1 791- LITERAHY IVTELLIGEKCER. ,257 



imagibation. It is only when thefe qualities are con- 

 fonant to our knowledge of hiilory, or our feelings of 

 truth. The frequent allufions to the fabulous tales of 

 antiquity, with which modern poetry is interlarded, 

 are none of its ornaments ; and in the progrefs of tafte, 

 it has been gradually difufed. Invocations to beings 

 who have no exiftence, and the fuppofed interpofition 

 of their power, can have little impreffion on the ima- 

 gination of thofe who have been initiated into the ra- 

 tional tenets of chriftianily. Though Fenelon has made 

 ufe of the mythology of the ancients with conliderable 

 fuccefs, yet the artifice is too obvious to impofe upon us; 

 and were it not for the eminent merit he poffelTes of dif- 

 playing what is amiable in manners, and wliat is re- 

 fpectable in virtue, and the many beautiful rural fcenes 

 with which he charms the fancy, the poem of Tele- 

 machus would be difpleaiing to every reader of tafte. 



A poet therefore may decorate and heighten, but he 

 muft never lofe fight of nature : He may defcribe 

 fcenes and adlions which never exifted, but which may 

 exift. It would not be proper at this day to talk of 

 caftles removed to diftant places inftantaneoufly, and 

 nil the aftonillring adventures of eaftern relations. How 

 prepofterous would it be, when we are taught to think 

 more worthily of the government of the univerfe, to 

 fuppofe that the ruler of the main would create llorms 

 in order to difconcert petty undertakings, or which is 

 Itill worfe, to hitroduce Neptune, Boreas and Eolus, with 

 all their kindred train aflifting at the operation. Had 

 Ceres been admitted an aclor in the harveft fcene of 

 Thomfon, our thoughts would have been diitraclied 

 betwixt nature, and the poetical notions of the an- 

 cients ; an abfurdity however of this kind, an inferioi" 

 writer would have very readily fallen into. As inti- 

 mately connected wit'n the fubjeft of thefe remarks, 

 we Ihall conclude with a few obfervations on what is 

 called tdjic. 



Vol. I. ' K. k 



