This fault is not fo deeply interwoven with the texture of the First Book, but that it might be with great facility removed, and will deferve the attention of the author at a fubfequent revifion.

One great difficulty of Epic compofition, arifes from the magnitude of the work. Being engaged to fupport attention, and excite intereft, through many thousand lines, the poet is obliged to have recourfe to every poffible art of ornament and variation. As his heroes are, or ought to be, more interesting perfonages to the reader than he can be himself, his bufinefs is to dramatize their actions, and introduce their speeches wherever he can do it with propriety; and to retire continually from notice, when it is by any means practicable to bring forwards other agents. On this general principle is founded the contrivance used by all the Epic writers, of throwing a confiderable part of their narrative into the mouth of fome principal perfonage. Of this artifice, fo fully fanctioned by reafon as well as cuftom, the prefent author has not omitted to avail himfelf; and the 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, and 11th Books, are occupied by Richard's narrative of his own part in the Crufade. But he relates thefe facts under the most interesting circumstances in which a hero can be placed; as a prifoner accused of enormous crimes, before a diet compofed of the princes of Germany, and as a full juflification of himself with refpect to very heavy articles alledged against him. Nor is he narrative inert or monotonous. It is enlivened by occafional interruptions, from the natural paffions of the auditors, both for and against the royal pleader; and is once completely interrupted, by a temporary adjournment of the diet, which effectually relieves the reader, and preferves the interest of the

.tale.

The Poem is continued till Richard has completely triumphed over all his enemies, mortal and immortal, and is ready to return in triumph to his kingdom. There is no Epifode, except the love of Blondel and Chariclæa, which is fo closely interwoven with the general plan, as to form almost a neceffary part. Of the well-known and popular tale of Blondel difcovering his mafter, in the Castle of Trivallis, by means of a fong which they had jointly compofed, the most judicious and affecting ufe is made. From this part we shall draw our prefent fpecimen of the work; not anticipating the judgment of our readers by commendations, which, we doubt not, will be given fpontaneously by all who perufe the paffage. Having gained admiffion to the caftle as a minstrel, and being obliged to quit it abruptly, from the rifing fufpicions of the captain of the garrifon, he thus proceeds in his adventure.

The

"LXXX.

The hall he quitted, and the drawbridge pafs'd.
Still ruminating on his Prince's doom,
He fought the foreit. As his eye he caft
Along the outline of th' expanded loom,
Each tenant of the wood appear'd to affume
Some form fantaftic, as the midnigh glare
With fitting touch it's branches chanc'd t' illume:
Some ghattly warrior's mien it now would wear,
Now like fome monfter gape, or like fome Gorgon ftare.

LXXXI.

When a quick-paffing cloud it's dark veil fpread,
Ali feem'd to vanish in the general shade;
But, whenfoe'er the moon her radiance fhed,
Ideal phantoms were again pourtray'd
In fhapes more ftrange and horrible array'd,
As i, in Synod there to meet compell'd,
Malicious fends their noxious gambols play'd,
Shrouded from day and by the fun unquell'd;
For ne'er his purer teams fuch vifions dire beheld.

LXXXII.

Thus when on midnight couch fome fev'rish wretch
Is doom'd a strong delirium to fustain,

Diftemper'd dreams their tancied horrors ftretch,
And whirl their madd'ning influence o'er his brain :
While the black blood impell'd thro' ev'ry vein,
Charg'd with contagion, loads his heaving heart,
His fuff ring fpirit labours with the pain,
'Croís his ftrain'd eye-balls fiery spectres dart,
He raves and tears his flesh with wild convulfive start,

LXXXIII.

BLONDEL thefe ftrange appearances admir'd,

Which weaker bofoms might have chill'd with dread;
But he, whofe foul tuperior courage fir'd,
Smil'd on the terrors which around him spread,
And onward walk'd with firm determin'd tread
To gain the path which wound within the wood.
Yet, ere he left the plain, he turn'd his head,
Again to view the Caftle as it ftood,

Sublime in barbarous pride, polluted still with blood.

LXXXIV.

On it's high walls he gaz'd and moat profound,
Which now more vaft and more tremendous fhew'd
In gloom obfcure and night's dark mantle bound,
Thro' which in vain their windings he pursued.
But foon, from clouds releas'd, the moon renew'd
Her fav'ring light, and, on the western tow'r
Shedding her beams, difclos'd it's fummit rude.
More dread it frown'd than at the noon-tide hour,
And with redoubled awe it's turret's feem'd to lour,

« And

LXXXV.

"And what if RICHARD there may lie," he said:
What if the tale which ftruck my pitying ear
The cruel miferies of my King convey'd ?
Be Heav'n my guide! away each idle fear!
Welcome each horror of yon Caftle drear!
To dare it's perils thus I fondly fly!"

Then, where he faw the threat'ning turrets rear
Their battlements, he rufh'd, refolv'd to try
What fortune might betide, or for his Prince to die.

LXXXVI.

Beneath the tow'ring pile he quickly flood.
As it's wide front with warlike emblems deck'd
And far-ftretch'd range with heedful eye he view'd,
It's height immenfe his expectation check'd.
Now, if fome recent and o'er-look'd defect
An entrance might afford, the walls around
With eager care he haften'd to infpect.

Vain was his toil; no op'ning there he found,

But firm, compact and ftrong the rugged turret frown'd:

LXXXVII.

Save where aloft, by gratings well fecur'd,
A small and narrow window he efpied,
Which to the hapless wretch within immur'd
A portion fcant of light and air fupplied.
Yet all accefs it's altitude defied.

Not more it's ftate inviolate maintains

The eagle's neft on Snowdon's craggy fide,
Where in fecluded majefty he reigns.

And rears his princely brood, and human pow'r difdains.

LXXXVIII.

Here he conceiv'd the Chief in bondage lay:
But fill the fiffure ftraight fo diftant feem'd,
That to the dreary dungeon to convey
His cheering voice impoffible he deem'd.

No founds were heard, nor from the Caftle gleam'd
The paffing torches of the wearied guard :
Opprefs'd by toil they flept, and, as they dream'd
Of old encounters and of labours hard,

In flumbers deep they loft the duties of their ward,

LXXXIX.

Impatient the myfterious truth to know,

He caught his harp, and ftruck a gentle note.
The chord, half vibrating, fubdued and low,
Scarce on the midnight breeze appear'd to float,
Softly it ftole along the tranquil moat,
As when, amid fome lonely wood's retreat,
Defponding Philomel attunes her throat
Her melancholy fortunes to repeat,

Her fong the oft renews with cadence fad and fweet.

He

XC.

He paus'd awhile, but all was mute and still.
Again his harp he ftruck with firmer hand,
And modulations drew more loud and fhrill,
Such as were wont, on Judah's holy ftrand,
With pious rage t' inflame the martial band.
The pow'rful harmony afcended high,

Thro' the wide air it's influence to expand.
Once more the strong vibration feem'd to die,
When from the tow'r was heard a deep and long-drawn figh.

XCI.

The mournful found electrified his foul:
Thoughtful he ftood, yet firm and unappall'd.
His cherish'd hope now rofe beyond controul,
That here his much-lov'd Monarch lay enthrall'd.
Now to his working fancy he recall'd
The fcenes of early youth, when on the plain
Of fair Poitou in princely ftate inftall'd

The gallant RICHARD held his peaceful reign,

And fram'd the lively fong, and rais'd the tender strain.

XCII.

'Twas there, ere yet the fatal feuds arofe

Which chang'd for war's alarms those scenes of joy,
That RICHARD oft delighted to compofe
The varying verfe; to fing his lady coy
The hour of reft full oft would he employ.
BLONDEL alone thofe pleafing moments fhar'd;
Full well their common fong accus'd the boy,
Whose wanton malice neither heart had spar'd,
And still with practis'd art his venom'd shafts prepar❜d.

XCIII.

Of these a sweet and well-remember'd air
BLONDEL felected, which with fond delight
His Prince had form'd for the capricious fair
Who paid his ardent vows with fcorn and flight:
And thus he fung-" While to your beauty bright
I homage pay, and lowly bend the knee,

Vain are your charms true paffion to excite:
Colduefs but ill with raptures can agree;

Yet still my patience lafts, while all are fhunn'd like me."

XCIV.

He ceas'd th' imperfect ftrain, and fix'd remain'd

In mure expectancy to catch the found

Which from the tow'r might come. Deep filence reign'd,

When thus a manly voice, in notes profound,

Refponfive fung-" No nymph my heart can wound,
If other captives the attempts t' enfnare,

And fheds her fmiles and

graces

all around:

Rather her fcorn and hatred would I bear,

'Than own her worthlefs fway, and love with others share."

"It

XCV.

"It is, it is my RICHARD!" cried BLONDEL,
He lives to crown his faithful people's love!
Oh! eafe my tortur'd bofom, deign to tell
What cruel fate, and envious fortune drove
Our gallant Prince this fad reverfe to prove?
Oh let thy welcome voice my fenfes blefs!
Say, can my care, my toils, life remove
my
My Monarch's woe, or aid his deep distress?

Say, can my favour'd hand his mighty wrongs redrefs?".

XCVI.

"Thank Heav'n!" replied the Prince, at length my pray's
Hath found acceptance at the Eternal Throne.,
While doom'd to bonds and folitary care,

Oft has my fad and wearied fpirit flown

To that great pow'r who mercy now hath fhewn,
Lov'd friend! and is it then thy voice I hear?
Amid the horrors of this turret lone

It comes the forrows of my heart to cheer,

To ease my tortur'd breast, and calm my anxious fear." P. 97. After pointing out, which we cannot forbear to do, the fublime and appofite fimile of the Eagle's Neft to the notice of our readers, we fhall referve to a future opportunity our more particular remarks on the ornaments and conduct of this Poem; declaring however, without referve, our firm opinion, that if it does not attract, in an eminent degree, the notice and approbation of the British public, the caufes which we ftated in the opening of the prefent article must have more powerful operation than they ought to have; and the author will have reason to complain of palpable injustice.

(To be concluded in our next.)

ART. II. View of the Agriculture of Middlefex; with Obfervations on the Means of its Improvement, and feveral Effays on Agriculture in General. Drawn up for the Confideration of the Board of Agriculture. By John Middleton, Efq. of Weft-Barns Farm, Merton, and of Lambeth, Surrey, LandSurveyor; Member of the London Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures, and Commerce, and Corresponding Member of the Board of Agriculture. Accompanied by the Remarks of feveral refpectable Gentlemen and Farmers. 8vo. 9s. 597 pp. Nicol. 1798.

WE long fince flattered ourselves and our readers, that the

laft of thefe County-Surveys had come before us for examination. The vaft extent of their plan; the short time

allowed