Languages & literature > Abridgement of lectures on rhetoric

SUBLIMITY IN WRITING. 21
The image is expanded, and attempted to be beauti¬
fied ; but in reality it is weakened. The third line,
“ The ftamp of fate, and fanftion of a God,” is entirely
expletive,, and introduced only to fill up the rhyme ; for
it interrupts the defcription, and clogs the image. For
the fame reafon Jupiter is reprefented,as {baking his locks,
before he gives the nod ; “ Shakes his ambrolial curls,
“ and gives the nodwhich is trifling and infignificant;
whereas in the original the {baking of his hair is the
confequence of his nod, and makes a happy piftureique
circumilance in the defcription.
The boldnefs, freedom, and variety of our blank verfe
are infinitely more propitious, than rhyme, to all kinds
of fublime poetry. The fulleft proof of this is afforded
by Milton ; an author, whofe genius led him peculiarly
to the fublime. The firft; and fecond books of Paradife
Loft are continued examples of it. Take for inftance
the following noted defcription of Satan, after his fall
appearing at the head of his infernal hofts;
■ -—-He above the reft,
In fliape and gefture proudly eminent.
Stood, like a tower; his form had not yet loft
All her original brightnefs, nor appeared
Lefs, than Archangel ruined,and the excefs
Of glory obfcured ; As when the fun, new rifen,
Looks through the horizontal mifty air,
Shorn of his beams ; or from behind the moon,
In dim eclipfe, difaftrous twilight Iheds
On half the nations, and with fear of change