I'jgi. LITERARr IXTELLIGENCER. 57 



was then of undoubted originality, and varied, as th^ 

 tcene is, with which they were converfant. It cannot 

 perhaps be faid, that an idea is to be found in their 

 Miorks, imitated from another. To whatever fubjeft 

 they turned their attention, a pldlure of nature, fuch 

 as was capable of filling their minds alone, aroie in full 

 profpeft before tliem. An idea imagined by any other 

 would be inadequate to the grafp of their genius, and 

 uncongenial with their ufual mode of conception. In- 

 timately acquainted with he original fountains of hu- 

 man knowledge, accuftomed themfelves to trace the 

 operations of nature, they difdained to take notice of, 

 OB«fubmit to the obfcure and imperfeft tracts which 

 had been marked out by an inferior pencil. They 

 walked alone, and in their own Itrength ; and wherever 

 they have trod, have left marks which time will ne- 

 ver efface, or perhaps, which no fuperior fplendor of 

 genius will obfcure or eclipfe, but will ever continue 

 to be the highetl objects of human ambition and admit 

 ration. 



But however high the merit of Shakefpear muft be, 

 in thus claffing him with Homer, it would not be do- 

 ing juftice to either of thefe fathers of genius, to appre- 

 tiate their refpeftive abilities by merely alferting them 

 to be poets of the lirft order. The genius of Homer 

 was undoubtedly fuperior in point of greatnefs and 

 fire; the mod awful and interefting fcenes among ma; - 

 kind, were the continual fubj^fts of his fong ; the hurry 

 and grandeur of battle, the ftrength of mighty heroes, 

 and all the violence of paffion, feem to be the high de- 

 light of his foul; like his rival in motlern times, he 

 was confpicuous for a- difplay of charafter ; but thefe 

 were chiefly of the warlike kind : The fteady magna- 

 nimity of Agamemnon, the irrefiftible fury of Achilles, 

 the prudent valour of Ulylles, and the bodily llrength of 

 Ajax, are painted in ftrong and ftriking colours : and 

 though he be not deficient in thofe of a more humble 

 and amiable kind, yet, in this fphere. Homer, and 



Vol. I. -I H 



