On Genus. 425 
a painter ora modeller. These natural gifts 
however, when considered in this light, must 
be classed with the external circumstances, 
which modify the development of Genius; 
they are a part of our physical nature, which 
may conduct, or even be indispensable, to 
technical excellence in the several depart- 
ments of art: but creative power—that which 
can awaken sentiment, and astonish, melt, or 
delight—must be derived from mind—from 
‘that enthusiasm and sensibility of soul, which 
we have uniformly represented as the foun- 
dation of Genius. 
Such are the observations, which we pro- 
posed tu offer on the nature of Genius. We 
have attempted to detect its traces, and fol- 
low its windings, and pursue it to its source: 
sanctos ausus recludere fontes. (a) 
Whether we have really ascended to the 
origin of this mysterious principle, which, 
like the Nile, has been supposed to descend 
immediately from heaven, because its foun- 
tain-head is enveloped in obscurity ; or whe- 
ther we have only discovered some inferior 
spring, pouring its tributary rill into the noble 
tide, which rolls majestically along from a 
source unknown, the wonder and the admira- 
tion of every beholder ;—it is for those, who 
(a) Virgil. Georg. II. 175. 
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