h writers are liable to the same reproach. Voiture,
Balzac, even Coraeneille, have too much affected those ambitious
ornaments, of which the Italians in general, and the least pure of the
ancients, supplied them with so many models. And it was not till late,
that observation and reflection gave rise to a more natural turn of
thought and composition among that elegant people.

A like character may be extended to the first English writers; such as
flourished during the reigns of Elizabeth and James, and even till long
afterwards. Learning, on its revival in this island, was attired in the
same unnatural garb which it wore at the time of its decay among the
Greeks and Romans. And, what may be regarded as a misfortune, the
English writers were possessed of great genius before they were endowed
with any degree of taste, and by that means gave a kind of sanction to
those forced turns and sentiments which they so much affected. Their
distorted conceptions and expressions are attended with such vigor of
mind, that we admire the imagination which produced them, as much as we
blame the want of judgment which gave them admittance. To enter into
an exact criticism of the writers of that age, would exceed our present
purpose. A short character of the most eminent, delivered with the same
freedom which history exercises over kings and ministers, may not be
improper. The national prepossessions which prevail, will perhaps render
the former liberty not the least perilous for an author.

If Shakspeare be considered as a man, born in a rude age, and educated
in the lowest manner, without any instruction either from the world or
from books, he may be regarded as a prodigy: if represented as a poet,
capable of furnishing a proper entertainment to a refined or intelligent
audience, we must abate much of this eulogy. In his compositions,
we regret that many irregularities, and even absurdities, should so
frequently disfigure the animated and passionate scenes intermixed with
them; and at the same time, we perhaps admire the more those beauties,
on account of their being surrounded with such deformities. A striking
peculiarity of sentiment adapted to a singular character, he frequently
hits, as it were by inspiration; but a reasonable propriety of thought
he cannot for any time uphold. Nervous and picturesque expressions, as
well as descriptions, abound in him; but it is in vain we look either
for purity or simplicity of diction. His total ig