142 EJfay on Maffinger. 



the natural language of one who ftrives to con- 

 vince himfelf that he is fortunate beyond all 

 probable expeftation j for " he could wake ever 

 to gaze upon his treafure :" again he reverts to 

 his afiurances; "it did endure the touch j he 

 faw and felt it." Thefe broken exclamations 

 and anxious repetitions are the pure voice of 

 nature. Recovering from his aftonilhment, his 

 mind dilates with the value of his pofleflions, 

 and the poet finely direds the whole gratitude 

 of this mean charafter to the key of his ftores. 

 In the defcription which follows, there is a ftrik- 

 ing climax in fordid luxury; that paflage where 



Each fparkling diamond from itfelf ftiot forth 

 A pyramid of flames, and in the roof 

 Fix'd it a glorious ftar, and made the place 

 Heav'n's abftradl or epitome ; 



though founded on a falfe idea in natural hiftory, 

 long fince exploded, is amply excufed by the 

 lingular and beautiful image which it prefents. 

 The contemplation of his enormous wealth, ftill 

 amplified by his fancy, tranfports him at length 

 to a degree of frenzy, and now feeing ftrangers 

 approach, he cannot conceive them to come 

 upon any defign but that of robbing him, and 

 with the appeafing of his ridiculous alarm this 

 ftorm of paffion fubfides, which ftands unrivalled 

 in its kind, in dramatic hiftory. The foliloquy 

 poffefies a very uncommon beauty, that of forci- 

 ble defcription, united with paflion and cha- 



rader. 



