O thou Goddess, Thou divine Nature! how thyself thou blazon'st Not wagging his sweet head; and yet as rough CYMBELINE.-ACT IV SC 4. Why did not I pass away in secret, like the flower of the rock that lifts its fair head unseen, and strows its withered leaves on the blast? FINGAL. There is a joy in grief when peace dwells with the sorrowful. But they are wasted with mourning, O daughter of Toscar, and their days are few. They fall away like the flower on which the sun looks in his strength, after the mildew has passed over it, and its head is heavy with the drops of night. FINGAL. The sight obtained of the city of Jerusalem by the Christian army, compared to that of land discovered after a long voyage-Tasso's Gierusal., canto 3. st. 4. The fury of Rinaldo subsiding when not opposed, to that of wind or water, when it has a free passageCanto 20. st. 58. As words convey but a faint and obscure notion of great numbers, a poet, to give a lively notion of the object he describes with regard to number, does well to compare it to what is familiar and commonly known. Thus Homer* compares the Grecian army in point of number to a swarm of bees; in another passaget he compares it to that profusion of leaves and flowers which appear in the spring, or of insects in a summer's evening and Milton, As when the potent rod Wav'd round the coast, up-call'd a pitchy cloud *Book 2. 1. 111. + Book 2. 1. 551. Such comparisons have, by some writers, been condemned for the lowness of the images introduced; but surely without reason, for, with regard to numbers, they put the principal subject in a strong light. The foregoing comparisons operate by resemblance; others have the same effect by contrast. York. I am the last of noble Edward's sons, RICHARD II.-Act II. Sc. 3. Milton has a peculiar talent in embellishing the principal subject by associating it with others that are agreeable; which is the third end of a comparison. Similies of this kind have, beside, a separate effect; they diversify the narration by new images that are not strictly necessary to the comparison; they are short episodes, which, without drawing us from the principal subject, afford great delight by their beauty and va riety: He scarce had ceas'd, when the superior fiend Was moving toward the shore; his pond'rous shield. Hung on his shoulders like the moon, whose orb Thus far these, beyond MILTON.-Book I. Compare of mortal prowess, yet observ'd All her original brightness, nor appear'd As when a vulture on Imaus bred, MILTON.-BOOK I. Whose snowy ridge the roving Tartar bounds, To gorge the flesh of lambs, or yeanling kids, On hills where flocks are fed, flies toward the springs But in his way lights on the barren plains Of Sericana, where Chineses drive With sails and winds their cany wagons light: Yet higher than their tops MILTON.-BOOK I. The verd'rous wall of paradise up-sprung: When God had shower'd the earth; so lovely seem'd Meets his approach, and to the heart inspires Vernal delight and joy, able to drive All sadness but despair: now gentle gales Native perfumes, and whisper whence they stole Those balmy spoils. As when to them who sail Beyond the Cape of Hope, and now are past Of Araby the Blest; with such delay Well-pleas'd they slack their course, and many a league With regard to similies of this kind, it will readily occur to the reader, that when a resembling subject is once properly introduced in a simile, the mind is transitorily amused with the new object, and is not dis satisfied with the slight interruption. Thus, in fine weather, the momentary excursions of a traveller for agreeable prospects or elegant buildings, cheer his mind, relieve him from the languor of uniformity, and, without much lengthening his journey, in reality shorten it greatly in appearance. Next, of comparisons that aggrandize or elevate. These affect us more than any other sort; the reason of which may be gathered from the chapter of Grandeur and Sublimity; and, without reasoning, will be evident from the following instances: As when a flame the winding valley fills, And runs on crackling shrubs between the hills, ILIAD, XX. 569. Through blood, through death, Achilles still proceeds, As when avenging flames with fury driv'n, ILIAD, XXI. 605. Methinks, king Richard and myself should meet RICHARD II.-ACT III. Sc. 5. As rusheth a foamy stream from the dark shady steep of Cromla, when thunder is rolling above, and dark brown night rests on the hill so fierce, so vast, so terrible, rush forward the sons of Erin. The chief, like a whale of Ocean followed by all its billows pours valor forth as a stream, rolling its might along the shore. FINGAL.-Book I. As roll a thousand waves to a rock, so Swaran's host came on as meets a rock a thousand waves, so Inisfail met Swaran. IBID. I beg particular attention to the following simile, for a reason that shall be mentioned: Thus breathing death, in terrible array, The image of a falling rock is certainly not elevating; and yet undoubtedly the foregoing simile fires and swells the mind; it is grand, therefore, if not sublime. And the following simile will afford additional evidence that there is a real, though nice, distinction between these two feelings : So saying, a noble stroke he lifted high, Which hung not, but so swift with tempest fell MILTON.-Book VI. A comparison by contrast, may contribute to grandeur or elevation, no less than by resemblance. The last article mentioned, is that of lessening or depressing a hated or disagreeable object; which is effectually done by resembling it to any thing low or despicable. Thus Milton, in his description of the rout of the rebel angels, happily expresses their terror and dismay in the following simile olteng in odt Enimu As a herd Of goats or timorous flock together throng'd, |