30 Poetry. [Chai^. XX. 



stows only on a poet ; the eye that distinguishes 

 in every thing presented to its view, M^hatever 

 there is on which imagination can delight to be 

 detained ; and with a mind that at once compre- 

 hends the vast, and attends to the minute. He 

 leads us through the appearances of things as they 

 are successively varied by the vicissitudes of the 

 year ; and imparts to us so much of his own en- 

 thusiasm, that our thoughts expand with his ima- 

 gery, and kindle with his sentiments *." 



Kleist, of Germany, in the same department 

 of poetic composition, has been compared with 

 Thomson, and is said, by some of his countrymen, 

 to have attained nearly equal excellence. His 

 Fj'uhling exhibits some of the most charming 

 scenes in nature, in just, vivid, and beautiful co- 

 lours. A similar comparison has also been made 

 between the immortal British bard and Delille of 

 France, who, in his L' Homme des Cliamps, or Ru^ 

 ral Philosopher, presented his countrymen with a 

 poem of acknowledged merit. Tliough in this 

 work, as well as in that which was before men- 

 tioned by the same author, there is but little dis- 

 play of invention ; yet, for correctness and ele- 

 gance of versification, it sustains a very high 

 character. The Alpen of baron Haller is a de- 

 scriptive poem of much merit. To which may 

 be added t\iQ<Liiise of Voss, and the Hermann und 

 Dorothea '\ of Goethe, which have a high reputa- 

 tion in Germany. 



The Traveller, and the Deserted Village, by 



* Life o/ Thomson, by Johnson. 



t This has been translated iato English by Mr. Holcroft. 



