neral properties and large appearances; he does not number the ftreaks of the tulip, or defcribe the different fhades in the verdure of the foreft. He is to exhibit in his portraits of nature fuch prominent and ftriking features, as recall the original to every mind; and muft neglect the minuter difcriminations, which one, may have remarked, and another have neglected, for those characteristicks which are alike obvious to vigilance and carelefnefs. "But the knowledge of nature is only half the task of a poet; he must be acquainted likewife with all the modes of life. His character requires that he estimate the happiness and mifery of every condition; obferve the power of all the paffions in all their combinations, and trace the changes of the human mind as they are modified by various inftitutions and accidental influences of climate or custom from the fprightfinefs of infancy to the defpondence of decre , decrepitude. He must diveft himself of the prejudices of his age or country; he must confider right and wrong in their abstracted and invariable ftate; he muft difregard prefent laws and opinions', and rife to general and tran. fcendental truths, which will always be the fame: he muft therefore content himself with the flow progrefs of his name; contemn the applause of his own time, and commit his claims to the justice of pofterity. Hé must write as the interpreter of nature, and the legiflator of mankind, and confider himself as prefiding over the thoughts and manners of future generations; as a being fuperior to time and place. "His labour is not yet at an end: he must know many languages and many fciences; and, that his ftyle may be worthy worthy of his thoughts, muft by in. ceffant practice, familiarize to himself every delicacy of fpeech and grace of harmony." CHAP. CHA P. X I. IMLAC'S NARRATIVE CON IMLAC now felt the enthufiaftic fi and was proceeding to aggrandize his own profeffion, when the prince cried out, "Enough!. Thou haft convinced me, that no human being can ever be a poet. Proceed with thy narration." "To be a poet, faid Imlac, is indeed very difficult." "So difficult, returned the prince, that I will at present hear no more of his labours. Tell me whither you went when you had feen Perfia." "From Perfia, faid the poet, I travelled through Syria, and for three years refided in Paleftine, where I converfed with great numbers of the northern and western nations of Europe; the nations which are now in poffeffion of of all power and all knowledge; whofe armies are irresistible, and whose fleets command the remoteft parts of the globe. When I compared thefe men with the natives of our own kingdom, and those that furround us, they appeared almoft another order of beings. In their countries it is difficult to wish for any thing that may not be obtained: a thoufand arts, of which we never heard, are continually labouring for their convenience and pleafure; and whatever their own climate has denied them is supplied by their commerce." "By what means, faid the prince, are the Europeans thus powerful, or why, fince they can fo eafily vifit Afia and Africa for trade or conqueft, cannot the Afiaticks and Africans invade their coafts, plant colonies in their ports, and give laws to their natural princes? The fame wind that carries |