Ὑλῃ και τροποις μιμησεως διαφερουςι.

Πλουταρχ. Π. Αθ. κατα Π. ἠ καθ’ ἐ. ἐνδ.

See Lessings Laokoon. Berlin 1766. 8vo.

[67] All minute detail tends to destroy terrour, as all minute ornament, grandeur. The catalogue of the cauldron’s ingredients in Macbeth, destroys the terrour attendant on the mysterious darkness of preternatural agency; and the seraglio trappings of Rubens, annihilate his heroes.

[68]

Ἐγω δε πλεον ἐλπομαι

Λογον Ὀδυσσεος, ἠ παθεν,

Δια τον ἁδυεπη γενεσθ Ὁμηρον

Ἐπει ψευδεεσσιν ὁι ποτανᾳ γε μαχανᾳ

Σεμνον ἐπεστι τι. σοφια δε