Page:Monsieur Bossu's Treatise of the epick poem - Le Bossu (1695).djvu/19

 much the same with that of the Æneid, and therein he has like Virgil Inserted his Hero's Character. The Narration of our English Poet (bating some few defects, which we shall mention by and by) is as exact as that of the Latin: And has in a great measure all those Qualifications which Bossu says are requisite thereto; for it is Pleasant, Probable, Moving, Marvellous, and Active. The Manners of his human Personages, their Interests, and Designs, are as regularly order'd, as those in Virgil's Poem. All the Characters are nobly drawn, and look like the Curious Strokes of a great Master; for they all tend to, and Centure in the General Character of the Poem and Hero, namely in that noble Ornament of the Soul, GENEROSITY. His Machines are very Natural, and adapted to the Genius and Notions of our times, as Virgils were to those of his Age. His Expression is noble and Majestical; his Verse Sonorous, Masculine, and Strong; his Thoughts are Sublime; his Similes natural; his Descriptions proper; and his Sentences few and regular. In a word throughout the whole he seems in a great Measure to have confin'd himself to the Rules of Aristotle and Horace, to have copy'd the best of any Man the Perfections of Virgil, and to have shewn a strength of Genius, an Heighth of Fancy, and a correctedness of Judgment, that comes but a little behind that of the two Ancient Poets.

But after all it must be said (though with some sort of reluctancy) that there are some few things which need polishing, and which after second and more deliberate thoughts, that great Master would no doubt have corrected. For one may question whether his Digressions are not too tedious, and some-