500 , Poetic Genius. [Book X. 



I can by no means confent to refer this difference alto- 

 gether to education, for perfons who have had every 

 poflible care taken of their temper in early youth, 

 will often, when fet at liberty, break out, and become 

 of very unruly difpofitiqns in maturer age ; and per- 

 fons will refemble their parents in temper, who have 

 never feen them : 



" Nataram expellas furca, tamea ufque recurrit." 



This fail: we can refer to no one principle in human 

 nature but the paflions. Thofe whofe animal appe- 

 tites are ftronger than thofe of others, will be more 

 fanguine in all their defires, of courfe will fmart more 

 for a disappointment, and, in a word, muft be more 

 ftibjecl: to paflion. 



The old maxim, " Poeta nafcitur," has been ac- 

 counted a vulgar error, and it is certain much depends 

 upon early habit, and this habit is commonly acquired 

 from the circumftances of youth. But this does not 

 entirely account for the difference of men's purfuits, 

 whofe mental powers feem equal, and whofe fituations 

 are fimilar. If once it is agreed, however, that a de- 

 gree of coldnefs is neceffaiy to certain ftudies, and 

 that others are more connected with pafiion, we fhall 

 not long be at a lofs to account for this feeming para- 

 dox in the human mind, upon the principles already 

 eftablilhed. 



There arc other caufes of diverfity in natural genius, 

 fuch as difference in the degree, &c. One man is 

 poffcffed of a more retentive memory than another ; 

 another man may have a more lively perception, 

 and a little difference in principle will produce a great 

 one in the effedls. Thefe perfons may feem men 

 of equal talents, and yet the ^ent of the genius will 

 6 be 



