1796. | 
This fimile has, in an eminent degree, 
that union of moral with natural refem- 
blance, which conftitutes the perfection 
of this kiad of figure. The attendant evd/ 
piri, the delufive tight mifleading the 
wanderer to danger and defiruction, far from 
fuccour, have as much reference to the cba- 
‘'yatter and fr'uation of the Serpent and 
Eve, as the ghitvring light of the meteor 
has to the Ain we kin of the fnake. “This 
exadinefs of adaptation is only to be ex- 
peéted from the poet of a cultivated and 
critical age, and is, therefore, feldom 
found in Homer, nor is it frequently re- 
markable in Virgil. 
Another meteorous phenomenon, the 
urora borealis, could only have efcaped 
the notice of the ancient poets, from its 
great uncommonnefs’ in their ages or 
countries. “Virgil, indeed, alludes to it 
in his account of the prodigies at the death 
cf Cafar ; but an appearance fo unufual 
as to be a prodigy, could fcarcely be ap- 
plied asa fimile. Even Milton {peaks of 
at as portentous, when he defcribes it as 
an object of fimilitude to the martial ex- 
ercifes of the fallen angels : 
“As when to warn proud cities, war appears 
Wag’d in the troubled fky, and armies rufh 
‘To battle in the clouds ; before each van 
Prick forth the aery knights, and couch their 
{pears 
Tili thickeft legions clofe’; with feats of arms 
rom either end of heav’n the welkin burns. 
; Par. L. il. 533. 
Poets whofe genius and fubjeét led them 
to fearch for images of terror and fub- 
limity, could not poilibly cverlook the 
aweful occurrence of thunder and light- 
ming; in which, folernnity of found, bril- 
liancy of appearance, {wittnefs of motion, 
and vehemence of aétion, all unite to im- 
prefs the imagination. One of the earlieft 
fimiles in Homer, is a noble one, derived 
from this fource. After his minute cata- 
egue of the Grecian army, the effect of 
which is toin{pire a high 1dea of its force, 
he fuftains the image of grandeur he had 
excited, by thus defcribing their march. 
oO 
to the enemy : 
Warth gyoaned beneath : 
bee Ove 
Smites in his wrath the recky Arime, 
Bed of Typhaus huge: thus loud the ground 
Rebellow’d to the tread of numerous fect, 
‘That {wiltly crofs’d the plain. 
as wen the thund’ring 
Tes te 710 
Milton, in like manner, compares the 
found of a great affembly, to diftant thun- 
Similes of Homer, Virgil, and Milton. 
381 
der. Whenthe council of Pandemonium 
is diffolved, he fays, 
Their rifing all at once was as the found 
Of thunder heard remote. 
Par. L. il. 4976. 
In the following fimile, the velocity 
and brilliancy of lightning are the cir- 
cumftances of comparifon applied to the 
figure of Idomeneus rufhing to battle : 
Forth fprung the hero, like the hghtning’s flafh; 
By Jove’s own hand from bright Olympus hu:Pd, 
His fign to mortals, beaming fplendour round 
So ruthing tothe war, his brazen arms 
Gleam’d on his breait. IL. xili. 240. 
There are two fimiles in Homer and 
Virgil, fomewhat fingular in their ap- 
plication, in which, affections of the mind 
are refembled to the flafhing of lightning. 
The agitation of Agamemnon, during 
the night after the failure ot his endea- 
vours to appeate Achilles, is thus de- 
{cribed : 
As when, preparing deluges of rain, 
Or hail, or {now to whiten all the fields, 
Or opening the big throat of crucl war, 
The tpoufe of Juno lightens; full-as faft 
Groan’d Agamemnon from his inmoft breaft. 
IL. x. & 
T he apparent refemblance here, is con- 
fined to the fole circumftance of frequent 
repetition yet there is alfoa degree of fe- 
condary fimilitude in the calamitous events 
prefaged by the lightning, and the dil- 
trefsful fituation of Agamemnon which 
excited his groans. The other fimile re- 
ferred to, is in that voluptuous paffage os 
the Aineid, where Venus exerts her al- 
luring powers upon Vulcang in order to 
procure celeftial armour for her fon. 
The effeéis are thus reprefented : 



— ille repente 
Accepit folitam flammam : notufque medullas 
Intravit calor, & labefaéta per offa cucurrit : 
_Haud fecus atque olim tonitru cum rupta corufco 
Ignea rima micans percurit lumine nimbos. __ 
: HEN. vill. 388. 
His bones and marrow fudden warmth infpire, 
And all the Godhead feels the wonted fire. 
Not half fo {wift the rattling thunder flies, 
Or forky lightnings flafh along the fhics. 
DRYDEN. 
This is an inadequate tranflation, fince 
the circumftance of /wifi#e/s is the only 
one pointed out in the refemblance ; 
whereas in the original, the ‘* fiery chink 
running acrofs the clouds,” is cbvioufiy 
put in parallel with the ‘“flame”’ of love, 
pervading the inmoft parts with its 
‘ heat.” The fimilitude is jufiand poeti- 
cal. 
Light 
