* Or feen the Morning's well-appointed Star Cowley, + Extenfive influence of poetic Genius over the remotest and most uncivilized nations: its connection with liberty, and the virtues that naturally attend on it. [See the Erfe, Norwegian, and Welch Fragments, the Lapland and American fongs.] "Extra anni folifque vias” Virgil. "Tutta lontana dal camin del fole." Petrarch, Canzon 2. And And oft, beneath the od'rous fhade Of Chili's boundless forefts laid, She deigns to hear the favage Youth repeat In loose numbers wildly sweet Their feather-cinctured Chiefs, and dusky Loves. Progrefs of Poetry from Greece to Italy, and from Italy to England. Chaucer was not unacquainted with the writings of Dante Fields, that cool Iliffus laves, Or where Mæander's amber waves In lingering Lab'rinths creep, How do your tuneful Echo's languish, Mute, but to the voice of Anguish? Where each old poetic Mountain Inspiration breath'd around : Ev'ry fhade and hallow'd Fountain Murmur'd deep a folemn found : Dante or of Petrarch. The Earl of Surrey and Sir Tho. Wyatt had travelled in Italy, and formed their tafte there; Spenfer imitated the Italian writers; Milton improved on them but this School expired foon after the Reftoration, and : a new one arofe on the French model, which has fubfifted ever fince. Till Till the fad Nine in Greece's evil hour Left their Parnaffus for the Latian plains. Alike they scorn the pomp of tyrant-Power, They fought, oh Albion! next thy fea-encircled Far from the fun and fummer-gale, In thy green lap was Nature's * Darling laid, To Him the mighty Mother did unveil Her aweful face: The dauntless Child Stretch'd forth his little arms, and smiled. * Shakespear. |