4lO THE PRESIDENTS SECOND 



mains, both on gems and on marble, no modern tool 

 can equal ; whofe architecture we can only imitate at a 

 fervile diftance, but are unable to make one addition to 

 it, without deftroying its graceful limplicity; whofe 

 poetry ftill delights us in youth, and amufes us at a 

 maturer age ; and of whofe painting andmii/ick, we have 

 the concurrent relations of fo many grave authors, that 

 it would be ftrange incredulity to doubt their excellence. 

 Painting, as an art belonging to the powers of the ima- 

 gination, or what is commonly called genius, appears to 

 be yet in its infancy among the people of the eaft : but 

 the Hindu fyftem of mujick has, I believe, been formed 

 on truer principles than our own ; and all the fkill of 

 the native compofers is directed to the great object, of 

 their art, the natural exprejjion of Jlrong pajfions, to 

 which melody, indeed, is often facrificed; though fome 

 of their tunes are pleafing even to an European ear. 

 Nearly the famemav be truly afferted of the Arabian or 

 Perfian fyftem; and, by a correcr. explanation of the 

 belt books on that fubject, much of the old Grecian 

 theory may probably be recovered. 



The poetical works of the Arabs and Perfians, which 

 differ iurprifmgly in their ftyle and form, are here 

 pretty generally known j and though taftes, concern- 

 ing which there can be no difputing, are divided in 

 regard to their merit, yet we may fafely fay of them, 

 what Abulfazl pronounces of the Mahdbharat, that, 

 " although they abound with extravagant images and 

 " defcriptions, they are in the higheft degree entertain- 

 c< ing and inftruelive." Poets of the greateft genius, 

 Pindar, jEfchylus, Dante, Petrarch, Shakefpeare, Spen- 

 fer, have moft abounded in images not far from the brink 

 of abfurdiiy ; but if their luxuriant fancies, or thofe 

 of Abulola, Firdaufi, Nizdmi, were pruned away at the 

 hazard of their ftrength and majefty, we mould lofe 

 many plenfures by the amputation. If we may form a 



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