rality, and the sublimeft Notions of Theology. I cannot indeed discover these Wonders in that Poet's Works: but I perceive the useful Inftruction he defign'd to give the Greeks whom he wifht to fee always united; and thereby more powerful than the Afiaticks. He fhew'd them that ACHILLES' Refentment against AGAMEMNON brought greater Misfortunes on Greece, than the Trojan Arms. Quicquid delirant reges, plectuntur Achivi. HOR. Ep. /L.I. Ep.ij. In vain did the Platonifts of the lower Empire (who impos'd on JULIAN,) fancy that there are Allegorys and deep Mysterys in the Storys of the Deitys that HOMER defcribes. Thefe Mysterys are Chimerical. It appears from the Holy Scripture; from the Fathers who confuted the heathen Idolatry; and from the plainest Evidence of Fact, that the Religion of the Antients was monftrous and extravagant. But HOMER did not frame it he found it establish't; and cou'd not alter it. He has adorn'd it : he has conceal'd much Art in his Work: He has rang'd all the Parts of it in fuch an Order as continually raises the Reader's Curiofity. He has painted every thing with Simplicity, Beauty, Force, Y 2 Majefty, . 14. Majefty, and Paffion. What can we defire more? 'Tis natural for the Moderns who excel in Elegance, and ingenious Turns to fancy that they have furpafs't the Antients; whose chief Excellence is a natural Simplicity. But I muft beg leave here to propofe a fort of Apologue. The Inventers of the Gothick kind of Architecture (which is faid to have come from the Arabians,) fancy'd no doubt that they had out-done the Greek Architects. A Grecian Structure has nothing in it that is merely ornamental. The Parts that are necessary to fupport, or to cover it, as the Pillars, and the Cornifh, become Ornaments only by their beautiful Proportion. Every thing is fimple, exact, and useful. We fee nothing in it either bold, or fanciful, that can impofe on the Sight. The Proportions are fo juft, that nothing feems very noble, tho' the whole really be fo. Every thing is defign'd to fatisfy true Reafon. On the contrary the Gothick Architect, upon very flender Pillars, raises up a vaft Roof into the Clouds. One wou'd fancy it were going to tumble, tho' it ftands many Ages. 'Tis all full of Windows, Rofes, and little Knacks. The Stones feem to be pinck't, and cut-out like Paper-baubles. Every thing looks gay and light; light; as it were hanging in the Air. Was it not natural now for the first Gothick Architects to imagin that by their vain Refinements they had out-done the Greek Simplicity? Now only change the Names; and put Poets and Orators inftead of Architects; LUCAN muft naturally fancy he was a greater Poet than VIRGIL SENECA the Tragedian muft imagin he was brighter than SoPHOCLES. TASSO perhaps hop'd he fhou'd out-strip VIRGIL and HOMER. If thefe Authors thought fo, they were much deceiv'd. And the most excellent modern Authors fhou'd beware of the like Miftake. While I fpeak thus freely, I wou'd not be thought to determin this Point. I only advise those who adorn the present Age not to despise the antient Writers who have been fo long admir'd. I do not extol the Antients as Models without any Defect. I wou'd not even difcourage anyone from hoping to furpass them. On the contrary, I wish I cou'd fee the Moderns excel by ftudying thofe very Antients whom they fhall overcome. But I fhou'd think I exceeded the Bounds prefcrib'd me, if I pretended to adjudge the Prize to either of the contending Partys: Non noftrum inter vos tantas componere lites: VIRG. Et vitulâ tu dignus, & hic Y 3 Ecl. iij. You . 108. You prefs't me, Sir, to declare my Thoughts: and I have not fo much confulted my Ability, as my Zeal for the . ACADEMY, Perhaps I have gone too far; but I defign'd not to fay a Word that fhou'd make me feem partial. 'Tis time for me to conclude. Phoebus volentem pralia me loqui, I fhall always remain with a fincere and high Efteem, Sir, &c. FIN IS, INDE X ་ ་ ་ ་ OF Principal Matters. A A. CADEMY (French) its Rife and Nature, Page an English one propos'd, Action, of what Ufe in Speaking, it ought to be eafy and natural, not uniform, See Hands, Eyes, Voice,. 201, 202 208, 212 85-88, 92, 93 Addrefs of an Orator, what kind most proper, : 98 AMBROSE's Stile, Antients, their Excellence, :185 150 their Way of expreffing the Paffions, 92, 260 their Simplicity, their Defects, 309, 10, II 126 ibid 136, 7 146, 7, 8 157,8 283 14 83, 99, 238 991258 |