Page:A Prospect of Manchester and Its Neighbourhood.djvu/14

x England, have more particularly shewn that this was not necessary: since in these compositions, though the trammels of rhyme and measure have been thrown aside, yet the vigour of the poetry is not diminished in the least.

The poet presents a sketch, which is filled up by the imagination of the reader; and it is necessary to give in language, so correct a description, as to place the object in the mind's eye. To do this, the description should be concise yet natural, the most prominent parts of an object being brought forward: if the modesty of nature be overstepped, the reader becomes displeased, because he is under the necessity of exerting his powers too much, in following a series of forced conceptions. The fewer words are used in bringing forward an image, it is commonly depicted with more vigour and energy; a good poet presents his imagery in few words, whilst the versifier runs out in a tedious and minute description. Poetry should present the general outline, and leave the more minute touches to be filled up by the imagination of the reader: it is this very act of completing the image of the author, which forms one great source of pleasure;