i8d on poetical genius. 0£l. 12, 



comparing him with himfelf, fo to fay, and fince Ho- 

 race fets fo high a value on fenfibility, and fince here 

 he does not mention it in a formal enumeration of poe- 

 tical qualities, and as in this enumeration we meet 

 with an exprefiion which feems general, but which 

 may have this particular meaning, we mult, in fairnefs, 

 conclude that the poet is confident, means fenfibi- 

 lity, and apprehends that he announces it fufficiently 

 by the epithet divinior. 



That fenfibility, the power of feeling, or fully con- 

 ceiving the paffions, affections, or adlions we would 

 d'elineate, is a neceffary ingredient in poetical genius, 

 needs fmall illuftration. The paflagc now alluded to 

 in Horace is fufficient. 



" Non fads eft pulchra effe poemata, dukia funto, 



" Et quociimque volent animuni auditoris agunto. 



" Ut ridentibus arrident, tta flentibus adfknt, 



" Humani vultus. Si vis me fiere, dolendum eft 



" Primum ipfi tibi ; nunc tua me infortunialxdent, 



" Te'.ephc, vel Peleu ; male fi mandata loqucris, 



" Aut dormitabo, aut ridcbo. Triftia mallum 



" Vultum verba decent, iratum plena minanim, 



" Ludentem lafciva, feverum feria ditflu. 



" Format cnim natura prius nos intus ad omnem 



" Fortunarum habitum ; juvat, aut impellit ad iram, 



" Aut ad humum marore gravi deducit, et angit ; 



" Poft effert animi motus, interprete lingua. 



III. But what fignify invention and fenfibility, if the 

 thoughts and feelings of the poet are not well expref- 

 ied. He muft have the cs magna fonatiirum. He muft 

 be capable of adequate expreffion, adequate to the great 

 objefjts, and paffions he would difplay. He may ima- 

 gine the finelt objects, he may be moved by the moft 

 cxquifite affefiions, but he cannot pleafe or move 

 others, unlefs he makes them fee as he fees, and feel 

 as he feels. But he cannot transfufe his foul into theirs. 

 He muft ufe fome intermediate vehicle for conveying 

 his thoughts to thofe whom he would affcft. Lan- 

 guage is this vehicle. He muft fpeak. and fpeak per-, 

 fpicuoufly, and accurately, and fully ; he muft fpeak, 

 and with energy, and \x\ a manner adeqiiate, as w.-n^ 



