uddings--

"What Moliere observes of making a dinner, that any man can do it
with money, and if a professed cook cannot without, he has his art
for nothing; the same may be said of making a poem, it is easier
brought about by him that has a genius, but the skill lies in doing
it without one. In pursuance of this end, I shall present the
reader with a plain and certain recipe, by which even sonneteers
and ladies may be qualified for this grand performance."

He then proceeds to give a "receipt to make an epic poem," and after
giving directions for the "fable," the "manners," and the "machines," he
comes to the "descriptions."

"_For a Tempest._--Take Eurus, Zephyr, Auster, and Boreas, and cast
them together in one verse. Add to these of rain, lightning, and of
thunder (the loudest you can,) _quantum sufficit_. Mix your clouds
and billows well together until they foam, and thicken your
description here and there with a quicksand. Brew your tempest well
in your head before you set it a blowing.

"_For a Battle._--Pick a large quantity of images and descriptions
from Homer's 'Iliad,' with a spice or two of Virgil, and if there
remain any overplus, you may lay them by for a skirmish. Season it
well with simiters, and it will make an excellent battle.

"_For the Language_--(I mean the diction.) Here it will do well to
be an imitator of Milton, for you will find it easier to imitate
him in this, than in anything else. Hebraisms and Grecisms are to
be found in him without the trouble of learning the languages. I
knew a painter who (like our poet) had no genius, make his daubings
to be thought originals by setting them in the smoke. You may in
the same manner give the venerable air of antiquity to your piece,
by darkening it up and down with old English. With this you may be
easily furnished upon any occasion by the dictionary commonly
printed at the end of Chaucer.

"I must not conclude without cautioning all writers without genius
in one material point, which is, never to be afraid of having too
much fire in their works. I should advise rather to take their
warmest thoughts, and spread them abroad upon paper; for they are
observed to cool before they are read."

In an article on laughter by Dr. Birch, Prebendary of Worcester, we have
the following fanciful list o