford useful patterns; but for In all the virtues of narration, all that belongs to original genius, to particularly in that of picturesque spirited, masterly, and high execu- descriptive narration, several of the tion, our best and most happy ideas ancient historians eminently excel. are, generally speaking, drawn from Hence, the pleasure that is found the ancients. In epic poetry, for in reading Herodotus, Thucydides, instance, Homer and Virgil, to this Xenophon, Livy, Sallust, and Taciday, stand not within many degrees tus. They are all conspicuous for of any rival. Orators, such as Cice- the art of narration. Herodotus is, ro and Demosthenes, we have none. at all times, an agreeable writer, and Ibid. $76. TACITUS remarkable for Historical Painting. relates every thing with that naïveté unquiet manner in which they pass and simplicity of manner, which never the night; the consultations of the fails to interest the reader. Though Samnites; the various measures prothe manner of Thucydides be more posed to be taken; the messages bedry and harsh, yet, on great occa- tween the two armies, all heighten sions, as when he is giving an ac- the scene. At length, in the morncount of the plague of Athens, the ing the consuls return to the camp, siege of Platæa, the sedition in Cor- and inform them that they could recyra, the defeat of the Athenians in ceive no other terms but that of surSicily, he displays a very strong and rendering their arms, and passing unmasterly power of description. Xe-der the yoke, which was considered nophon's Cyropædia, and his Anaba- as the last mark of ignominy for a sis, or retreat of the ten thousand, conquered army. are extremely beautiful. The circumstances are finely selected, and the narration is easy and engaging; but his Hellenics, or continuation of the history of Thucydides, is a much Tacitus is another author eminent inferior work. Sallust's art of his- for historical painting, though in a torical painting in his Catilinarian, manner altogether different from that but more especially in his Jugur- of Livy. Livy's descriptions are thine war, is well known; though his more full, more plain, and natural; style is liable to censure, as too stu- those of Tacitus consist in a few died and affected. Blair. bold strokes. He selects one or two remarkable circumstances, and sets them before us in a strong, and, generally, in a new and uncommon light. Such is the following picture of the Livy is more unexceptionable in situation of Rome, and of the emhis manner; and is excelled by no peror Galba, when Otho was advanchistorian whatever in the art of nar- ing against him: "Agebatur huc ration several remarkable examples illuc Galba vario, turbæ fluctuantis might be given from him. His ac- impulsu, completis undique basilicis count, for instance, of the famous et templis, lugubri prospectu. Nedefeat of the Roman army by the que populi, aut plebis ulla vox; sed Samnites, at the Furcæ Caudinæ, in attoniti vultus et conversæ ad omnia the beginning of the ninth book, af- aures. Non tumultus, non quies; fords one of the most beautiful ex- sed quale magni metus, et magnæ emplifications of historical painting, iræ, silentium est."* No image, in that is any where to be met with. any poet, is more strong and expresWe have first, an exact description sive than this last stroke of the of the narrow pass between two description; "Non tumultus, non mountains, into which the enemy quies, sed quale," &c. This is a conhad decoyed the Romans. When ception of the sublime kind, and disthey find themselves caught, and no "Galba was driven to and fro by the tide hope of escape left, we are made to of the multitude shoving him from place to see first their astonishment, next, place. The temples and public buildings were their indignation, and then, their de-filled with crowds, of a dismal appearance. No jection, painted in the most lively clamours were heard, either from the citizens, manner, by such circumstances and filled with consternation; their ears were emactions as were natural to persons in ployed in listening with anxiety. It was not a tumult; it was not quietness; it was the silence their situation. The restless and of terror and of wrath." VOL. I. Nos. 17 & 18. 2 E $75. Livy remarkable for Historical Painting. or from the rabble. Their countenances were covers high genius. Indeed, through-sical periods, and appearances of out all his work, Tacitus shows the number and harmony in arrangehand of a master. As he is pro- ment, should be carefully avoided in found in reflection, so he is striking letters. The best letters are com Ibid. in description, and pathetic in senti- monly such as the authors have writment. The philosopher, the poet, ten with most facility. What the and the historian, all meet in him. heart or the imagination dictates, alThough the period of which he ways flows readily; but where there writes may be reckoned unfortunate is no subject to warm or interest for an historian, he has made it af- these, constraint appears; and hence ford us many interesting exhibitions those letters of mere compliment, of human nature. The relations congratulation, or affected condowhich he gives of the deaths of seve-lence, which have cost the authors ral eminent personages, are as affect- most labour in composing, and which, ing as the deepest tragedies. He for that reason, they perhaps consider paints with a glowing pencil; and pos- as their master-pieces, never fail of sesses, beyond all writers, the talent being the most disagreeable and inof painting, not to the imagination sipid to the readers. merely, but to the heart. With many of the most distinguished beauties, he is, at the same time, not a perfect model for history; and such as have formed themselves upon him, have seldom been successful. He is to It ought, at the same time, to be be admired, rather than imitated. remembered, that the ease and simIn his reflections he is too refined; plicity which I have recommended in in his style too concise, sometimes epistolary correspondence, are not to quaint and affected, often abrupt and be understood as importing entire obscure. History seems to require carelessness. In writing to the most a more natural, flowing, and popular intimate friend, a certain degree of Blair. attention, both to the subject and the style, is requisite and becoming. It is no more than what we owe both to manner. § 77. On the Beauty of Epistolary Writing. $78. Ease in writing Letters must not degenerate to carelessness. ourselves, and to the friend with whom we correspond. A slovenly Its first and fundamental requisite and negligent manner of writing is is, to be natural and simple; for a a disobliging mark of want of restiff and laboured manner is as bad spect. The liberty besides, of writin a letter as it is in conversation. ing letters with too careless a hand, This does not banish sprightliness is apt to betray persons into impruand wit. These are graceful in let-dence in what they write. The first ters, just as they are in conversation: requisite, both in conversation and when they flow easily, and without correspondence, is to attend to all being studied; when employed so the proper decorums which our own as to season, not to cloy. One who, character, and that of others, deeither in conversation or in letters, mand. An imprudent expression in affects to shine and to sparkle always, conversation may be forgotten and will not please long. The style of pass away; but when we take the letters should not be too highly po- pen into our hand, we must rememlished. It ought to be neat and cor- ber, that Litera scripta manet. rect, but no more. All nicety about words betrays study; and hence mu *What is written is permanent. Ibid. |