the third end of a comparison. Similes of this kind have, befide, a separate effect: they diverfify the narration by new images that are not strictly neceffary to the comparison : they are short epifodes, which, without distracting us from the principal subject, afford great delight by their beauty and variety: He fcarce had ceas'd, when the fuperior fiend Behind him caft; the broad circumference Or in Valdarno, to descry new lands, Thus far thefe, beyond Milton, b. 1. Compare of mortal prowess, yet obferv'd He, above the rest In shape and gesture proudly eminent, VOL. III. C Looks Looks through the horizontal mifty air Shorn of his beams; or from behind the moon On half the nations, and with fear of change As when a vulture on Imaus bred, Milton, b. 1. Whofe fnowy ridge the roving Tartar bounds, To gorge the flesh of lambs, or yeanling kids, fprings Of Ganges or Hydafpes, Indian ftreams, But in his way lights on the barren plains Yet higher than their tops The verdurous wall of Paradise up sprung: On On which the fun more glad imprefs'd his beams That landscape: and of pure now purer air All fadness but defpair: now gentle gales Of Arabie the Bleft; with fuch delay Well pleas'd they flack their courfe, and many a league, Chear'd with the grateful smell, old Ocean smiles. Milton, b.4. With regard to fimiles of this kind, it will readily occur to the reader, that when the refembling fubject or circumftance is once properly introduced in a fimile, the mind passes eafily to the new objects, and is tranfitorily amused with them, without feeling any difguft at the flight interruption. Thus, in fine weather, the momentary excurfions of a traveller for agreeable profpects or fumptuous uildings, chear his mind, relieve him from the langour of uniformity, and without much lengthening his journey in reality, fhorten it greatly in appearance. Next of comparisons that aggrandize or elevate. These make stronger impreffions than any other fort; the reafon of which may be gathered from the chapter of grandeur and fublimity, and, without reasoning, will be evident from the following inftances. As when a flame the winding valley fills, Through blood, through death, Achilles ftill proceeds, O'er flaughter'd heroes, and o'er rolling steeds. As As when avenging flames with fury driv❜n Methinks, King Richard and myself should meet Of fire and water, when their thund'ring fhock, Richard II. a. 3. Sc. 5. I beg peculiar attention to the following fimile, for a reason that fhall be mentioned. Thus breathing death, in terrible array, There |