Page:Biographia literaria; or, Biographical sketches of my literary life and opinions (IA biographialitera04cole).pdf/69

 In the "Thalaba" the "Madoc" and still more evidently in the unique "Cid," in the "Kehama," and, as last, so best, the "Don Roderick;" Southey has given abundant proof, "se cogitâsse quám sit magnum dare aliquid in manus hominum: nec persuadere sibi posse, non sæpe tractandum quod placere et semper et omnibus cupiat." Plin. Ep. Lib. 7. Ep 17. But on the other hand I guess, that Mr. Southey was quite unable to comprehend, wherein could consist the crime or mischief of printing half a dozen or more playful poems; or to speak more generally, compositions which would be enjoyed or passed over, according as the taste and humour of the reader might chance to be; provided they contained nothing immoral. In the present age "periturae parcere chartae" is emphatically an unreasonable demand. The merest trifle, he ever sent abroad had, tenfold better claims to its ink and paper than all the silly criticisms, which proved no more, than that