1792. on the lurititigf of Buchanan. 8^ 



quent in Horace and Juvenal ; so distrefsing often to 

 the learner, though sometimes so pleasing to the mature 

 scholar. Whatever be his object, it is ever kept ii;i 

 view. From the FRANSISCANUS for example, two 

 lines cannot be abstracted without evident mutilation. 

 Perhaps his experience, as a teacher, may partly have 

 instructed him to sympathize with the difficulties of a 

 beginner. No Roman author, now extant, exhibits 

 such a variety of style. There is not perhaps one 

 clafsical word in the Latin language which may not 

 be somewhere found in his writings. Yet there are 

 , very few diilicult pafsages in Buchanan. As his sub- 

 ject requires it, he is alternately copious without pro- 

 lixity, and concise without abruptnefs. 



The remaining poems of this author consist,. \Jl, Of 

 three books of epigrams, containing about an hundred 

 and eighty-six articles, id. His miscellanies. This 

 section which contains thirty-eight pieces, supplies us 

 with some of his principal efForts in Lyric poetry. 

 3^, His De Spha:ra, in five books, perhaps the noblest 

 didactic poem in the world, and unquestionably the 

 most sublime monument of the genjus of Buchanan. 

 4/A, His four tragedies, ^th. His ^tire on the car- 

 dinal of Lorraine, and some other pieces not usually 

 arranged under any of the former sections. Among 

 these are his celebrated dedication of the Psalms to 

 queen Mary, and a copy of verses inscribed to John third 

 of Portugal, which alone, had he composed nothing 

 else, would have entitled him to the character of a great 

 poet. It is astonifhing to consider what splendor of 

 <entiment, and luxuriance of imagery are comprised 

 within twejuy-two lines. 



