from a perfuafion (in which I may perhaps be mistaken) that fome of his maxims have a strong tendency to injure an art highly dear to us both; an art on which his genius and learning have caft many rays of pleafing and of useful light.

NOTE II. VERSE 166.

But howling dogs the fancied Orpheus tore.] This anecdote of Neanthus, the fon of King Pittacus, is related by Lucian. The curious reader may find it in the second volume of Dr. Francklin's spirited tranf lation of that lively author, page 355 of the quarto edition.

NOTE III. VERSE 276.

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And Spotless Laurels in that field be won.] The Indian mythology, as it has lately been illustrated in the writings of Mr. Holwell, is finely calculated to answer the purpose of any poetical genius who may wish to introduce new machinery into the serious Epic Poem, Befides the powerful charm of novelty, it would have the advantage of not clashing with our national religion; for the endeavours of Mr. Holwell to reconcile the ancient and pure doctrine of Bramah with the difpenfation of Christ, have fo far fucceeded, that if his fyftem does not fatisfy a theologift, it certainly affords a fufficient bafis for the structure of a Poet. In perufing his account of the Indian fcripture, every reader of imagination may, I think, perceive, that the Shaftah might supply a poetical fpirit with as rich a mass of ideal treasure as fancy could wish to work upon.-An Epic Poet, defirous of laying the fcene of his action in India, would be more embarrassed to find interesting Heroes than proper Divinities.-Had juftice and generofity inspired and guided that English valour, which has fignalized itself on the plains of Indoftan; had the arms of our country been employed to deliver the native Indians from the oppreffive ufurpation of the Mahometan powers ; fuch exploits would present to the Epic Muse a subject truly noble, and the mythology of the East might enrich it with the most fplendid decorations. Whether it be poffible or not to find such a subject in the records of our Indian history, I leave the reader to determine.-Our great Historian of the Roman empire has intimated, in a note to the first volume of his immortal work, that "the wonderful expedition of Odin, which deduces

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"the enmity of the Goths and Romans from fo memorable a caufe, might fupply the noble ground-work of an Epic poem." The idea is certainly both juft and fplendid. Had Gray been ever tempted to engage in fuch a work, he would probably have convinced us, that the Northern mythology has still fufficient power to feize and enchant the imagination, as much in Epic as in Lyric compofition.

It may amuse our fpeculative Critics, to confider how far the religious Gothic fables fhould be introduced or rejected, to render fuch a performance most interesting to a modern reader. Few judges would agree in their fentiments on the question; and perhaps the great dispute concerning Machinery cannot be fairly adjusted, till some happy genius shall poffefs ambition and perfeverance enough to execute two Epic poems, in the one adopting, and in the other rejecting, fupernatural agents; for Reafon alone is by no means an infallible conductor in the province of Fancy; and in the poetical as well as the philofophical world, experiment is the fureft guide to truth.

FINI S.

201,

Ver. 356, for keep read heap.

Ver. 372, at the end of the line infert a mark of Interrogation.

8, for neglio read meglio -for gindicio read giudicio

208, 28, for Aranco read Arauco; and line ult. for Arancanians read Araucanians - 217, &c. for Lincoza read Lincoya

223, line 20, for Lantaro read Lautaro.-The Reader is defired to correct this name is different pages, as it is repeatedly misprinted.

286, line 2, for quas read were