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radcr is too feeble to make any ftruggle, as in the Ode of Sappho, 

 or where the ftruggle of a generous mind has ceafed, and the 

 conflict of paflion alone remains, as in the foliloquy of Othello, 

 the expreffion of the pal^-ions does not produce the emotion of 

 the fublime, and that it only contributes indiredly to this cffe£l 

 by exciting a difplay of mental vigour. 



LoiiD Kaims, conformably to his notion of the fublime, has 

 obferved that no difagreeable paflion can produce it, and has pro- 

 pofed the foliloquy of Antony wailing over the body of Csefar, 

 as a teft by which it fhould be determined with regard to the 

 paflion of revenge. Dodor Stack, on the other hand, has de- 

 clared that he eftcems moft parts of this paflage truly fublime. 

 In this, as in the inftances already mentioned, I agree with Dodor 

 Stack in opinion, that the pafTage is fublime, but its fublimity 

 confifts in dilplaying the generous elevation of the mind of 

 Antony. It may perhaps be thought that elevation of mind is 

 without reafon afcribed to him whofe thirft of power induced 

 him artfully to ftimulate the people againft the confpirators, and 

 afterwards to facrifice his uncle to the refentment of Odavius, 

 whofe cruel vengeance prompted him to exult over the bloody 

 head and hands of Cicero, and whofe fenfuality beguiled him to 

 the very heart of lofs ; but the charader of Antony was not uni- 

 form. Brave and generous by nature, but corrupted by his early 

 education, his faults in him feemed as the fpots of heaven, more 

 fiery by nighfs blacknefs. When his paffions, which habitual in- 

 dulgence had rendered ungovernable, did not oer his Jpirit exert 

 their full fupremacy, he was noble and humane. The pure 

 patriotifm of Brutus received from him its deferved eulogium, 



and 



