Effay on MaJJinger. 151 



To praife or to elucidate this paffage, would 

 be equally fuperfluous j I am acquainted with 

 nothing fuperior to it, in defcriptive poetry, 

 and it would be hardy to bring any fingle in- 

 ftance in competition with it. Our poet is not 

 lefs happy in his defcriptions of inanimate na- 

 ture, and his defcriptions bear the peculiar 

 ftamp of true genius in their beautiful concife- 

 nefs. What an exquifite pi6ture does he prefent 

 in the compafs of lefs than two lines 1 



Yon' hanging cIlfF, that glafles 



His rugged forehead in the neighb'ring lake. 



Renegado. 



Thus alfo Dorothea's defcription of Paradifej 



Tf>ereh a perpetual Spring, perpetual youth. 

 No joint-benumbing cold, nor fcorching heat. 

 Famine nor age have any being tht:re. 



ViRG. Mart. Aft IV. 



After all the encomiums on a rural life, and 

 after all the foothing fentiments and beautiful 

 images lavilhed on it, by poets who never lived 

 in the country, MafTinger has furnilhed oneof the 

 mod charming unborrowed defcriptions that can 

 be produced on* the fubje6t : 



Happy the golden mean ! had I been born 

 In a poor fordid cottage, not nurs'd up 

 With expedtation to command a court, 

 I might, like fuch of your condition, fvveeteft. 

 Have tak'n a fafe and middle courfe, and not, 

 A3 I am now, againlt my choice compell'd. 

 Or to lie grov'liing on the earth, or rais'd 



L 4 So 



