DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.18731#0153
[ ]
fully maintain in their works a regular and
obvious difcrimination of character, the beauty
and excellence of their performances vanifh.
This has been attended to by our fublime
poet Milton with great accuracy j the cha-
racters in his Paradife Loft are diftinguifhed
with the utmoft fkill and fuccefs. Whoever
enters into the fpirit of Milton's portraits,
will not only be highly entertained, but greatly-
improved : their variety and exprefiion is
noble and fublime. To notice the inftances
in which Shakspeare furnifhes ftrongly-
marked characters, would prolong this Lec-
ture beyond its proper limits; efpecially as
the expression of that author may perhaps
become the fubject of our attention at Tome
future opportunity.
From thefe remarks it appears, that one
mean whereby to attain a competent difcern-
ment of picturefque character, is a familiar
acquaintance with the works of our beft au-
thors ; whoever with attention to this hint
reads thofe Spectators, which contain ac-
counts of Sir Roger, de Coverley, will
quickly perceive the diverfity of features ne-
ceflary to diftinguifh him from Will. Honey-
comb or Sir Andrew FreepoRt.
What a wide extent has this fubje£H we
have travelled in one Lecture almoft over the
u.niverfe'
fully maintain in their works a regular and
obvious difcrimination of character, the beauty
and excellence of their performances vanifh.
This has been attended to by our fublime
poet Milton with great accuracy j the cha-
racters in his Paradife Loft are diftinguifhed
with the utmoft fkill and fuccefs. Whoever
enters into the fpirit of Milton's portraits,
will not only be highly entertained, but greatly-
improved : their variety and exprefiion is
noble and fublime. To notice the inftances
in which Shakspeare furnifhes ftrongly-
marked characters, would prolong this Lec-
ture beyond its proper limits; efpecially as
the expression of that author may perhaps
become the fubject of our attention at Tome
future opportunity.
From thefe remarks it appears, that one
mean whereby to attain a competent difcern-
ment of picturefque character, is a familiar
acquaintance with the works of our beft au-
thors ; whoever with attention to this hint
reads thofe Spectators, which contain ac-
counts of Sir Roger, de Coverley, will
quickly perceive the diverfity of features ne-
ceflary to diftinguifh him from Will. Honey-
comb or Sir Andrew FreepoRt.
What a wide extent has this fubje£H we
have travelled in one Lecture almoft over the
u.niverfe'