328 MEMOIRS OP 



ately preceding, and the light and frolic 

 idea which places a Mufe, the recent Hif- 

 torian of virtue fo truly great, at the tea- 

 table ! It is out of keeping, as the painters 

 fay. 



We meet ingenious and juft criticifm in 

 the Interlude to this fecond Canto. Aware 

 of the frequent want of evident refem- 

 blance between his fubjeds and their fimi- 

 lies, Dr. Darwin fhelters himfelf under the 

 authority of Homer, which perhaps will 

 not entirely fecure his practice from cen- 

 fure ; fmce, if Homer's fimilies do not often 

 touch the object with which they are com- 

 pared, at all points, yet are they never fo 

 utterly without connexion with it, as 

 feveral which may be found in this poem. 

 That a poetic fimile mould not be precife 

 in it's refemblance is certain, at leaft that 

 it is the more fublime, or more beautiful, 

 for not quadrating exactly ; yet it ought to 

 poffefs fuch a degree of affinity with the 



fubjea, 



