Retrofped of Domeftic Literature.— Poetry. 
Duity in the plan of this poem, but fome 
ef his'materials are of too difficult ma- 
nagement.. Alfred the Great implores 
the Goddefs of Science to defcend and en- 
lighten mankind : fhe appears, furround- 
ed by innumerable Sylphs, concerning 
whole hiftory the Monarch, with a laud- 
able curiofity, cefires infoymat on, and 
the Goddets accordingly defcribes them as 
fpiritual reprefentatives of material ob- 
jects. Alfred accompanies the Goddetfs 
to the palace of Genius, who, with his 
attendant, is defcribed. A prodigious 
hoft of Sylphs affemble around Science, 
who exhibit pictures before Alired of the 
various events which tend to the advance- 
ment and civilization of mankind. The 
writer has difvlayed an aftive imagination 
anda var.ety of knowledge. 
« Alfred, an Epic Poem, in fix Books, 
by Henry James Pre.’ We noticed, 
ona former occafion, Mr. Cottle’s epic 
poem on the fame ftory, in which there 
was a great deal of the true fpirit of po- 
etry. The prefent is a refpectable pro- 
duétion, and contains fome elegant and 
pleafing pafflages : but we have been told 
from bigh autherity, that it is not enough 
to have our poems beautiful— 
Duicia funto, 
Et quocungue volent animum auditoris 
agunto. 
Tt does not appear to us that the talents 
of Mr. Pye are equal to the compofition of 
an Epic: he has genius and tafte, and he 
would have fhewn judgment, had he at- 
tended to another Horatian precept— 
Sumito materiam veftris qui fcribitis, equam 
Viribus, o& verfate diu quid ferre recufant, 
Quid valeant humeri. 
«© Britannia: a national Epic Poem, 
in twenty Books. To which is prefixed, 
a critical Differtation on Epic Machi- 
nery. By Jonn Ociiviz, D.D. F.RS. 
Edinburgh.” An epic poem, in twenty 
books, is reaily a formidable undertaking. 
Dr. Ogilvie difplays refpectable poetical 
attainments: here and there we find a 
paflage ef confiderable merit, but the 
reader has a long way to travel for it— 
The ftory of the poem is the eftablifhment 
of a Trojan colony in this ifland, under 
Brutus : the aétion is chi:fly carried on 
by the agency of fuperior beings, who in- 
terpofe whether the zodus requires their” 
interpofition or not. The preliminary 
differtation contains a defence of the ne- 
_ceflity of epic machinery, in oppofition to 
Mr. Hayley. 
Mr. SoTHesy has addrefled ** A Po- 
-@# 
657 
etical Eviftle to Sir George Beaumont, 
Bart. on the Encouragement of the Bri- 
tifh School of Painting.”? The tranflator 
of Wieland’s Oberon, aad of Virgil's 
Georgics, needs no incenfe from us. The 
lines of this epifile are polifhed, and the 
fentiments patriotic. We have frequeutly 
been warned againf{ the infidelicy of 
France, and againft the contagion of her 
democracy: but Mr. Sotheby’s jealoufy 
has prelented to us a new fubje& for 
alarm :— 
€* Tdread not Gallia’s defolating pow’rs, 
‘ No hoftile foot fhall -bruife our: native 
flow'rs.” 
I dread her not, ftern foe, array’d in arms ; 
I dread the fyren deck’d in magic charms ; 
I dread her crown’d enchantreis of the heart, 
And hail’d by Europe, arbitrefs of art. 
The feaft is fpread in proud theatric fate, 
Th’ invited nations at her portal wait. 
Tranfported guefts! the golden gates ex- 
pand, 
The fhout of rapture burfts from land to 
land. 
Zepliyrs, whofe rofeate wings foft dews dif- 
til, 
The air around with fweets Sabean fill: 
Banners, where rainbow colours richly 
play, 
Catch the foft gale, and itream a fairer day. 
Above, below, around, the viewlefs choir 
Wake the foft flute, and fweep th’ accerdant 
lyre, 
And, at each tuneful ftop, from nymphs un- 
feen, ~ 
Symphonious voices fweil the paufe be- 
tween. 
Others, by beauty moulded, move in fight, 
And every fenfe by every charm delight, 
With flowing locks, loofe robe, and bofom 
bare, f 
Melt in the dance, that floats upon the air. 
Th’ enchantrefs fmiles, her,,hands a goblet 
hold, 
On Hebe’s bofom Cupid wrought the mould: 
Th’ enchantrefs {miles, and mingles in the 
bowl 
Drops of Circean juice, that drug the foul.” 
A rivalfhip in arts will be honourable ~ 
to both nations: and if with the chatte 
models of the Louvre before them, the 
French fhould for fome little time excel 
us, we fhall only be itimulated to greaite 
and more fuccefsful endeavours. 
‘© Peace; a Poem, infcribed to the 
Right Hon: Henry Addington. By 
THomMas Dernmopy.” ‘Thefe lines are 
highly animated and poetical. There is 
fomething very pleating alfo in Mr. Fox’s 
“¢ Bagatella, or delineations of home 
{ceneay, but the notes and extracts hang 
heavily on the volums.” Mr, Thomfon’s 
~  Britith 
