120 On the Machinery of the 



The example of Shakespeare, in a walk of 

 poetry not greatly different from the epic, is 

 alone sufficient to support me in this absolute 

 position, that the genius of the graver poetry 

 should never be opposed to the interests of 

 virtue; and, though we read not an epic poem 

 with the same view as a book of Ethics, yet 

 that the sentiments obtruded by the , former 

 should, at least, not be contrary to those, which 

 are inculcated by the latter. 



But the divinities of Greece and Rome defy 

 all moral and their character of divinity 

 operates directly to the subverting of all moral. 

 Folly and wickedness in human agents may be 

 exhibited by the poet, or historian, with the 

 highest moral utility, and w^ithout detracting 

 from the dignity of the work; but not so, 

 where deity and the only deity, whom we 

 know and acknowledge, is presented to our 

 view. Weakness, caprice, passion and crime 

 in them dig up the very foundations of honour 

 and virtue in the human mind. There is no 

 alternative between this effect and pure 

 atheism, or the abandonment of all religious 

 principle whatever ; and, perhaps, the latter i? 

 less to be dreaded. It is surely better, if no 

 better faith can be found, that from a sense oi 

 dignity and virtue, which we cannot part with, 

 we should revolt from religion, than adh^e to 



