PART I.

GENERAL REFLEXIONS ON POETRY.

The epistle begins [to v. 9] with that general and fundamental precept _of preserving an unity in the subject and the disposition of the piece_. This is further explained by defining the use, and fixing the character of _poetic licence_ [from v. 9 to 13] which unskilful writers often plead in defence of their transgressions against the law of UNITY. To v. 23 is considered and exposed that particular violation of _uniformity_, into which young poets especially, under the impulse of a warm imagination, are apt to run, arising from frequent and ill-timed descriptions. These, however beautiful in themselves, and with whatever mastery they may be executed, yet, if foreign to the subject, and incongruous to the place, where they stand, are extremely impertinent: a caution, the more necessary, as the fault itself wears the appearance of a _virtue_, and so writers [from v. 23 to 25] come to transgress the _rule of right_ from their very ambition to observe it. There are two cases, in which this _ambition_ remarkably misleads us. The _first_ is when it tempts us to push an _acknowledged beauty_ too far. Great beauties are always in the confines of great faults; and therefore, by affecting superior excellence, we are easily carried into absurdity. Thus [from v. 25 to 30] _brevity_ is often _obscurity_; _sublimity_, _bombast_; _caution_, _coolness_; and, to come round to the point, a fondness for _varying and diversifying a subject_, by means of episodes and descriptions, such as are mentioned above [v. 15] will often betray a writer into that capital error of violating the _unity_ of his piece. For, though variety be a real excellence under the conduct of true judgment, yet, when affected beyond the bounds of probability, and brought in solely to _strike_ and _surprize_, it becomes unseasonable and absurd. The several episodes or descriptions, intended to give that variety, may be inserted in improper places; and then the absurdity is as great, as that of the painter, who, according to the illustration of