?ECT. I.] Epic Toetry. % 



tory, for the full exertion of his poetic strength, 

 yet both the plan and execution of his work do 

 him immortal honour, and afford high pleasure 

 both to the critic and the Christian. Joan of 

 Arc, by Mr. Southey, while it obviously betrays 

 the haste and carelessness with which it was writ- 

 ten*, discovers at the same time the undoubted 

 genius and taste of the author f. The sentiments 

 in general are noble and generous ; the characters 

 introduced are for the most part well supported; 

 the imagery is bold and impressive ; and the ver- 

 siiication, without being always correct, is easy, 

 harmonious, and beautiful. To these may be 

 added The Epigoniad, by Dr. WilkieJ; Arthury or 

 the Northern Enchantment, by INIr. Hole ; and se- 

 veral other epic poems, which, though not enti- 

 tled to rank with those above mentioned, yet do 

 credit to the poetic talents of their respective 

 writers. 



But if no poet since the time of Milton have 

 honoured our language with a work which de- 

 serves to be compared with the Paradise Lost, yet 

 this period has not passed without two impor- 

 tant events: the Iliad, that great parent stock 



* Joan of Arc probably furnishes the first instance in the 

 history of literature of an epic poem of equal length being -written 

 in six xveeks ! 



t In the composition of Joan of Arc Southey was assisted 

 by his friend Coleridge, a poet of great genius and taste. 



X The Epigoniad, by the rev. Dr. William Wilkie of North 

 Britain, is an epic poem of some nierit, but far from being enti- 

 tled to a place in the first class. This writer has been called the 

 *' Homer of Scotland." His work was first published in 1757, 

 ?nd reached a secqnd editiou i» 1759. He died at St. Andrews 

 in 1772. 



