Our two fouls therefore, which are one, Tho' I must go, endure not yet A breach, but an expanfion, Like gold to airy thinness beat. If they be two, they are two fo And tho' it in the centre fit, Yet when the other far doth roam, It leans, and hearkens after it, And grows erect, as that comes home. Such wilt thou be to me, who muft Like th' other foot, obliquely run. Thy firmness makes my circle juft, And makes me end, where I begun. DONNE. In all these examples it is apparent, that whatever is improper or vitious; is produced by a voluntary deviation from nature in pursuit of fomething new and ftrange; and that the writers fail to give delight, by their defire of exciting admiration. HAving thus endeavoured to exhibit a general representation of the ftile and fentiments of the metaphyfical poets, it is now proper to examine particularly the works of Cowley, who was almoft the laft of that race, and undoubtedly the best. His Mifcellanies contain a collection of fhort compofitions, written fome as they were dictated by a mind at leifure, and and fome as they were called forth by different occafions; with great variety of ftile and fentiment, from burlesque levity to awful grandeur. Such an affemblage of diverfified excellence no other poet, has hitherto afforded. To choose the best, among many good, is one of the most hazardous attempts of criticism. I know not whether Scaliger himself has perfuaded many readers to join with him in his preference of the two favourite odes, which he estimates in his raptures at the value of a kingdom. I will however venture to recommend Cowley's firft piece, which ought to be infcribed To my Mufe, for want of which the fecond couplet is without reference. When the title is added, there there will ftill remain a defect; for every piece ought to contain in itself whatever is neceffary to make it intelligible. Pope has fome epitaphs without names, which are therefore epitaphs to be let, occupied indeed for the prefent, but hardly appropriated. The ode on Wit is almost without a rival. It was about the time of Cowley that Wit, which had been till then ufed for Intellection, in contradiftinction to Will, took the meaning, whatever it be, which it now bears.. Of all the paffages in which poets have exemplified their own precepts, none will eafily be found of greater excellence than that in which Cowley condemns exuberance of Wit: Yet Yet 'tis not to adorn and gild each part, That fhews more coft than art. Jewels at nofe and lips but ill appear; Rather than all things wit, let be there. Several lights will not be feen, none If there be nothing elfe between. Men doubt, because they stand so thick i'th' sky, If those be stars which paint the galaxy. In his verses to lord Falkland, whom every man of his time was proud to praise, there are, as there must be in all Cowley's compofitions, fome ftriking - thoughts; but they are not wellwrought. His elegy on Sir Henry Wotton is vigorous and happy, the |