NANNIUS.
Ne forte, pudori. Haec dixi, O Piso, ne te pudeat Poetam esse.
SCHREVELIUS.
608.—-WHETHER GOOD VERSE or NATURE is THE FRUIT, OR RAIS'D BY ART, HAS LONG BEEN IN DISPUTE.]
In writing precepts for poetry to young persons, this question could not be forgotten. Horace therefore, to prevent the Pisos from falling into a fatal error, by too much confidence in their Genius, asserts most decidedly, that Nature and Art must both conspire to form a Poet. DACIER.
The Duke of Buckingham has taken up this subject very happily.
Number and Rhyme, and that harmonious found,
Which never does the ear with harshness wound,
Are necessary, yet but vulgar arts;
For all in vain these superficial parts
Contribute to the structure of the whole,
Without a GENIUS too; for that's the Soul!
A spirit, which inspires the work throughout,
As that of Nature moves the world about.
As all is dullness, where the Fancy's bad,
So without Judgement, Fancy is but mad:
And Judgement has a boundless influence,
Not only in the choice of words, or sense,
But on the world, on manners, and on men;
Fancy is but the feather of the pen:
Reason is that substantial useful part,
Which gains the head, while t'other wins the heart.
Essay on Poetry.
626.—-As the fly hawker, &t. Various Commentator concur in marking the personal application of this passage.