Eug. THE diftinctive property of Genius is to furprize, either by original Beauty, or Greatness in the idea. These are the master fprings; but there are others which are fubordinate: for a fuperior genius will fo drefs • the most common thought, or familiar image, as to give it fome unexpected advantage; by which it becomes apparently, if not really, original: the result is the fame; we are furprized; every fuch effect implies a degree of novelty, and, confe quently, of Invention.

Hor. Is not furprise rather the effect of wit than of genius ?

Eug, To determine this, we must state the difference between them. This feems to me to depend on the degrees of our peF netration,

netration, and the nature of our feelings.

The man of wit has a limited view into the relations of ideas; and from those which he does fee, his feelings direct him to choose the most singular, not the most beautiful. He works upon us by surprise merely; but the man of genius furprises by an excess of beauty.

Hor. IT fhould feem to follow from hence, that the genius may be a wit when he pleases; yet we have seen such, who have made the attempt without fuccefs.

Eug. VERY rarely, when they give into the practice of being playful: thus, who has more wit than Shakespear? If others have failed, it must have been from the influence of a better habit: accustomed to unite ideas by their beauties, they overlook

the

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the little points of fimilitude in those which are the most oppofed; or, of difference, in those which are the most united: hence, as Cunning is but a fhort-fighted Wisdom, Wit may be called the fhort-fight of Genius.

Hor. You make a greater difference between them than will be allowed by many.

Eug. I USE them in that fenfe, in which they are understood, when we say, that Óvid had wit, and Virgil genius: that this is the most exact and received fense of these words, will appear from hence, that, were I to affert, that Virgil had more wit than Ovid, I should be laughed at: yet this would be the confequence of understand

ing Wit in too [o] inlarged a fenfe, or of making it equivalent to Genius.

Afp. I HAVE been often ill fatisfied with myfelf, for not readily entering into fuch thoughts, as I have known were generally esteemed witty. You have, I thank you, Eugenio, leffened the number of my mortifications. I muft own, I have always preferred Humour to Wit, perhaps it was, that I more easily understood it. I fhould call upon you for a better explanation of this matter, were I not more intent on

[o] In the Effay on Criticism, it is faidTrue Wit is Nature to advantage drefs'd. But immediately after this, the Poet adds

For works may have more wit than does 'em good. Now, let us fubftitute the definition in the Place of the thing, and it will stand thus. A work may have more of Nature dress'd to advantage than will do it good. This is impoffible; and it is evident, that the confufion arises from the Poet's having annexed two different ideas to the fame word

another.

another. You remember, that, difcourfing the other day, on a paffage in the Inquiry into the Beauties of Painting, in which, the fuperiority of Poetry is rather hinted at than explained, you promised me, that you would enlarge this part of the fubject, and

Eug. I UNDERSTAND you, Afpafia; and fhould be glad, in this, as in every thing elfe, to prevent your wishes.

I OBSERVED juft now, that the distinctive property of Genius is to furprise, either by original Beauty, or Greatnefs, in the idea.

THE principal beauties in Poetry, fpring from the force or elegance of its images: of thefe, we will firft examine fuch as are