and bred in them, and something of the Elkanah will be visible."

On this declamatory effusion of our author, Dr. Johnson makes the following judicious remarks:

"To see the highest minds thus levelled with the meanest, may produce some solace to the consciousness of weakness, and some mortification to the pride of wisdom. But let it be remembered, that minds are not levelled in their powers, but when they are first levelled in their desires. Dryden and Settle had both placed their happiness in the claps of multitudes."

TASSO.

His first poem extended his fame so much through Italy, that his father, displeased thereat, and dreading the effect on his son's mind, went to Padua on purpose to reprimand him, and though he spoke with vehemence and harsh expressions, Tasso heard him with composure, and without interrupting him. This enraged his father, "Tell me," he exclaimed, "of what use is this vain philosophy upon which you pride yourself so much?"-"It has enabled

me," replied Tasso, modestly, "to endure the harshness of your reproofs !"

Tasso's resolve to follow the Muses, was soon known all over Italy, and he was, by means of Pietro Donato Cesi, invited to the city and college of Bologna; but he did not remain long, for Bologna becoming the theatre of civil commotions, and pressed by an invitation of Gonzaga, his old friend, who was elected prince of an academy, established at Padua, under the title of Etherei, he immediately went thither to seek that repose he loved. The happy manner in which he blended philosophy with his other studies, made him an enemy to all kind of licentiousness. In an oration on the subject of Love, the orator treated the subject in a very masterly manner, but with too little regard to decency, in the opinion of Tasso, who, being asked what he thought of the discourse, replied, "It is a pleasing poison."

At Padua, he formed the plan of his celebrated poem of "Jerusalem Delivered." He determined to dedicate the poem to the house of Estè; but, being equally esteemed by the two brothers, Alphonso II. Duke of Ferrara, and Cardinal Luigi, he was at a loss how to act, and a sort of

contest was kept up between the brothers. The Cardinal contended, that, as " Rinaldo” had been dedicated to him, he had an hereditary right: on the contrary, Alphonso contended, that his brother having had his share of honour, it was now his turn. Tasso, having remained undecided for three or four years, at length took up his residence in the palace of Ferrara, and placed the name of Alphonso at the head of his poem; but he neglected not to retain the Cardinal's good opinion, by every attention. Tasso was now about twenty-two years of age, and his name had become famous through all Europe.

DOCTOR JOHN DENNIS.

MR. THEOPHILUS CIBBER relates an anecdote of this poet and critic, which is worth relating, as it is not only highly characteristic of the man, but also a striking and melancholy instance, among thousands, of the distressful predicaments into which men of genius and literary abilities are, perhaps, more apt than any others to plunge themselves, by paying too slight an attention to the common concerns of life.

"After that he was worn out" (says that author) "with age and poverty, he resided within

the verge of the Court, to prevent danger from his creditors. On Saturday night, he happened to saunter to a public-house, which, in a short time, he discovered to be without the

verge. He was sitting in a drinking-room, when a man of suspicious appearance happened to come in. There was something about the man which denoted to Mr. Dennis that he was a bailiff. This struck him with a panic; he was afraid his liberty was at an end; he sat in the utmost solicitude, but did not offer to stir, lest he should be seized upon. After an hour or two had passed in this painful anxiety, at last the clock struck twelve; when Mr. Dennis, in an ecstacy, cried out, addressing himself to the suspected person,

Now, Sir, bailiff or no bailiff, I don't care a farthing for you; you have no power now.' The man was astonished at his behaviour, and, when it was explained to him, was so much exasperated at the suspicion, that, had not Mr. Dennis found protection in age, he would, probably, have smarted for his mistaken opinion."

DANTE'S "DIVINA COMEDIA."

"DANTE wrote before we began to be at all refined; and, of course, his celebrated poem is

VOL. I.

P

a sort of Gothic work. He is very singular and very beautiful in his similies, and more like Homer than any of the Italian poets. He was prodigiously learned for the times he lived in, and knew all that a man could then know. Homer, in his time, was unknown in Italy; and Petrarch boasts of being the first poet that had heard him explained. Indeed, in Dante's time, there were not above three or four people in all Italy that could read Greek (one, in particular, at Viterbo, and two or three elsewhere). But, although he had never seen Homer, he had conversed much with the works of Virgil. His poem got the name of Comedia, after his death. He somewhere calls Virgil's Work Tragedia (or sublime poetry); and, in deference to him, called his own Comedia (or low): and hence was that word used afterwards, by mistake, for the title of his poem."

SPENCE.

ABBE MAROLLES.

THIS Abbé was an indefatigable translator: Virgil, Lucan, Martial, and Athenæus, fell into his hands, and by him they were all translated in a dull and inaccurate manner. He also took it