DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.61012#0113
THE SIXTH DISCOURSE. 79
giving a general air of grandeur to a work, is at present
very much under the dominion of rules. These excel-
lencies were, heretofore, considered merely as the effect
of genius ; and justly, if genius is not taken for inspira-
tion, but as the effect of close observation and experi-
ence.
He who first made any of these observations, and
digested them, so as to form an invariable principle for
himself to work by, had that merit, but probably no one
went very far at once ; and generally, the first who gave the
hint, did not know how to pursue it steadily and methodi-
cally ; at least not in the beginning. He himself worked
on it, and improved it; others worked more, and improved
further ; until the secret was discovered, and the practice
made as general as refined practice can be made. How
many more principles may be fixed and ascertained we
cannot tell; but as criticism is likely to go hand in hand
with the art which is its subject, we may venture to say,
that as that art shall advance, its powers will be still more
and more fixed by rules.
But by whatever strides criticism may gain ground, we
need be under no apprehension that invention will ever be
annihilated or subdued ; or intellectual energy be brought
entirely within the restraint of written law. Genius will
still have room enough to expatiate, and keep always at
the same distance from narrow comprehension and
mechanical performance.
What we now call Genius begins, not where rules
abstractedly taken end, but where known vulgar and trite
rules have no longer any place. It must of necessity be,
that even works of Genius, like every other effect, as they
must have their cause, must likewise have their rules; it
cannot be by chance that excellencies are produced with
giving a general air of grandeur to a work, is at present
very much under the dominion of rules. These excel-
lencies were, heretofore, considered merely as the effect
of genius ; and justly, if genius is not taken for inspira-
tion, but as the effect of close observation and experi-
ence.
He who first made any of these observations, and
digested them, so as to form an invariable principle for
himself to work by, had that merit, but probably no one
went very far at once ; and generally, the first who gave the
hint, did not know how to pursue it steadily and methodi-
cally ; at least not in the beginning. He himself worked
on it, and improved it; others worked more, and improved
further ; until the secret was discovered, and the practice
made as general as refined practice can be made. How
many more principles may be fixed and ascertained we
cannot tell; but as criticism is likely to go hand in hand
with the art which is its subject, we may venture to say,
that as that art shall advance, its powers will be still more
and more fixed by rules.
But by whatever strides criticism may gain ground, we
need be under no apprehension that invention will ever be
annihilated or subdued ; or intellectual energy be brought
entirely within the restraint of written law. Genius will
still have room enough to expatiate, and keep always at
the same distance from narrow comprehension and
mechanical performance.
What we now call Genius begins, not where rules
abstractedly taken end, but where known vulgar and trite
rules have no longer any place. It must of necessity be,
that even works of Genius, like every other effect, as they
must have their cause, must likewise have their rules; it
cannot be by chance that excellencies are produced with