20 Poetry, [Chap. X^^, 



it is readily admitted, gave birth to much licen- 

 tious poetry ; but it produced/ at the same time, 

 much that exhibits a degree of purity and eleva- 

 tion of sentiment to which the history of litera- 

 ture furnishes no parallel. 



The Night Thoughts^ and the Universal Passion^ 

 by Dr. Young, are entitled to the first place iii 

 this list *. In these works the celebrated author 

 has employed wonderful sublimity and force of 

 imagination, eloquence and cogency of reasoning, 

 and music of numbers, in conveying the most im- 

 portant truths that can engage the attention of 

 mankind. The Ethical Epistles and some other 

 moral productions of Pope, are models in their 

 kind which have never been excelled. The Va- 

 nity of Human Wishes , a poem in imitation of the 

 tenth satire of Juvenal, by Dr. Johnson, has been 

 pronounced as high an effort of ethic poetry as 

 any language can show. The Tasjiy by Mr. Cow- 

 per f , is one of the signal honours of the age, in 

 this class of poetic compositions. For purity of 

 sentiment, chasteness of description, simplicity 

 and energy of style, and a vein of original and 

 w^ell-directed satire, this work will be admired as 

 long as taste and virtue exist. 



The eighteenth century is also distinguished 



* The reverend Edward Young was born in 1031. The Last 

 Day, his first poetical work of much distinction, was published 

 in 1704. His Night Thoughts were published about the yea? 

 1740. He died in 1765. 



t William Cowper was born in 1731. He was not only one 

 of the greatest poets, but also one of the most pious, amiable, and 

 benevolent men, of the age. An interesting account of his life 

 and writings has been given by his friend, and contemporary 

 peet. Mr^ Hayley. Hedi«d in 1800. 



