By this Comparison of Ovid and Virgil, how tedious seem the Trifles, and how nauseous the Repetitions of the former; how various the Description, how diffusive, and yet how chaste the Elegance of the latter? The one with wonderful Art represents, as I said, the same Thing, or the same Thought, by different Species or Adjuncts; the other gives you the same Thing ten Times over, under the very same Species, by changing the Words only; from which superabundant Luxuriance, as his Style must needs want Nerves, so must his Readers Patience. I would not, however, condemn it throughout; he has many Passages that are worthy of Praise, and some, of Virgil himself. Of this Sort is that Description of the Fate of Niobe's Children:
[69] E quibus Ismenos, qui matris sarcina quondam Prima suæ fuerat, certum dum flectit in orbem Quadrupedis cursus, spumantiaque ora coërcet; Hei mihi! conclamat: medioque in pectore fixa Tela gerit, frœnisque manu moriente remissis, In latus à dextro paulatim defluit armo.
Of these Ismenos, who by Birth had been The first fair Issue of the fruitful Queen, Just as he drew the Rein, to guide his Horse Around the Compass of the circling Course, Sigh'd deeply, and the Pangs of Smart express'd, While the Shaft stuck engorg'd within his Breast: And the Reins dropping from his dying Hand, Gently he fell upon the yielding Sand. Croxall.
But in many Places, it must be own'd, he is guilty of that Luxuriance I just now mention'd; I cannot, therefore, sufficiently wonder at their Ignorance, who presume to compare him to Virgil. But of this, perhaps, I shall have a more convenient Opportunity hereafter; when I make a farther Comparison between some other Authors. I beg Leave, at present, as I have cited a remarkable Place out of Virgil's Georgics, to present you with one or two more, that are no less deserving your Attention: I am sure, nothing can shew the Force and Elegance of the poetic Style, more than what that Model of Perfection has left us, even upon the plainest, and most ignoble Subject. Among his Precepts of Agriculture, he gives you these, in the following Words:
[70] Sæpe etiam steriles incendere profuit agros, Atque levem stipulam crepitantibus urere flammis. Sive inde occultas vires & pabula terræ Pinguia concipiunt; sive illis omne per ignem Excoquitur vitium, atque exudat inutilis humor: Seu plures calor ille vias, & cæca relaxat Spiramenta, novas veniat qua sucrus in herbas; Seu durat magis, & venas astringit hiantes, &c.
Oft too it has been painful found, to burn The barren Fields with Stubble's crackling Flames. Whether from thence they secret Strength receive, And richer Nutriment: Or by the Fire All latent Mischief, and redundant Juice, Oozing sweats off; or whether the same Heat Opens the hidden Pores, that new Supplies Of Moisture may refresh the recent Blades: Or hardens more, and with astringent Force Closes the gaping Veins: &c.
Nothing can exceed the Beauty of this Passage, unless that where he describes the various Methods of Grafting and Inoculating:
[71] Nec modus inserere, atque oculos imponere simplex; Nam qua se medio trudunt de cortice gemmæ, Et tenues rumpunt tunicas, augustus in ipso Fit nodo sinus; huc aliena ex arbore germen Includunt, udoque docent inolescere libro. Aut rursum enodes trunci resecantur, & alte Finditur in solidum cuneis via: deinde feraces Plantæ immittuntur; nec longum tempus, & ingens Exiit ad cœlum ramis felicibus arbos, Miraturque novas frondes, & non sua poma.
Nor single is the Manner to ingraft, Or to inoculate. For where the Gems Bud from the middle Bark, and gently burst The filmy Coats; ev'n in the Knot is made A small Incision: From an alien Tree An Eye is here enclos'd, and taught to grow Congenial, blending with the humid Rind. Or else into the knotless solid Trunk They force a Cleft with Wedges; then insert The fertile Sprigs: Nor long the Time; to Heav'n The Tree with loaden Branches shoots away, Admires new Leaves, and Apples not her own.
I hope I shall deserve your Pardon for producing these Examples; they are of no ordinary Nature, for that very Reason because their Subject is so. I know very well, how absurd it would be to repeat to you, upon this Head, all the beautiful Passages that occur in the best Poets: What else would this be, but to transcribe the greatest Part of them? But I thought it not improper to give you these Specimens from the Georgics, that you might view in them the Force of Poetry and Virgil, who was able to throw such a Splendor upon so mean Materials, and make them at once the Pleasure and Envy of Posterity.