Poetry. 211 



plot, sentiment, and style, is entitled to high re- 

 spect; but, perhaps, scarcely to that degree which 

 might have been expected from the great powers 

 displayed in the Seasons. The Irene, of Dr. Johnson, 

 though it "furnishes a rich store of noble sentiments, 

 fine imagery, and beautiful language, is deficient 

 in plan, pathos, and general impression." The 

 Mysterious Mother, of Horace Walpole, though 

 the subject is shocking, displays great talents a 

 especially in depicting the terrible. Miss Han- 

 nah More's Percy is a popular tragic produc- 

 tion/ Her Sacred Dramas, though a monument 

 of her piety, and her desire to promote youthful 

 improvement, will scarcely be thought to deserve, 

 high praise as works of genius. To these may be 

 added the Zenobia, the Grecian Daughter, and 

 the Alzuma, of Mr. Murphy, which are consi- 

 dered as respectable in their dramatic character, 

 and pure in their moral tendency, but with a re- 

 markable prevalence of terror in their impression. 



In the history of English Comedy, the eighteenth 

 century forms an important era. Indeed, the En- 

 glish language scarcely furnished an instance of 

 pure or unmixed comedy prior to the commence- 

 ment of this period. The comic productions of 

 Shakspeare are well known not to have been of 

 this kind; and those of Dryden and Southern 

 were generally interspersed with too much of the 

 tragic to have a place assigned them in the de- 

 partment of ridicule alone. In the last age a re- 

 markable revolution has taken place in this respect. 

 Specimens of unmixed comedy have become fre- 

 quent, or rather the most fashionable kind of dra- 

 matic composition; and in a few instances the 

 wit and humour of these productions are found 



b Percy is said to be a " bad alteration from Gabrielle da Fcrgy, by Do 

 Billoy, a celebrated French Tragedian." Notwithstanding this charge, 

 however, it has maintained a high, degree of popularity. 



