7i 
Dr. "Barnes on Poetry. 
between the paufes of verfe , and thofe of mere 
declamation. The poetry of Milton has been 
celebrated by the belt judges, as inimitably 
beautiful and harmonious, from the amazing 
variety, and judicious changes, of the paufe. 
Thefe are fo admirably difpofed, that the 
ear hardly ever tires. There is none of that 
perpetual famenefs, and recurrence of found, 
which, in common blank verfe, is fo in- 
fufferably difgufting. Surely, the verfe of 
Milton is not, <c verfe only to the eye." I cannot, 
therefore, fubfcribe to Dr. Johnfon’s fentiment, 
“ that all the power of Milton’s poetry confifts, 
in the fublimity of his fentiment, or the peculiar 
(he elfewhere calls it c perverfe and pedantic’) 
arrangement of his ftile.” His fentiments are, 
indeed, lofty and noble. But his metre alfo is 
inexpreffibly rich, mellow, and harmonious. 
Whichever hypothefis, therefore, we adopt, as 
to the conftituent character of poetry, that of 
Milton will have everypraife, —of sentiment,— 
Of IMAGERY, —of MODULATION. 
