Now Day appears, and with the Day the King,
imitates Chaucer, but the Delicacy is lost, for there is nothing more to be understood by it, as there is in this Couplet of his to the Dutchess of Ormond upon her going to Ireland before the late Duke,
As Ormond's Harbinger, to you they run,
For Venus is the Promise of the Sun.
There the Reader fills up the Comparison himself, and consequently cannot but be pleas'd, as we are apt to be, with every thing which we do our selves.
The Delicacy of Thought is recommended to us by the Spectator, in this beautiful Passage out of Milton, where after the most dismal Prospect of Death, which the Heart of Man was ever terrify'd with, Adam is presented with one of the gayest Scenes with which it ever was delighted.
——————When from the Tents, behold
A Beavy of fair Women richly gay,
In Jems and wanton Dress. To the Harp they sang
Soft amorous Ditties, and in Dance came on.
The Men, tho' Grave, ey'd them, and let their Eyes
Rove without Rein, 'till in the amorous Net
First caught they lik'd, and each his liking chose.
And now of Love they treat, till the Evening Star
Love's Harbinger appear'd; then all in Heat
They light the Nuptial Torch, and bid invoke
Hymen: Then first to Marriage Rights invok'd.
With Feast and Musick, all the Tents resound;
Such happy Interview, and fair Event
Of Love and Youth not lost: Songs, Garlands, Flowers,
And charming Symphonies attach the Heart
Of Adam.————
The Reader takes in the Infection all along in Reading as Adam does in seeing, and imagines at the End of the Description the Pleasure of Adam's Imagination.
Is there not Delicacy in these Verses of Mr. Wallers upon a Lady's Girdle, which leave the Reader much more to be imagin'd than is exprest.
No Monarch but would give his Crown,
His Arms might do what this has done.
My Joy, my Grief, my Hope, my Love,
Did all within this Circle move;
A narrow Compass, and yet there
Dwells all that's good, and all that's fair.
Give me but what this Ribbon bound,
Take all the Rest the Sun goes round.