18 Life and Writings 
cution, but of so vast proportions, and, in 
particular parts, so highly finished, that we 
cannot contemplate it without sentiments of 
astonishment and admiration. He has skill- 
fully interwoven into his poem the whole 
range of Persian enchantment and fable, and 
has, at the same time, enlivened his narrative 
with so many agreeable episodes and adven- 
tures that the attention of the reader is con- 
stantly diverted, and he is led on, generally 
without weariness or effort, through the pages 
of this stupendous performance. Whoever 
indeed considers the immense length of the 
work, the copiousness of the subject, and the 
variety which reigns throughout it, cannot 
fail to have a high opinion of the exuberance 
of the Poet’s fancy and the uncoinmos fer- 
tility of his ideas. 
The originality of Ferdoosee is undoubted. 
Fie had no one before him from whom to copy, 
and his excellencies are therefore wholly his 
own. Eis conceptions are in general lively 
and vigorous; his thoughts bold and forcible; 
his figures striking and animated. Every 
where, throughout his poem, we feel the 
glow of arich and ardent imagination. Fer- 
doosee has made but little use of Mythology. 
Kyents are generally brought about without 
