that they amaze and chill the Reader, Here his only Bufinefs was to raise Terror, and give his Reader a due Notion of the Displeasure of the Gods against Troy, which was fo fixt and. implacable, that they thus fignally cut off an innocent Man, and his Family, for giving his Countrymen Advice, which tended to the oppofing their fevere Decree, and the Prefervation of that devoted City.

The Defcription of a Perfon is call'd₫ i a Character; in drawing which, the true Proof of Art and Judgment is to hit a beautiful Likeness; and with a delicate Touch to give thofe Features and Colours which are peculiar to the Perfon, and diftinguish him from the reft of Mankind. In every good and lively Defcription a Man must come to an Enumeration of the chief Particulars: For Generals are often obfcure and faint; a judicious Account of Particulars fets every thing in full View, and makes a strong L 6

and

and lafting Impreffion upon the Reader.

Among all the Variety of Defcriptions, the most univerfally agreeable and moving is Ethopia; which is a natural and lively Representation of the Duties, Employments, and innocent Pleasures of common Life. The Revolutions of Empires, Fall of Princes, the bloody Executions of Ambition, and the Rage of Despair, are Scenes of Tragedy and Terror, that are far from equally concerning or affecting all Mankind. But the Great and the Little, the Prince and the Peafant, are poffefs'd of the fame buman Nature. The Alliance of Blood, the Endearments of Friendhip, the common Offices and Enjoyments of Life are the fame, and equally concern and affect all human Creatures, that are not either tranf form'd into Fiends by Wickedness, and unnatural Rage, or into Savages

for

for want of Converfe and Cultivation.

As Milton defcribes the Battles of Cherubims, and the infufferable Thunder of the Meffias's Chariots, with rapturous Sublimity, and the selectest Circumstances of Awe and Majefty; fo he describes the Happiness and Innocence of Adam and Eve in Paradife, their delightful Labours, charming Difcourfes, and endearing Converfation, with all poffible Sweetnefs, Delicacy, and Tenderness of Paffion. So complete were their Perfons, and fuch the Happiness of their State, that One once a chief Minister in the Court of Heaven, and a dignify'd Inhabitant of the Regions of Happiness, pronounces them but little inferior to the Angels. And fo fweet, fo refiftlefs was their Innocence, that the Murderer could not refolve upon their Ruin without Reluctance; fome tranfient ineffectual Throws of Compaffion touch'd that infernal Breast.

It may not be unpleasant to tranfcribe fome of the Apoftate Archangel's Expreffions on the Subject out of the above-nam'd lofty Poet;

O Hell! What do mine Eyes with Grief [behold, Into our Room of Bliss thus high advanc'd Creatures of other Mould, Earth-born per[haps,

Not Spirits; yet to heav'nly Spirits bright Little inferior: Whom my Thoughts pursue With Wonder, and could love, so lively shines In them divine Refemblance; and fuch Grace The Hand that form'd them on their Shape [hath pour'd.

And a little after,

And fhould I at your harmless Innocence
Melt, as I do; yet public Reafon juft,

Honour,

Honour, and Empire with Revenge inlarg'd

By conqu❜ring this new World, compels me [now To do, what else, tho' damn'd, I should ab[hor*,

§. 19. VISION, or Image, is a Reprefentation of Things diftant and unSeen, in order to raise Wonder, Terror or Compaffion, made with fo much Life and Emphafis, that as the Poet has a full View of the whole Scene he defcribes, fo he makes the Reader fee it in the fame ftrong Light.

Or mad Oreftes, when his Mother's Ghoft
Full in his Face infernal Torches toft,

And shook her snaky Locks: He fhuns the

[Sight,

Flies o'er the Stage, furpris'd with mortal [Fright;

The Furies guard the Door, and intercept [his Flight t