[ 5^ ] 



which he finds delight. The digreffions of an author are, in 

 like manner, indications of what is agreeable to his difpofitions, 

 for lie cannot expatiate on \^hat he diflikes. Metaphors and 

 fimiles he will feek in thofe fources which his prior occupa- 

 tions have made familiar and his habits have endeared to his 

 tafte. Thus Pope is found to have been a lover of the arts, 

 and Dryden of the fciences. Every allufion in the writings 

 of Cowley and the other inetaphyfical poets is taken from re- 

 mote learning and abftrufe philofophy ; and Mr. Addifon's 

 fondnefs for claffical literature has made that the principal 

 fovirce from whence moft of his illuftrations are derived. 



In general, where an author has written much and has written 

 well, his works will always fhew what degree of antecedent 

 labour has been expended in furnifhing his ftore-houfe with 

 literary treafures, what accuflomed employments have given 

 given facility to his exertions, and what modes of life have 

 been familiarized to him by ordinary habits. In Milton's 

 works we fee proofs of a life fpent in ftudy, of every fource 

 of information fearched out with the moft perfevering dili- 

 gence. In Shakefpeare we fee fuch an extenfive knowledge of hu- 

 man nature as could only have been acquired by much time 

 fpent in adlual obfervation. In the writings of Swift we per- 

 ceive habits of familiar converfation with ordinary perfons ; in 

 thofe of Dr. Johnfon we readily difcover that his habit was 

 reafoning, and his fpeech was dilTertation. 



Lord 



