The other fhape, M If fhape it might be call'd, that shape had none Distinguishable in member, joint, or limb; T Or fubftance might be call'd that shadow feem'd,A For each feem'd either; black it ftood as night, Fierce as ten furies, terrible as hell,

And shook a dreadful dart.

Paradife Loft, book 2. 1. 666.

Now ftorming fury rofe,

And clamour fuch as heard in heav'n till now
Was never, arms on armour clashing bray'd
Horrible difcord, and the madding wheels
Of brazen chariots rag'd; dire was the noife
Of conflict; over-head the difmal hifs
Of fiery darts in flaming vollies flew,
And flying vaulted either host with fire.
So under fiery cope together rufh'd
Both battles main, with ruinous affault
And inextinguishable rage; all heav'n
Refounded, and had earth been then, all earth
Had to her centre fhook.

Ghoft.

Paradife Loft, book 6. 1. 207.

But that I am forbid

To tell the fecrets of my prifon-houfe,ot

I could a tale unfold, whofe lighteft word to

Would harrow up thy foul, freeze thy young blood,

Make

Make thy two eyes, like ftars, start from their

rfpheres,

Thy knotty and combined locks to part,
And each particular hair to stand on end
Like quills upon the fretful porcupine:
But this eternal blazon must not be
To ears of flesh and blood.

Hamlet, act 1. fc. 8.

Gratiano. Poor Defdemona! I'm glad thy father's dead:

Thy match was mortal to him; and pure grief Shore his old thread in twain. Did he live now, This fight would make him do a defp'rate turn: Yea, curfe his better angel from his fide,

And fall to reprobation.

Othello, act 5. fc. 8.

ob

Objects of horror must be excepted from the foregoing theory; for no defcription, however masterly, is fufficient to overbalance the disgust raised even by the idea of fuch an ject. Every thing horrible ought therefore to be avoided in a description. Nor is this a fevere law; the poet will avoid fuch fcenes for his own fake, as well as for that of his reader; and to vary his descriptions, nature affords plenty of objects that disgust

us

us in fome degree without raifing horror. I am obliged therefore to condemn the picture of fin in the fecond book of Paradife Loft, though drawn with a masterly hand, The original would be a horrible fpectacle; and the horror is not much foftened in the copy.

1

Penfive here I fat

1

Alone, but long I fat not, till my womb
Pregnant by thee, and now exceffive grown
Prodigious motion felt and rueful throes
At last this odious offspring whom thou feest,
Thine own begotten, breaking violent way,
Tore through my intrails, that with fear and pain
Distorted, all my nether fhape thus grew
Transform'd; but he my inbred enemy

Forth iffu'd, brandifhing his fatal dart,

Made to deftroy: I fled, and cry'd out Death;
Hell trembl'd at the hideous name, and figh'd
From all her caves, and back refounded Death.
I fled, but he purfu'd, (though more, it feems,
Inflam'd with luft than rage), and fwifter far,
Me overtook, his mother all difmay'd,

And in embraces forcible and foul
Ingendring with me, of that rape begot
Thefe yelling monfters that with ceafelefs cry
Surround me, as thou faw'ft, hourly conceiv'd

And

And hourly born, with forrow infinite

To me; for when they lift, into the womb
That bred them they return, and howl and gnaw
My bowels, their repaft; then bursting forth
A fresh with confcious terrors vex me round,
That reft or intermiffion none I find,

Before mine eyes in oppofition fits

Grim Death, my fon and foe, who fets them on,
And me his parent would full foon devour
For want of other prey, but that he knows
His end with mine involv'd; and knows that I
Should prove a bitter morfel, and his bane,
Whenever that fhall be.
Book 2. 1. 777-

Iago's character in the tragedy of Othello, is fo monftrous and fatanical, as not to be fufferable in a representation: not even Shakefpear's masterly hand can make the picture agreeable.

Though the objects introduced in the following fcenes, are not altogether fo horrible as Sin is in Milton's picture; yet with every perfon of taste, difguft will be the prevailing emotion.

Strophades Graio ftant nomine dicta Infulæ Ionio in magno: quas dira Celano,

Harpyiæque

Harpyiæque colunt aliæ: Phineia poftquam 4 Claufa domus, menfafque metu liquere priores. Triftius haud illis monftrum, nec fævior ulla Peftis et ira Deûm Stygiis fefe extulit undis. Virginei volucrum vultus, fœdiffima ventris Proluvies, uncæque manus, et pallida femper, Ora fame.

2

Huc ubi delati portus intravimus: ecce
Læta boum paffim campis armenta videmus,
Caprigenumque pecus, nullo cuftode, per herbas.
Irruimus ferro, et Divos ipfumque vocamus
In prædam partemque Jovem : tunc littore curvo
Extruimufque toros, dapibufque epulamur opimis.
At fubitæ horrifico lapfu de montibus adfunt
Harpyiæ et magnis quatiunt clangoribus alas:
Diripiuntque dapes, contactuque omnia fœdant
Immundo: tum vox tetrum dira inter odorem.
Eneid, lib. iii. 2 10.

Sum patria ex Ithaca, comes infelicis Ulyffei,
Nomen Achemenides: Trojam, genitore Adamasto
Paupere (manfiffetque utinam fortuna !) profectus.
Hic me, dum trepidi crudelia limina linquunt,
Immemores focii vafto Cyclopis in antro
Deferuere. Domus fanie dapibufque cruentis,
Intus opaca, ingens: ipfe arduus, altaque pulfat
Sidera: (Dii, talem terris avertite pestem)
Nec vifu facilis, nec dictu affabilis ulli.
Vifceribus miferorum, et fanguine vescitur atro.