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 LIFE OF THE AUTHOR. 7 aief beauties seem to be of the lyric kind. It is ghly probable that his taste was formed by the Audy of the Italian poets : he has left many son- ats constructed on the regular model, and his naint conceits seem not unfrequently to betray feir Italian origin. The subject of love, which is afforded so fertile a theme to the poets of every He and nation, has furnished Montgomery with e most common and favourite topic for the exer- le of his talents.... His most serious fort is, “The Cherry and the Slae,' a poem of Insiderable length, and certainly of very consider- le ingenuity.... The images are attcred even with profusion; and almost every skinza displays the vivacity of the author's mind. this, as well as in his other productions, Mont- mery's illustrations are very frequently and very ppily drawn from the most familiar objects; and often applies proverbial expressions, in a very inted and pleasing manner.... The nuine explanation of the allegory may perhaps tliat virtue, though of very hard attainment, ght to be preferred to vice : virtue is represented the cherry, a refreshing fruit, growing upon a trec, and that tree rising from a formidable pre- ice ; vice is represented by the sloe, a fruit which y easily be plucked, but is bitter to the taste." The Cherry and the Slae" has longer retained popularity than any other poetical composition of reign of James VI. It continued to be occa- hally printed, for popular use, till a recent pe- H; and in 1822, this, as well as the other poetical Eks of Montgomery, appeared in a very hand- ac edition, under the superintendance of Mr vid Laing. Dr Irving contributed to the pub- tion a biographical preface, from which we e chiefly derived the present memoir.