Графични страници
PDF файл
ePub

but they are not amiable. The reader may rise from their works with a greater degree of active or paffive fortitude, and fometimes of prudence; but he will be able to carry away few precepts of juftice, and none of mercy.

From the Italian writers it appears, that the advantages of even Chrif tian knowledge may be poffeffed in vain. Ariofto's pravity is generally known; and though the Deliverance of Jerufalem may be confidered as a facred fubject, the poet has been very fparing of moral inftruction.

In Milton every line breathes fanctity of thought, and purity of manners, except when the train of the narration requires the introduction of the rebellious

fpirits ;

fpirits; and even they are compelled to acknowledge their fubjection to God, in fuch a manner as excites reverence and

confirms piety.

Of human beings there are but two; but those two are the parents of mankind, venerable before their fall for dignity and innocence, and amiable after it for repentance and fubmiffion. In their firft ftate their affection is tender without weakness, and their piety sublime without prefumption. When they have finned, they fhew how difcord begins in natural frailty, and how it ought to cease in mutual forbearance; how confidence of the divine favour is forfeited by fin, and how hope of pardon may be obtained by penitence and

prayer.

prayer. A ftate of innocence we can only conceive, if indeed, in our present mifery, it be poffible to conceive it; but the fentiments and worship proper to a fallen and offending being, we have all to learn, as we have all to practise.

The poet, whatever be done, is always great. Our progenitors, in their first ftate, converfed with angels; even when folly and fin had degraded them, they had not in their humiliation the port of mean fuitors; and they rise again to reverential regard, when we find that their prayers were heard.

As human paffions did not enter the world before the Fall, there is in the Paradife Loft little opportunity for the. pathetick; but what little there is has

not

not been loft. That paffion which is peculiar to rational nature, the anguish

arifing from the confcioufnefs of tranfgreffion, and the horrours attending the fenfe of the Divine difpleafure, are very justly defcribed and forcibly impreffed. But the paffions are moved only on one occafion; fublimity is the general and prevailing quality in this poem; fublimity variously modified, fometimes defcriptive, fometimes argumentative.

The defects and faults of Paradife Loft, for faults and defects every work of man must have, it is the bufinefs of impartial criticism to discover. As, in difplaying the excellence of Milton, I have not made long quotations, because of selecting beauties there had

[blocks in formation]

been no end, I fhall in the fame general manner mention that which feems to deferve cenfure; for what Englishman can take delight in tranfcribing paffages, which, if they leffen the reputation of Milton, diminifh in fome degree the honour of our country?

The generality of my scheme does not admit the frequent notice of verbal inaccuracies; which Bentley, perhaps better skilled in grammar than in роеtry, has often found, though he fome ́times made them, and which he imputed to the obtrufions of a reviser whom the author's blindnefs obliged him to employ. A fuppofition rash and groundless, if he thought it true; and

« ПредишнаНапред »