S 6 Dr. Barnes on Poetry . 
idea; for it feems to imply, that labour and in¬ 
genuity, the neceffary companions of art, muff 
be employed in poetic compofition. But cer¬ 
tainly, it has the neareft affinity to Jcience of any 
other art; for all its excellence confifts, in its 
prefenting fcience in a peculiar and engaging 
drefs. An art , by which fcience is affifted, and 
fentiment exalted ; by which the imagination is 
elevated, the heart delighted, and the nobleft 
paffions of the human foul expreffed, improved, 
and heightened, will appear important enough, 
to have its boundaries exactly drawn, and the 
limits afcertained, which divide it from its humble 
neighbour. Or, if this be not poffible, to have 
its general and larger charafteriftics clearly repre¬ 
fen ted. 
What is it, then, which conftitutes the poetic 
effience, and diftinguifhes it from profe ? Is it 
metre? —Or is it fomething entirely different; 
fublimity of sentiment, boldnefs of figure, 
grandeur of description, or embellifhment of 
imagination ? Let us attend to the arguments, 
which may be offered on behalf of both thefe 
hypothefes. 
“ ’The charafterifiic nature of -poetry , it may be 
faid, confifts in elevation of thought, in ima¬ 
gery, in ORNAMENT.” 
“ For, have there not been real poems formed, 
without the (hackle of regular verle ? Poems, 
which none, but a faftidious critic, would fcruple 
a moment 
