388 



remains only to consider what degree of weight 

 is due to that opinion. I am ready to ac- 

 knowledge that the sentiments of poets with 

 respect to the general beauties of nature, ought 

 always to have great weight; for poetical and 

 picturesque ideas are congenial : but where a 

 poet means to celebrate the talents of a par- 

 ticular person, the case is different, as he is 

 apt, from a very natural enthusiasm, to bestow 

 upon him his own ideas of excellence and free- 

 dom from defects, without weighing too mi- 

 nutely whether he be entitled to such unre- 

 served praise. And besides, poetry for the 

 most part deals in strong general praise or 

 censure, and does not often stop to discrimi- 

 nate. I have great respect for Dr. Warton's 

 character both as a man and as a poet, and I 

 am sorry that the defence of my own judg- 

 ment should oblige me in any way to question 

 the accuracy of his ; but I must own . that I 

 am led to doubt of it in these points, from the 

 lines that immediately follow those which have 

 been quoted. 



Creative Titian, can thy vivid strokes, 

 Or thine, O graceful Raphael, dare to vie 

 With the rich tints that paint the breathing mead, 

 The thousand colour'd tulip, violet's bell 

 Snow-clad and meek, the vermil-tiuctured rose, 

 And golden crocus. 



Had it so happened that Dr. Warton had 

 applied to the study of pictures, and of the 

 principles on which their excellence depends, 



