門 to cite, Rapin himself being totally ignorant of that language. The cenfures and commendations this writer bestows, are general and indiscriminate; without specifying the reasons of his approbation or dislike, and without alleging the paffages that may fupport his opinion whereas just criticism demands, not only that every beauty or blemish be minutely pointed out in its different degree and kind, but also that the reafon and foundation of excellencies and faults be accurately afcertained. Boffu is usually aud justly placed at the head of the commentators on Ariftotle's poetics, which certainly he understood and explained in a more masterly manner than either Beni or Caftelvetro: but in one or two instances he has indulged a love of fubtilty and groundlefs refinement. That I may not be accused of affecting a kind of hatred against all the French critics, I would obferve, that this learned writer merits the attention and diligent perusual of the true scholar. What I principally admire in Boffu, is the regularity of his plan, and the exactness of his method; which add utility as well as beauty to his work. Brumoy has difplayed the excellencies of the Greek Tragedy in a judicious and comprehenfive manner. His translations are faithful and elegant; and the analyfis of thofe plays, which, on account of some circumstances in ancient manners, would shock the readers of this age, and would not therefore bear an entire verfion, is perfpicuous and full. Of all the French critics, he and the judicious Fenelon have had the justice to confefs, or perhaps the penetration to perceive, in what instances Corneille and Racine have falfified and mo. dernized dernized the characters, and overloaded with unneceffary intrigues, the fimple plots of the ancients. Let no one, however, deceive himself in thinking, that he can gain a competent knowledge either of Ariftotle or Sophocles, from Boffu or Brumoy, how excellent foever these two commentators may be. To contemplate these exalted geniufes through fuch mediums, is like beholding the orb of the fun, during an eclipfe, in a veffel of water. But let them eagerly prefs forward to the great originals: "juvet integros accedere fon"tes;""his be the joy t'approach the untafted springs." Let him remember, that the Grecian writers alone, both critics and poets, are the best masters to teach, in in Milton's emphatical style, "What the laws are of a true epic poem, what of a dramatic, what of a lyric; "what decorum is; which is the grand mafterpiece to "obferve. This would make them foon perceive, what despicable creatures our common rhymers and playwrights be; and fhew them, what religious, what glo"rious and magnificent ufe might be made of poetry, “both in divine and human things." No. L. Saturday, April 28, 175.3 Quicunque turpi fraude femel innotuit, The wretch that often has deceiv'd, Though truth he speaks; is ne'er believ'd.. PHÆD. WHEN Ariftotle was once asked, what a man could gain by uttering falfhoods; he replied, "Not to be "credited when he fhall tell the truth." The character of a liar is at once fo hateful and contemptible, that even of those who have loft their virtue it might be expected, that from the violation of truth they should be reftrained by their pride. Almost every other voice that disgraces human nature, may be kept in countenance by applause and affociation: the corrupter of virgin innocence fees himself envied by the men, and at least not detefted by the women: the drunkard may eafily unite with beings, devoted like himself to noify merriments or filent infenfibility, who will celebrate his victories over the novices of intemperance, boast themselves the companions of his prowess, and tell with rapture of the multitudes whom unfucceffful emulation has hurried to the grave; even the robber and the cut-throat have their followers, who ad mire their address and intrepidity, their ftratagems of rapine, and their fidelity to the gang. The liar, and only the liar, is invariably and univerfally despised, abandoned, and difowned: he has no domestic confolations, which he can oppofe to the cenfure of mankind; he can retire to no fraternity, where his crimes may ftand in the place of virtues; but is given up to the hiffes of the multitude, without friend and without apologist. It is the peculiar condition of falfehood, to be equally detefted by the good and bad: "The devils," fays Sir Thomas Brown, "do not tell "lies to one another; for truth is neceffary to all fo"cieties: nor can the of fociety hell fubfist without " it." It is natural to expect, that a crime thus generally detefted fhould be generally avoided; at least, that none fhould expose himself to unbated and unpitied infamy, without an adequate temptation; and that to guilt fo easily detected, and fo feverely punished, an adequate temptation would not readily be found. Yet fo it is, that in defiance of cenfure and contempt, truth is frequently violated; and fcarcely the most vigilant and unremitted circumfpection will fecure him that mixes with mankind, from being hourly deceived by men of whom it can scarely be imagined, that they mean any injury to him or profit to themselves; even where the fubject of converfation could not have been expected to put the paffions in motion, or to have excited either hope or fear, or zeal or malignity, fufficient to induce any man to put his reputation in hazard, however little he might value it, or to overpower the love of truth, however weak might be its influence. The cafuifts have very diligently distinguished lies VOL. II. E into into their feveral claffes, according to their various degrees of malignity: but they have, I think, generally omitted that which is most common, and perhaps, not leaft mischievous; which, fince the moralifts have not given it a name, I shall distinguish as the Lie of Vanity. To vanity may juftly be imputed most of the falfehoods, which every man perceives hourly playing upon his ear, and, perhaps, most of those that are propagated with fuccefs. To the lie of commerce, and the lie of malice, the motive is fo apparent, that they are feldom negligently or implicitly received; fufpicion is always watchful over the practices of intereft; and whatever the hope of gain, or defire of mischief, can prompt one man to affert, another is by reasons equally cogent incited to refute. But vanity pleases herself with fuch light gratifications, and looks forward to pleasure fo remotely confequential, that her practices raife no alarm, and her ftratagems are not easily discovered. Vanity is, indeed, often fuffered to pass unpursued by fufpicion; because he that would watch her motions, can never be at reft: fraud and malice are bounded in their influence; fome opportunity of time and place is neceffary to their agency; but fcarce any man is ab ftracted one moment from his vanity; and he, to whom truth affords no gratifications, is generally inclined to feek them in falfehoods.. It is remarked by Sir Kenelm Digby, "that every "man has a defire to appear fuperior to others, though "it were only in having feen what they have not feen." Such an accidental advantage, fince it neither implies merit, nor confers dignity, one would think should not be defired fo much as to be counterfeited: yet even this vanity, triding as it is, produces innumerable nar ratives, |