ing are unquestionable, is, That he generally followed the taste of his time, which was the worst imaginable; and rarely his own, which was naturally excellent; as may be feen in the few pieces of his poetry, here felected from the reft; and, efpecially, in his profe-works, which (except the notes on his Pindaric Odes, and Davideis) are given entire, and have no common merit. BUT the talents, by which he is diftinguished, as a polite writer, are the least of his praife. There is fomething in him, which pleases above his wit, and in fpite of it. It is that moral air, and tender fenfibility of mind, which every one perceives and loves in reading Mr. Cowley. Cowley. And this character of his genius, though it be expreffed, indeed, in his other writings, comes out especially, and takes our attention most, in some of his fmaller poems and essays; which, therefore, it seemed to be for the author's credit, and the convenience of his readers, to draw near to each other, and place, together, in one view. I have faid-for the convenience of his readers: for, though all are capable of being entertained, perhaps inftructed, by the image of a good mind, when fet before them, yet few will be at the pains to feek that inftruction or entertainment for themselves, through the scattered works of fo unequal and voluminous a writer, Το To do juftice to the memory of Mr. Cowley, in these two refpects, I mean, in his capacity both of a polite and moral writer, is the fole end of this publication. Every man of taste and virtue will read it with pleasure. There are, indeed, many lines difperfed through his other poems, which deferve praife. But, on the whole, it is enough if this small collection go down to pofterity: In that cafe, neither they, nor the author, will have any great lofs, though the reft be forgotten. Lincoln's-Inn, R. HURD. CON |