zones.

The want of connection here is remarkable, as well as in the description of the prodigies that accompanied the death of Cæfar, with which the fame book is concluded. A digreffion upon the praises of Italy in the second book *, is not more happily introduced. And in the midst of a declamation upon the pleasures of hufbandry, that makes part of the fame book†, the author appears perfonally upon the ftage without the flighteft connection. The two prefaces of Sallust look as if they had been prefixed by fome blunder to his two hiftories. They will fuit any other history as well, or any fubject as well as history. Even the members of these prefaces are but loosely connected. They look more like a number of maxims or obfervations than a connected discourse.

An episode in a narrative poem being in effect an acceffory, demands not that strict union with the principal fubject which is requifite betwixt a whole and its conftituent parts. The relation however of prin

*Lin. 136.

† Lin. 475.

cipal

cipal and acceffory being pretty intimate, an episode loosely connected with the principal subject will never be graceful. I give for an example the descent of Æneas into hell, which employs the fixth book of the Æneid. The reader is not prepared for this important event. No cause is affigned, that can make it appear necessary or even natural, to fufpend, for fo long a time, the principal action in its most interesting period. To engage Æneas to wander from his courfe in fearch of an adventure fo extraordinary, the poet can find no better pretext, than the hero's longing to vifit the ghoft of his father recently dead. In the mean time the story is interrupted, and the reader lofes his ardor. An episode 10 extremely beautiful is not at any rate to be difpenfed with. It is pity however, that it doth not arise more naturally from the subject. I must observe at the same time, that full juftice is done to this incident, by confidering it to be an episode; for if it be a constituent part of the principal action, the connection ought to be still more intimate. The fame objection lies against that elabo

rate

rate description of Fame in the Eneid *. Any other book of that heroic poem, or of any heroic poem, has as good a title to that description as the book where it is placed.

In a natural landscape, we every day perceive a multitude of objects connected by contiguity folely. Objects of fight make an impreffion fo lively, as that a relation, even of the flightest kind, is relished. This however ought not to be imitated in description. Words are fo far fhort of the eye in livelinefs of impreffion, that in a description the connection of objects ought to be carefully studied, in order to make the deeper impreffion. For it is a known fact, the reafon of which is fuggested above, that it is eafier by words to introduce into the mind a related object, than one which is not connected with the preceding train. In the following paffage, different things are brought together without the slightest connection, if it be not what may be called verbal, i. e. taking the fame word in different meanings.

Lib. 4. lin. 173.

Surgamus

Surgamus: folet effe gravis cantantibus umbra. Juniperi gravis umbra: nocent et frugibus umbræ. Ite domum faturæ, venit Hefperus, ite capellæ. Virg. Buc, 10. 75.

The metaphorical or figurative appearance of an object, is no good caufe for introducing that object in its real and natural appearance. A relation fo flight can never be relished.

Diftruft in lovers is too warm a fun;

But

yet 'tis night in love when that is gone. And in thofe climes which moft his fcorching know, He makes the nobleft fruits and metals grow.

Part 2. Conquest of Granada, a&t 3.

The relations among objects have a confiderable influence in the gratification of our paffions, and even in their production. But this fubject is referved to be treated in the chapter of emotions and paffions *

There is perhaps not another instance of a building fo great erected upon a foundation fo flight in appearance, as that which is

*Part 1. fec. 4.

erected

upon

erected the relations of objects and their arrangement. Relations make no capital figure in the mind: the bulk of them are tranfitory, and fome extremely trivial. They are however the links that, uniting our perceptions into one connected chain, produce connection of action, because perceptions and actions have an intimate correfpondence. But it is not fufficient for the conduct of life that our actions be linked together, however intimately: it is befide neceffary that they proceed in a certain order; and this alfo is provided for by an original propenfity. Thus order and connection, while they admit fufficient variety, introduce a method in the management of affairs. Without them our conduct would be fluctuating and defultory; and we would be hurried from thought to thought, and from action to action, entirely at the mercy of chance.

VOL. I.

F

CHAP.