Lectures on Poetry Read in the Schools of Natural Philosophy at Oxford. Tr. [By W. Bowyer] with Additional Notes - Tapa blanda

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This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1742. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... only proper, but essential to Heroic Poetry; and, in Consequence of that Opinion, have made a happy Conclusion Part of the Definition. The two Differences, therefore, that we spoke of, between Tragdy and Epic, are (as the Schools term it) specific inferences, the others are only accidental; those are Differences in Nature, these only in Degree, Extent, or Greatness. Th f tk e Moderns eem to mistake that l_ rJe Part of Epic and Tragedy which contains 'the ri 3atifu»i-e», or the wonderful, confounding the wonderful with the improbable, and using those two Words promiscuously. If it was really so, the To Siu;«s-t» would always be saulty; for that is always saulty, which is improbable. These poetical Prodigies would be improbable, if they were represented to be perfbrm'd by any human Power: But the Case is quite different. The Divine Power, and the Agency of the Gods, make all this agreeable to Reason. Thus, in Homer, that the Horses should speak; and, in Virgil, that the Myrtle Roots should drop Blood, is wonderful, but not improbable: For our most ingenious Translator of Homer seems to be mistaken, when he asserts, that these were perform'd without the Interposal of the Gods. As to the latter, Virgil1 exprefly declares it to be a Prodigy: Herrendum, & dittu video mirabile monftrunt. And a little after, m------Nymphas venerabar agrestes, Gradivumque Patrem, Geticis qui prastdet arvis, Rite secundarent visut, omenque levarent. I implore the rural Nymphs, And Mars, who o'er the Getic Field presides, The Omen to avert, and grant Success. 1 Æn. L. iii. j 26. rf jr 34. Bat But plainer still, in what follows: Monstra deum res era. As to Homer, he, in express Terms, asserts, that Juno made the Horse speak :. Then, strange to tell, (so Jfaw.wiU'd...