Antediluvians, page 202.
“But man, frail man,
Drest in a little brief authority,
Plays such fantastic tricks before high heaven,
As make the angels weep.”
Shakspeare.
We might multiply such instances;—but enough. Has the Dr. forgotten the celebrated verse of Virgil?
“Hos ego versiculos feci, tulit alter honores.”
The Dr. appears fond of the use of epithets, especially such ones as “infernal, fiendish, hellish,” and other coarse adjectives. We do not object to the use of the two former, provided they appear sparingly and in place, but really the work before us is seasoned rather highly with such epithets for our taste. The Dr. however, appears to be of the Tompsonian school in literature, and not only spices strongly, but swashes away right and left at the accredited school. We advise him, once for all, to give up poetry, which he disgraces, for physic, which he may adorn. God never intended him for an immortal fame. We are satisfied that, if he should be arraigned for writing poetry, no sane jury would ever convict him; and if, as most likely, he should plead guilty at once, it would be as quickly disallowed, on that rule of law, which forbids the judges to decide against the plain evidence of their senses.