172 



fufed its influence cxtenfively, been attentively fiudied and perfeftij' 

 underflood. In fact, the three admirable writers of whom I fpeak, 

 may be confidered as, having eflablifhed a new dynafly, in the region 

 of poetry, as having made the fentiment of love, the pains and plea- 

 fures of that paffion. Diftinft and adequate objefts of the mufe ; thus 

 they reigned in this new province, which they had conquered for 

 iheir own, with fupreme fway and maftery: and difplayed an excel- 

 lence, which has not been furpaffed, in modern times, and has only 

 been equalled in fame, by the illuftrious Petrarch, whofe romantic 

 deftiny, however, has contributed not a little to heighten the luflre 

 and renown of his poetical beauties. 



I cannot prefume to flatter myfelf, that there is very much novelty 

 in the foregoing remarks. Many of them, I believe, have been anti- 

 cipated by other writers ; but the reader will not, as I imagine, be 

 difpleafed, to fee the fcattered obfervations, which have been applied 

 to tliefe poets, collefted, in foraewhat of a regular and detailed compari- 

 fon of their refpeftive merits. As the genius of love poetry appeared 

 fiifl with them, it feems alfo to have vaniflied with them, and laia 

 dormant for a confiderable time, until it revived with the fpirit ofchi- 

 valry, and was diifufed, and rendered illuftrious, by the example and 

 influence of a number of gallant and amorous potentates. Then, un- 

 doubtedly v/ere the golden days of love and poetry. But to attend 

 the amatory mufe, in her progrefs to this apotheofis, mult be the pro- 

 vince of a future eflay. 



