ÿ$ THE IMPROVrMENT OF THE MIND. Casimire, who is not in danger cow and their of sueli'ektrava- gancies : but still they should not be admired or defended, if we pretend to pass a just judgment on the writings of thegreat- est men. Milton is a noble genius, and the world agrees to confess it ; his poem of Paràdise Lost is a glorious performance, and rivals the most famous pieces of antiquity ; but that reader must be deeply prejudiced in favour of the poet; who can imagine him equal to himself through all that work. Neither the sublime sen- timents, nor dignity of numbers, nor force or beauty of expres- sion are equally maintained, even in all those parts which require grandeur or beauty, forceor harmony. Ì cannot but consent to Mr. Dryden's opinion, though I will not use his words, that for some scores of lines together, there is a coldness and flatness, and almost a perfect absence of that spirit of poesy which breathes, and lives, and flames in other pages. XI. When you hear any person pretending to give his judg- ment of a book, consider with yourself whether he be a capable judge, or whether he may not lie under some unhappy bias or prejudice, for or against it, or whether he has made a sufficient enquiry to form his justest sentiments upon it. Though he be a man of good sense, yet he is incapableOf passing a true judgment of a particular book, if he be not well acquainted with the sub- ject of which it treats, and the manner in which it is written, be it verse or prose ; or if he bath not had opportunity or leisure to look sufficiently into the writing itself. Again, though he be never so capable of judging on all ether accounts, by tile knowledge of the subject, and of the book itself, yet you are to consider also, whether there be any thing in the author, in his manner, in his language, in his opinions, and his particular party, which may warp the sentiments of him that judgeth, to think well or ill of the treatise, and to pass too favour, able or too severe a sentence concerning it. If you find that he is either an unfit judge becauseof his ignorance, or because of his prejudices, his judgment of that book should go for nothing. Philographo is a good divine, aú useful preacher, and an approved expositor of scripture, but he never had a taste for anyof the polite learning of the age : ho- .was fond of every thing that appeared in a devout dress, but all verse was alike to him : he told ins last week there was a very fine book of poems published on the threechristian graces, Faith, Hope, and Charity ; and a most elegant piece of oratory on the four last things, Death, Jakment, Heaven and hell. Do you think I shall buy either of those books merely on Philugeapha's recommendation..
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