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too much here to obferve, that of the two fine figures juft men- 

 tioned, the withered hand has the fuperior excellence. Two 

 reafons I think can be afligned for this ; firft, becaufe it is fur- 

 ther removed from the literal fentiment ; and fecondly, it im- 

 plies more adion, which the mind ever delights in contemplating 

 If this criticifm be in any degree juft, it will furnifh an addi- 

 tional proof in favour of bold and ftriking figures. 



The fecond example of the profopopasia fhall be taken from 

 the Prophet Ifaiah, fpeaking of the fall of Babylon : " Hell from 

 " beneath is moved for thee to meet thee at thy coming. All 

 " they fhall fpeak and fay unto thee, Art thou alfo become 

 " weak as we ? Art thou become like unto us ? Thy pomp is 

 " brought down to the grave — The worm is fpread under thee, 

 " and the worms cover thee. How art thou fallen from Hea- 

 " yen, O Lucifer, fon of the morn !" Nothing can exceed this 

 in fublimity ; yet what is the thought ftripped of the figure ? 

 It is only the deftrudtion of Babylon, and the joy of all nations 

 at feeing that proud and infolent tyrant brought low as them- 

 felves. 



If it fhould be thought that I have taken up too much time 

 in my vindication of the great ancient critic, whofe fame is al- 

 ready eftablifhed, let it be confidered that Dr. Blair's works are 

 held in very general efteem : His Ledures upon Rhetoric contain 

 much ufeful information ; at the fame time there are to be found 

 in them fome inftances of negligence, which we fhould not ex- 

 ped in a work profefilng fo much critical accuracy. I think the \ 



prefent is one of thofe; and I am the more confirmed in my 

 [D] opinion, 



