sidered, as chronicled and recorded, a greater decorum and propriety, a correctness of sentiment and manners, that are the creatures of modern ages, and a refined state of society; and showing a courtly education, and an extensive knowledge of the world, in the heroic ages. But, secondly, the good Professor is not founded in his assertion, that Virgil has surpassed all his predecessors, in dignity of manners, and refinement of sentiment. On the contrary, Virgil seems to be equalled, if not surpast, in these particulars, by Apollonius-in particular, Jason shows more refined sensibility, more of gallantry, and the spirit of chivalry. In Among the principal perfections of Virgil's poetry, we have already noted the clearness of his conceptions, his graphical talent, his skill in selecting and combining circumstances, and his luminous display of images, incidents, and emotions Much of this graphical talent depends on the excellence of his poetical diction, the beauty, the elegance, and majesty of which, are unequalled. We find in him a curious felicity, the offspring of united genius, to conceive and express happily, and taste and industry, to refine and beautify afterwards, by repeated touches of patient correctness. this happy combination of thought and expression, consist the elegance and force which may be felt, but cannot well be described-the balmy essence of beauty and grace, too volatile to be transfused, too subtle to be fixed or analysed, by which we are struck, we are charmed, we scarce know how.-Hence result the uncommon charms of picturesque language-the thoughts that breathe, and words that burn, while an epithet is a complete picture, a single expression, a word, is tantamount, in force, to a whole sentence. From his supereminence in these perfections, Virgil becomes an author most difficult to translate or imitate; and the same may be be said of Apollonius. It is next to impossible to transfer into another language, that exquisite poetical colouring, those graces which seem to be inimitable hues.What tints, what art of the painter, can fully imitate the delightful carnation of nature, where the pure and éloquent blood speaks in the cheek?-Many great and illustrious painters have arisen-the hand only of Titian could rival nature in this respect. Yet, even here, we must, in great measure, withhold from Virgil the palm of originality.-In his diction, as well as in his other excellencies, he is very much the child of imitation.-It must be owned, however, that, in what he has borrowed from preceding poets, he displays a taste and judgment, which claim a praise nearly equal to that of original invention.-Apollonius, the favourite poet of Virgil, was his great master, in elaborate correctness, and in picturesque and poetic diction. It is said of Homer, in the admirable preface of Pope "We acknowledge him the father of poetical dic"tion; the first, who taught the language of the gods "to men. His expression is like the colouring of some great master, which discovers itself to be laid on "boldly, and executed with great rapidity. It is, in"deed, the strongest and most glowing imaginable, "and touched, with the greatest spirit.-To throw his "language more out of prose, Homer affected com"pound epithets. This not only heightened the dic"tion, but filled the numbers with greater sound and 'pomp, and contributed, in some measure, to thicken "the images.”—Yet, further to enrich his language, to attain a more poetical diction, and to render his versification more musical and sonorous, he availed himself of the introduction of different dialects, so that, although the predominant was the poetical Ionic, he borrowed from from each, all that was most exquisitely grateful to the ear, and best adapted to the use of poetry. Apollonius Rhodius judiciously perceived, that it was not allowable, for every warrior, to wear the armour of Achilles-for every archer to bend the bow of Ulysses. He felt, that an inferior bard must not venture to employ those expedients, or claim those privileges, which seemed to belong exclusively to the mighty father of epic song, and required the transcendent abilities of an Homer, to justify their use by success. He saw, that, by attempting such expedients, he should not, in the first place, have the merit of originality; and, in the next, that he could not expect to reach Homer, in his peculiar walk; but must be content, to follow him -haud passibus aquis; and, at best, acquire the name of a feeble and unequal copyist.-He wisely saw, and pursued, the path, that yet lay open before him. He avoided the hazardous competition with a sovereign, who reigned in legitimate and undisputed authority, and determined to explore for himself new regions, and new possessions.He resolved to seize the glory, which might be acquired by more exquisite and fanciful inventions, by more recherché ornaments, more refined sentiments, by superlative grace and beauty of diction, an elaborate and masterly refinement, and sweetness in ver. sification. Unequal to Homer, in the fierce and aspiring flame of invention, Apollonius, and his pupil Virgil, pursued a different course and aim, and acquired an equal. degree of fame, but of a different character and tone.From a curious felicity of expression, a research through all the stores of language, for what was most clear, exquisite, expressive, and majestic-for the undescribable and incommunicable graces-for the silence that is eloquent, the words that live and glow, the epithets that paint paint-the happy arrangement of selected words-the graceful collocation of harmonious sentences-the most pure and dignified forms of speech, such as were suited to the courtly, learned, and distinguishing ear. It was here, that the strength and skill, the artifice and industry, the soul of taste, the consummate mastery in all the witchcraft of words, were displayed by these exquisite writers. Virgil found himself precluded, by the genius of the Roman language, from the use of various dialects, had he been disposed to employ them. He fully compensated for this want, by the resources of his own taste and genius.-Apollonius was his guide and example, in the momentous and laborious task, of perfecting his diction, and harmonizing his versification, until the former acquired a force and energy; the latter, a pomp and sweetness, a grace and expressive appropriateness, unequalled by any poet, ancient or modern, if we except Apollonius, on whom he formed himself, by a diligent and incessant perusal. This unremitting study of the Alexandrian poet will appear, not only, by the multitude of passages, which the great Roman has adopted or imitated, but still more by their close resemblance, and identification of style and manner, as far as the genius of their respective languages will allow. Virgil seems to have transfused into himself the very life-blood of Apollonius.-The departed soul of that poet, seems to return, and live, and actuate his Mantuan disciple and admirer, by a sort of poetical transmigration. Among the kindred excellencies of Virgil and Apol· lonius, the praise of versification seems to be peculiarly and exclusively their own. All that an ear, harmonized by the finest feelings of nature, and methodized and regulated by study and practice, can produce, appears in their works. I have already observed, that Our our kindred bards possessed peculiar and similar advan. tages of situation, which called out, and expanded, in a distinguished manner, certain parts or exertions of the innate talents, with which they were gifted. Other poets may, perhaps, have been as liberally endowed by nature, but being less fortunately circumstanced, their talents have lain for ever dormant, and died with them, unhonoured and unknown, merely for want of proper example, cultivation, and encouragement. -In fact, Apollonius may be considered, as a sort of middle term, a bond of connexion between Homer and Virgil, in the use of a more florid and ornate style, of more remote and exquisite metaphors, of greater attention in the choice of words, greater care, in the construction and arrange. ment of sentences; but, above all, in the artifices, and enchanting craft of versification. An art, in which all the writers of the Alexandrian school, and especially Theocritus and Callimachus, were supereminent. * Among the judicious artifices, and scientific refinements, that contribute to the perfection of versification, in Virgil and Apollonius, the reader will observe, that they have directed their attention, with uncommon solicitude, to the pursuit of three principal objects.--Objects, which they are enabled effectually to obtain, by a consummate knowledge of language, under the direction of a learned and judicious ear.—' -The selection and employment of smooth and melodious, and nobly-sounding words, that facilitate the work of harmonious and majestic versification-the judicious use of the cesura, and the artful introduction of the second pause and cesura -the endeavour to make the sound an echo to the sense. * Among the many instances of this excellence, in Callimachus, are his verses on the eruptions of Etna. The |