be it from the author of the following trifles, to dignify his own opinions with that denomination. He would only intimate the great variety of fubjects, and the different ftyles in which the writers of elegy have hitherto indulged themselves, and endeavour to field the following ones by the latitude of their example. word, the If we confider the etymology of the epithet which ‡ HORACE gives it, or the confeffion which § OVID makes concerning it, I think ve may conclude thus much however; that elegy, in its true and genuine acceptation, includes a tender and querulous idea that it looks upon this as its peculiar characteristic, and fo long as this is thoroughly fuftained, admits of a variety of fubjects; which by its manner of treating them, it renders its own. It throws its melancholy ftole over pretty different ob-. jets, which, like the dreffes at a funeral proceffion, gives them all a kind of folemn and uniform appear ance. It is probable that elegies were written at first upon the death of intimate friends and near relations ; *This effay was written near twenty years ago. t-λe, e-particulam dolendi. 1 Miferabiles elegos. HOR. § Heu nimis ex vero nunc tibi nomen erit. OVID. de Morte Tibulli celebrated celebrated beauties, or favourite miftreffes; beneficent governors and illuftrious men one may add perhaps, of all thofe, who are placed by VIRGIL in the laurel-grove of his Elyfium, (Vide HURD'S Differtation on HORACE's Epistle) Quique fui memores alios fecere merendo. After thefe fubjects were fufficiently exhaufted, and the feverity of fate difplayed in the most affecting inftances, the poets fought occafion to vary their complaints; and the next tender fpecies of forrow that prefented itself, was the grief of absent or neglected lovers. And this indulgence might be indeed allowed them; but with this they were not contented. They bad obtained a small corner in the province of love, and they took advantage, from thence, to over-run the whole territory. They fung its spoils, triumphs, ovations, and rejoicings*, as well as the captivity and exequies that attended it. They gave the name of elegy to their pleafantries as well as lamentations; 'till at laft, through their abundant fondness for the myrtle, they forgot that the cypress was their peculiar garland. In this it is probable they deviated from the original defign of elegy; and it should feem, that any kind of fubjects, treated in fuch a manner as to diffufe a pleafing * Dicite Io Pæan, & Io bis dicite Pæan. B 3 OVID. melancholy, melancholy, might far better deferve the name, than the facetious mirth and libertine feftivity of the fuccefsful votaries of love. But not to dwell too long upon an opinion which may feem perhaps introduced to favour the following performance, it may not be improper to examine into the ufe and end of elegy. The most important end of all poetry is to encourage virtue. Epic and tragedy chiefly recommend the public virtues; elegy is of a Species which illuftrates and endears the private. There is a truly virtuous pleasure connected with many penfive contemplations, which it is the province and excellency of elegy to enforce. This, by prefenting fuitable ideas, bas difcovered fweets in melancholy which we could not find in mirth; and has led us with fuccefs to the dusty urn, when we could draw no pleasure from the Sparkling bowl; as paftoral conveys an idea of fimplicity and innocence, it is in particular the task and merit of elegy to fhew the innocence and fimplicity of rural life to advantage; and that, in a way diftinct from paftoral, as much as the plain but judicious landlord may be imagined to furpass his tenant both in dignity and understanding. It should also tend to elevate the more tranquil virtues of humility, difintereftednefs, fimplicity, and innocence: but then there is a degree of elegance and refinement, no way inconfiftent with thefe rural virtues; and that raifes elegy above that that merum rus, that unpolifhed rufticity, which has given our paftoral writers their highest reputation. Wealth and Splendor will never want their proper weight: the danger is, left they should too much preponderate. A kind of poetry therefore which throws its chief influence into the other fcale, that magnifies the fweets of liberty and independence, that endears the boneft delights of love and friendship, that celebrates the glory of a good name after death, that ridicules the futile arrogance of birth, that recommends the innocent amusement of letters, and infenfibly prepares the mind for that humanity it inculcates, fuch a kind of poetry may chance to please; and if it pleafe, fhould feem to be of fervice. As to the style of elegy, it may be well enough determined from what has gone before. It should imitate the voice and language of grief; or if a metaphor of dress be more agreeable, it should be fimple and diffufe, and flowing as a mourner's veil. A verfification therefore is defireable, which, by indulging a free and unconstrained expreffion, may admit of that fimplicity which elegy requires. Heroic metre, with alternate rhime, feems well enough adapted to this fpecies of poetry; and, bowever exceptionable upon other occafions, its inconve niences appear to lofe their weight in fhorter elegies; and its advantages feem to acquire an additional importance. The world has an admirable example of its beauty in a collection of elegies not long fince publifhed; the product of a gentleman of the most exact tefte, and whofe untimely death merits all the tears that elegy can fhed. It is not impoffible that fome may think this metre too lax and profaic: others, that even a more diffolute variety of numbers may have fuperior advantages. And, in favour of these last, might be produced the example of MILTON in his LYCIDAS, together with one or two recent and beautiful imitations of his verfification in that monody. But this kind of argument, I am apt to think, must prove too much; fince the writers I have in view feem capable enough of recommending any metre they fall chufe; though it must be owned alfo, that the choice they make of any, is at the fame time the strongest prefumption in its favour. Perhaps it may be no great dificulty to compromife the difpute. There is no one kind of metre that is diftinguifbed by rhimes, but is liable to fome objection cr other. Heroic verse, where every fecond line is terminated by a rhime, (with which the judgment requires that the fense should in fome measure alfo terminate) is apt to render the expreffion either fcanty or N. B. This preface was written near twenty years ago. He alludes to the Love. Elegies conflrained. of Hammond.. |