| [No. 160] | Monday, September 3, 1711 | Addison |
... Cui mens divinior, atque os
Magna sonaturum, des nominis hujus honorem.
Hor.
There is no Character more frequently given to a Writer, than that of being a Genius. I have heard many a little Sonneteer called a
fine Genius
. There is not an Heroick Scribler in the Nation, that has not his Admirers who think him a
great Genius
; and as for your Smatterers in Tragedy, there is scarce a Man among them who is not cried up by one or other for a
prodigious Genius
.
My design in this Paper is to consider what is properly a great Genius, and to throw some Thoughts together on so uncommon a Subject.