NOTES. 69 



NOTE IV. VERSE 55. 



27/7 this be learned, how all things dijagree, 



How all one wretched, blind barbarity ! 



The mind is diftradted with the variety of accidents, for fo 

 they ought to be called rather than forms; and the difagree- 

 ment of thofe among themfelves will be a perpetual fource 

 of confufion and meannefs, until, by generalizing his ideas, he 

 has acquired the only true criterion of judgment; then with 

 a Mafters care 



Judge of his art, thro' beauty's realms he flies, 



Selects, combines, improves, diverfifies. ver. 76. 

 It is better that he mould come to diverfify on particulars 

 from the large and broad idea of things, than vainly attempt 

 to afcend from particulars to this great general idea ; for to 

 generalize from the endlefs and vicious variety of aftual forms, 

 requires a mind of wonderful capacity; it is perhaps more than 

 any one mind can accomplish : But when the other, and, I 

 think, better courfe is purfued, the Artifl may avail himfelf 

 of the united powers of all his predeceiTors, He fets out with 

 an ample inheritance, and avails himfelf of the felection of 

 ages. R, 



NOTE V. VERSE 63, 



Of all 'vain Fools with Coxcomb talents curft. 

 The fententious and Horatian line, (fays a later French 

 Editor) which, in the original, is placed to the fcore of the 

 Antients, to give it greater weight, is the Author's own. I 

 fufpedt, however, that he borrowed the thought from fome 

 antient profe writer, as we fee he borrowed from Plutarch 

 before at the opening of his Poem. M. 



I 7 NOTE 



