^7 



founded in our nature, similar ones will daily fall under the 

 observation of all in every age and country. As man ad- 

 vanced in civilisation, the poet was obliged gradually to 

 have recourse more to his invention than observation, and 

 hence poetical characters began to assume less of the species, 

 and more of the individual, less of those grand and striking 

 features, that are common among men in general, and more 

 of those unimportant and accidental differences, that are 

 the result rather of private caprice than general nature. Of 

 this we have a remarkable instance in one of the greatest' 

 poetical characters that England ever produced. " Spenser 

 (says * Mr. Hume) contains great beauties, a sweet and har- 

 monious versification, easy elocution and fine imagination, 

 yet does the perusal of his work become tedious. This effect 

 is usually ascribed to the change of manners, but manners 

 have changed more since Homer's time, and yet that poet 

 still remains the favourite of every reader of taste. Homer 

 copied true natural manners, which, however uncultivated, 

 will always form an agreeable picture ; but the pencil of the 

 English poet was employed in drawing the affectations and 

 conceits of chivalry.' — Hence in a great measure it arises, 

 that in a highly civilised country, the lighter departments of 

 poetry are always more successfully cultivated than the 

 higher. Even in such compositions, however, we should not 

 be surprised, if absurd, and perhaps sometimes unnatural 



• History of England, App. 3. ' 

 VOL. XII. D 



