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appearance of a fabrick auguft in the plan, but mean in the materials. Yet furely those verfes are not without a juft claim to praife; of which it may be faid with truth, that no man but Cowley could have written them.

The Davideis now remains to be confidered; a poem which the author defigned to have extended to twelve books, merely, as he makes no, fcruple of declaring, because the Eneid had that number; but he had leifure or per feverance only to write the third part. Epick poems have been left unfinished by Virgil, Statius, Spenfer, and Cowley. That we have not the whole Davideis is, however, not much to be regretted; for in this undertaking Cowley is, tacitly

at

at leaft, confeffed to have mifcarried. There are not many examples of fo great a work, produced by an author generally read, and generally praised, that has crept through a century with fo little regard. Whatever is faid of Cowley, is meant of his other works. Of the Davideis no mention is made; it never appears in books, nor emerges in converfation. By the Spectator it has once been quoted, and by Rymer it has once been praised; nor do I recollect much other notice from its publication till now, in the whole fucceffion of English literature.

Of this obscurity and neglect, if the reafon be inquired, it will be found. partly in the choice of the subject,

and

and partly in the performance of the work.

Sacred History has been always read with fubmiffive reverence, and an imagination over-awed and controlled. We have been accustomed to acquiefce in the nakedness and fimplicity of the authentick narrative, and to repofe on its veracity with such humble confidence, as fuppreffes curiofity. We go with the hiftorian as he goes, and ftop with him when he stops. All amplification is frivolous and vain; all addition to that which is already fufficient for the purposes of religion, feems not only useless, but in fome degree profane.

Such events as were produced by the visible interpofition of Divine Power

are above the power of human genius to dignify. The miracle of Creation, however it may teem with images, is beft defcribed with little diffufion of language: He Spake the word, and they were made.

We are told that Saul was troubled with an evil spirit: from this Cowley takes an opportunity of defcribing hell, and telling the hiftory of Lucifer, who was, he fays,

Once general of a gilded host of sprites, Like Hefper leading forth the fpangled nights;

But down like lightning, which him ftruck, he came,

And roar'd at his firft plunge into the

flame.

Lucifer

Lucifer makes a speech to the inferior agents of mischief, in which there is fomething of heathenifm, and therefore of impropriety; and, to give efficacy to his words, concludes by lashing his breaft with his long tail. Envy, after a pause, fteps out, and among other declarations of her zeal utters these lines:

Do thou but threat, loud ftorms fhall make reply,

And thunder echo to the trembling sky.

Whilft raging feas fwell to fo bold an

height,

As fhall the fire's proud element af

fright.

Th'

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