Ossian Collection > Fingal

R E F A G E.
TH E love of novelty, which, in feme degree, is common
to all mankind, is more particularly the charaderiftic of
that mediocrity of parts, which diftinguifhes more than one half
of the human fpecies. This inconftant difpofition is never more
confpicuous, than in what regards the article of amufement. We
change our fentiments concerning it every moment, and the dif-
tance between our admiration and extreme contempt, is fo very
fmall, that the one is almoft a fure prefage of the other. The
poets, whofe bufmefs it is to pleafe, if they want to preferve the
fame they have once acquired, muft very often forfeit their own
judgments to this variable temper of the bulk of their readers, and
accommodate their writings to this unfettled tafle. A fame fo
fluftuating deferves not to be much valued.
Poetry, like virtue, receives its reward after death. The fame
which men purfued in vain, when living, is often beftowed upon
them when they are not fenfible of it. This negleft of living
authors is not altogether to be attributed to that reluftance which
men fliew in praifing and rewarding genius. It often happens, that
the