Page:Fingal, an Ancient Epic Poem in Six Books.djvu/13



love of novelty, which, In some degree, is common to all mankind, is more particularly the characteristic of that mediocrity of parts, which distinguishes more than one half of the human species. This inconstant dispofition is never more conspicuous, than in what regards the article of amusement. We change our sentiments concerning it every moment, and the distance between our admiration and extreme contempt, is so very small, that the one is almost a sure presage of the other. The poets, whose business it is to please, if they want to preserve the fame they have once acquired, must very often forfeit their own judgments to this variable temper of the bulk of their readers, and accommodate their writings to this unsettled taste. A fame so fluctuating deserves not to be much valued.

, like virtue, receives its reward after death. The fame which men pursued in vain, when living, is often bellowed upon them when they are not sensible of it. This neglect of living authors is not altogether to be attributed to that reluctance which men show in praising and rewarding genius. It often happens, that