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full and bold and fublime. But it is material to confider, whether your criticism turns upon fuch points as are real faults, or only striking and remarkable expreffions. Whatever is elevated is fure to be obferved; but it requires a very nice judgment to diftinguish the bounds between true and falle grandeur; between a juft and enormous height. To give an inftance out of Homer, both of the grand and elevated ftyle, in the following lines; which can scarce, I imagine, have efcaped any reader's obfervation :

Heav'n in loud thunder bids the trumpet found; And wide beneath them groans the rending ground*.

Again,

Reclin'd on clouds his fteed and armour lay t·
So in this whole paffage :

As torrents roll, increas'd by numerous rills †,
With rage impetuous down their echoing hills,
Rush to the vales, and pour'd along the plain,
Roar through a thoufand channels to the main.

It requires, I fay, a very delicate hand to poife thefe metaphors, and determine whether they are too figurative and lofty, or truly majestic or fublime. Not that I think any thing which I have wrote or can write, admits of comparifon with thefe. I am not extravagant enough to fay fo: what I would be understood to contend for is, that we should throw up the reins to eloquence, nor restrain the daring flights of genius within too narrow a compass. But it will be faid, perhaps, there is a wide difference between orators and poets. As if, in truth, Tully were not as bold in his figures as any of the poets. But not to mention particular inftances from him, in a point where, I imagine, there can be no difpute; does Demofthenes himself, that model and standard of true oratory, does Demofthenes check and reprefs the fire of his genius, in that well known paffage which begins thus: "Ye infamous flatterers, ye evil genii, "&c.?"-And again, "It is neither " with ftones nor bricks that I have for"tified this city, &c."-And afterwards; "I have thrown up these out"works before Attica, and pointed out

Iliad xxi. 387. Pope's tranflation.
Iliad v. 356. fpeaking of Mars.
Iliad ver. 452. Pope's tranflation.

"to you all the refources which human

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prudence can fuggeft, &c."-And in another place; "O my countrymen, I "fwear by the immortal Gods, that he "is intoxicated with the grandeur of his own actions, &c." But what can be more daring and beautiful than that long digreffion, which begins in this manner: "A terrible disease, O my countrymen, "has feized upon all Greece, &c.?"The following paffage likewife, though fomething fhorter, is conceived in the fame boldness of metaphor : "" Then it "was I rofe up in oppofition to the daring

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Pytho, who poured forth a torrent of menaces against you, &c."-The fubfequent stricture is of the fame stamp:

When a man has ftrengthened himself, "as Philip has, in avarice and wicked"nefs, upon the first pretence that offers "itself, at the firft falfe ftep, be it ever "fo inconfiderable, he briftles up his

mane and destroys all, &c."-So in the fame ftyle with the foregoing is this: -"Railed off, as it were, from the pri

vileges of fociety, by the concurrent "and just judgments of the three tri"bunals in the city."-And in the fame place: "O Ariftogiton! you have be

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trayed that mercy which used to be "fhewn to offences of this nature, or ra"ther, indeed, you have wholly ex"haufted it. In vain then would you "fly for refuge to a port, which you

have fhut up, and choaked with piles." -He had faid before; "I am afraid, "therefore, you should appear, in the

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judgment of fome, to have fet up a public office for bad education: for "there is a weakness in all wickedness, which renders it unable to fupport it"felf?"-And a little lower; "I "fee none of thefe refources open to

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him; but all is precipice, gulph, and

profound abyfs."-And again: "Nor "do I imagine that our ancestors erected "thofe courts of judicature, that men of "his character should be planted there; "but on the contrary, that none may de"fire to imitate their evil actions."And afterwards: "If he is then the ar"tificer of every wickedness, if he

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openly makes it his trade and traffic, "&c." And a thousand other paffages which I might cite to the fame purpofe; not to mention thofe expreffions which Afchines fays are not words, but won

ders.

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I have fallen into the fame turn of figure that you condemn. But attack them if you pleafe, provided you will immediately appoint a day when we may meet to difcufs thefe matters in perfon: you will then either teach me to be lefs daring, or I fhall learn you to be more bold. Farewel.

LETTER CXXXIII.

To Romanus.

YOUR letters have at length reached

one, you enjoin me the very agreeable commiffion of forwarding your letter to that excellent lady, the virtuous Plotina * I will take care to do fo. At the fame time you recommend to me Popilius Artemitius; and accordingly I have performed your request. You tell me alfo your vintage has proved extremely moderate. That complaint, notwithstanding we are feparated by such distant

ders. You will tell me, perhaps, I have unwarily mentioned Æfchines, fince Demofthenes is condemned, even by him, for running into thefe figurative expreffions. But obferve, I intreat you, how far fuperior the former orator is to his criticizer, and fuperior too in the very paflages to which he objects: for in others, the ftrength of his genius difcovers itfelf; in thofe above quoted, the fublimity of it fhines out. But does Æfchines himfelf avoid what he reproves in Demofthenes?" The orator," fays he, “ A"thenians, and the law, ought to speak "the fame language; but when the voice me, and I received three at once; "of the law declares one thing, and that all written in the strongest spirit of elo"of the orator another, we fhould give quence and friendship, and fuch as I had "our vote to the juftice of the law, not reafon to expect from you, especially af"to the impudence of the orator."-ter having wifhed for them fo long. In And in another place: "He afterwards manifestly discovered the defign he "had, of concealing his fraud under cover of the decree, having exprefsly "declared therein, that the ambaffadors "fent to the Oretæ gave the five talents, "not to you, but to Callias. And that you may be convinced what I fay is "the truth (after having ftripped the decree of its gallies, its pomp and oftentation), read the claufe itself."— And in another part: "Suffer him not "to break cover and wander out of the "limits of the question:" A metaphor he is fo fond of, that he repeats it again : "But remaining firm and confident in "the affembly, drive him into the merits "of the queftion, and obferve well how “he doubles.”—Is his style more referved and fimple, when he says: " But "you are for ever wounding our ears, and are more concerned in the fuccefs of your daily harangues, than for the falvation of the city."-What follows is conceived in a yet higher ftrain of figure: "Will you not expel this man as "the common calamity of Greece? will "you not feize and punish this pirate of "the ftate, who fails about in queft of "favourable conjunctures ? &c."-with many other paffages of the like nature. And now I expect you will make the une attacks upon certain expreffions in this letter, as you did upon thofe I have been endeavouring to defend. The rudder that groans, and the pilot compared to a fea-god, will not, I imagine, escape your criticism: for I perceive while I am laing for indulgence to my former ftyle,

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Your

countries, is common to us both.
fecond letter informs me, that you are
employed in dictating and writing upon a
fubjeét, wherein you have me strongly in
view. I am much obliged to you; and
fhould be more fo, if you would give me
the pleafure of reading your performance.
It is but juft indeed, that as I communi-
cate to you all my compofitions, you
fhould fuffer me to partake of yours,
even though they fhould turn upon fub-
jects which concern others. You pro-
mife me in the clofe of your letter, that
as foon as you fhall be informed with
certainty, in what manner I intend to dif
pose of myself, you will make an elope-

Plotina was çonfort to the emperor Trajan.
Her virtues are celebrated by feveral hiftorians, and

our author draws a moft amiable character of her
in few words, in his noble panegyric upon that
prince. He reprefents her (and he could not give
a higher idea of her) as meriting the choice of that
excellent emperor, of a fanctity of manners worthy
of ancient Rome, plain in her habit, modeft in her
contributed, it is faid, to the wife choice which
equipage, and polite in her addrefs. She greatly
Trajan made of a fucceffor; and Adrian, in gra-
titude for her good offices to him in that election,
dedicated a magnificent temple to her memory, at

Nifmes in Languedoc: the remains of which are

ftill to be feen.

ment

ment from your family, and immediately Hy to me: I am already preparing certain chains for you, which, when I have you here, you will by no means be able to break through. I learn from your third, that my oration in behalf of Clarius has been delivered to you, which appears, it feems, more full than when you heard it pronounced. It is fo, I confefs; for I afterwards very confiderably enlarged it. You mention having fent me another letter, which you fay was written with peculiar elegance, and defire to know if I have received it: I have not, but impatiently with for its arrival. To make me amends, write to me upon every the first opportunity, and pay me with full intereft for this delay; which I fhall compute, be affared, at the higheft rate for tell me, can I acquit you upon more reafonable terms? Farewel.

A

LETTER CXXXIV.

To Rufticus.

Sit is far better to excel in any fingle art, than to arrive only at a mediocrity in feveral; fo, on the other hand, a moderate skill in feveral is to be preferred, where one cannot attain to perfection in any. Upon this maxim it is, that I have attempted compofitions of various forts, as I could not expect to carry any particular one to its highest point of excellency. I hope, therefore, when you read any performance of mine, you will confider it with that indulgence which is due to an author, who has not confined himfelf to a fingle manner of writing, but has ftruck out into different kinds. In every other fort of workmanship, the number pleads fome excufe for the deficiencies of the artist; and fhall works of literature, the most difficult of all others, be tried by a feverer law? But whilft I am befpeaking your candour, am I not bringing my gratitude in queftion? For, if you receive thefe last pieces with the fame indulgence that you have all my reafon to hope for your fue for your pardon. pardon will be fufficient.

γου

berality to fome particular perfons: I fhall join with you in his applaufe, if his bounty is not confined to thofe only. I would have him who defires to fhew himfelf influenced by a spirit of true generofity, be liberal to his country, his kindred, his relations, and his friends; his friends, I mean, in diftrefs: not like those who chiefly beftow their prefents where there is the greatest ability to make te

turns.

I do not look upon fuch as parting with any thing of their own; on the contrary, I confider their bounties as only fo many difguifed baits, thrown out with a defign of catching the property of others. Much of the fame character are thofe who defraud one man in order to be generous to another, and parfue munificence through the paths of avarice. The firft and fundamental principle of genuine liberality is, to be contented with one's own; and after that, to cherish and embrace all the most indigent of every kind, in one comprehenfive circle of benevolence. If your friend obferves this rule in its full extent, he is entirely to be commended; if he only partially pursues it, ftill he deferves (in a lefs degree indeed, however, he deferves) applaufe: fo uncommon is it to meet with an inftance of generosity even of the most imperfect kind! The luft of avarice has fo totally feized upon mankind, that their wealth feems rather to poffefs them, than they to poffefs their wealth. Farewel.

LETTER CXXXVI.

To Titianus.

WHAT are you doing? And what do

I

pafs my life in the molt agreeable, that you propote to do? As for myself, is, in the molt difengaged manner imairable. I do not find myfelf therefore, in the amour to write a long letter, 1 am too though I am to read one. former, I have more applaufe, than to much a man of pleafure for the former, and just idle enough for the latter; for However, your none are more indolent, you know, than Farewel. the voluptuous, or have more curiofity tan thofe who have nothing to do. Farewel.

LETTER CXXXV.

To Geminus.

OU have frequently in converfation, and lately in a letter, commended your friend Nonius to me for his great h

LETTER CXXXVII.

To Caninius.

ages

HAVE met with a Itory which, though it is fupported by undoubted credit, has all the air of fable, and would afford a very proper fubject for the fublimity of your lively and truly poetical genius. It was related to me the other day at table, where the converfation happened to turn upon various kinds of miraculous events. The perfon who gave the account was a man of unfufpected veracity:-but what has a poet to do with truth? However, you might venture to rely upon his teftimony, even though you had the character of a faithful hiftorian to fupport. There is in Africa a town called Hippo, fituated not far from the fea-coaft: it ftands upon a navigable lake, from whence a current fans into the main ocean, which ebbs and flows with the fea. Perfons of all divert themfelves here with fishing, failng, or fwimming; especially boys, whom love of play and idleness bring hither. The conteft among them is, who thall have the glory of fwimming fartheft; and he that leaves the fhore and his compations at the greatest distance, gains the victory. It happened in one of thefe trials of fkill, that a certain boy, more told than the rest, launched out towards the oppofite fhore. He was met by a dolphin, who fometimes fwam before him, and fometimes behind him, then Fayed round him, and at last took him pon his back, then let him down, and aherwards took him up again; and thus tried the poor frighted boy out into the deepest part; when immediately he turns back again to the fhore, and lands him ang his companions. The fame of this remarkable accident fpread through the town, and crowds of people flocked Found the boy (whom they viewed as a kind of prodigy) to ask him quef was and hear him relate the story. The ext day the shore was lined with multides of fpectators, all attentively oberving the ocean, and (what indeed is mcft itself an ocean) the lake. In the nean while the boys fwam as ufual, and

This animal is celebrated by feveral of the ancats for its philanthropy, and Pliny the elder, in particular, relates this very ftory, among other inBances, in confirmation of that nesiyn. Sec Plin. LA. Nat. 1. g. c. 8.

among the rest, the youth I am fpeaking of went into the lake, but with more caution than before. The dolphin appeared again and came to the boy, who together with his companions fwam away with the utmost precipitation. The dol phin, as it were, to invite and recal them, bounded and dived up and down, winding about. in a thousand different circles. This he practised for several days together, till the people (accustomed from their infancy to the fea) began to be ashamed of their timidity. They ventured therefore, to advance nearer, playing with him and calling him te them, while he in return fuffered himself to be touched and ftroked. Ufe rendered them more courageous: the boy, in particular, who firft made the experiment, fvam by the fide of him, and leaping upon his back, was carried about in that manner: thus they began to be fond of and acquainted with each other. There feemed now, indeed, to be no fear on either fide, the confidence of the one and tamenefs of the other mutually increafing; the rest of the boys in the mean while furrounding and encouraging their companion. It is very remarkable, that this dolphin was followed by a fecond, which feemed only as a fpectator and attendant on the former; for he did not at all fubmit to the fame familiarities as the firft, but only conducted him backwards and forwards, as the boys did their comrade. But what is farther furprising, and no lefs true than that I have already related, is, this dolphin, who thus played with the boys and carried them upon his back, would come upon the fhore, dry himself in the fand, and as foon as he grew warm, roll back into the fea. Octavius Avitus, deputy governor of the province, from an abfurd piece of fuperftition, poured fome precious ointment over him as he lay an the fhore; the novelty and finell of which made him retire into the ocean, and it was not till after feveral days that he was feen again, when he appeared dull and languid; however he recovered his ftrength, and continued his ufual wanton

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their ar

194
tricks. All the magistrates round the
country flocked hither to view this fight,
the entertainment of whom upon
rival, and during their flay, was an addi-
tional expence, which the flender finances
of this little community would ill afford;
befides, the quiet and retirement of the
place was utterly deftroyed. It was
thought proper therefore to remove the
occafion of this concourfe, by privately
And now,
killing the poor dolphin.
with what a flow of tendernefs will you
describe this fad catastrophe! and how
will your genius adorn and heighten this
moving ftory! Though, indeed, it does
not require any fictitious embellishments;
it will be fufficient to place the real cir-
cumstances in their full light. Farewel.

LETTER CXXXVIII.
To Appius.

HAVE received your book, and return
I
thanks for it: but am at prefent fo
you
much engaged, that I have not time to
read it; which, however, I impatiently
wish to do. I have that high reverence
for learning in general, and for your com-
pofitions in particular, that I think it a
fort of profanation to approach them but
with a mind entirely difengaged. I ex-
tremely approve of your care in revifing
your works; remember, however, this
exactnefs has its limits: too much polith-
ing rather weakens than ftrengthens a
performance. Befides, this exceffive de-
licacy, while it calls one off from other
purfuits, not only prevents any new at-
tempts, but does not even finish what it
has begun. Farewel.

LETTER CXXXIX.

To Fufcus.

ward objects which diffipate attention, I
am left to my own thoughts; nor fuffer
my mind to wander with my eyes, but
keep my eyes in fubjection to my mind,
which, when they are not distracted by a
multiplicity of external objects, fee nothing
but what the imagination reprefents to
them. If I have any compofition upon
my hands, this is the time I choofe to
confider it, not only with respect to the
general plan, but even the style and ex-
preflion, which I fettle and correct as if
I were actually writing. In this manner
I compofe more or lefs as the subject is
more or lefs difficult, and I find myself
able to retain it. Then I call my fecre-
tary, and, opening the fhutters, I dictate
to him what I have compofed, after
which I difmifs him for a little while, and
then call him in again. About ten or
eleven of the clock (for I do not obferve
one fixed hour), according as the weathe
proves, I either walk upon my terrace
or in the covered portico, and there
continue to meditate or dictate what re
mains upon the fubject in which I am er
gaged. From thence I
get into
riot, where I employ myfelf as befor.
when I was walking or in my ftudy; ar
find this changing of the feene preserve
and enlivens my attention. At my r
turn home, I repofe myfelf; then I ta
a walk; and after that, repeat alo
fome Greek or Latin oration, not

YOU defire to know in what manner I
difpofe of my time, in my fummer
villa at Tufcum. I rife juft when I find
myself in the humour, though generally
with the fun; fometimes indeed fooner,
but feldom later. When I am up, I
continue to keep the fhutters of my cham-
ber windows clofed, as darkness and fi-
lence wonderfully promote meditation.
Thus free and abstracted from thofe out-

my

cho

i

much for the fake of strengthening r elocution, as my digeftion; though i deed the voice at the fame time finds account in this practice. Then I w again, am anointed, take my exerci and go into the bath. At fupper, have only my wife, or a few friends w me, fome author is read to us; and af fupper we are entertained either w mufic or an interlude. When that is nifhed, I take my walk with my fam in the number of which I am not with fome perfons of literature. Thus we p our evenings in various converfatic and the day, even when it is at the lo eit, iteals away imperceptibly. U fomne occasions, I change the order certain of the articles above mention For inftance, if I have ftudied lon or walked more than ufual, after my cond fleep and reading an oration or aloud, inftead of using my chariot I on horfeback; by which means I tak much excrcife and lofe lefs time.

V

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