[203] It may be noted incidentally that, according to the “New English Dictionary,” the term personification owes its first literary appearance to the famous “Dictionary” of 1755, where it is thus defined, and (appropriately enough) illustrated: “Prosopopeia, the change of things to persons, as ‘Confusion heard his voice.’”
[204] Phelps, op. cit., pp. 37-38.
[205] “Letter” to Mallet, August 11, 1726: “I thank you heartily for your hint about personizing of Inspiration: it strikes me.”
[206] Cf. also “Winter,” 794 and “Autumn,” 143.
[207] For some happy instances of its use in English poetry, as well as for a detailed account of Thomson’s use of personification, see especially Morel, op. cit., pp. 444-455.
[208] Poets of Great Britain (1793), Vol. IX, p. 414.
[209] “British Poets,” Vol. XXII (1822), p. 117.
[210] “A Collection of Poems by several hands,” 3 vols., 1748; 2nd edition, with Vol. IV, 1749; Vol. V and VI, 1758; Pearch’s continuations, Vol. VII and VIII, 1768, and Vol. IX and X, 1770.
[211] “Dodsley” (1770 ed.), Vol. IV, p. 50.
[212] Ibid., VI, 148.