and happy application, of the docrines, of the Pythagorean, and Platonic philosophy, respecting the soul. He conducts him, by a rapid glance, over the acts of his posterity, who were fated to reign in Latium, to the foundation of Rome; and thence, to the full completion of the glories of the Julian race, in the person of Augustus Casar. "Et tumulum capit, unde omnes, longo ordine, possit "Adversos legere, et venientum discere vultus.— "Nunc age Dardaniam prolem, quæ deinde sequatur "Gloria, qui maneant Italâ de gente nepotes "Illustres animas, nostramque in nomen ituras "Expediam dictis, et te tua facta docebo," &c. "Huc flecte acies, hanc aspice gentem, "Romanosque tuos, heic Casar et omnis Iuli Progenies, magnum cæli ventura sub axem. "Hic vir, hic est, tibi quem promitti sæpius audis, Augustus Cæsar, divum genns," &c. 66 The learned reader will find, in an essay, subjoined to the sixth book of the Eneid, by professor Heyne, an interesting and curious enumeration, of different epic poets, who have introduced similar prophetic reviews of history.It is obvious, that Virgil has not the merit *Heyne deduces the series of poetical prophecy, from Homer, and the predictions of Tiresias, in the eleventh Odyssey downward: the strains of prophetic eloquence, in the Prometheus bound of Æschylus—the obscure vaticinations of Cassandra, in Lycophron.—In Lucan, the sorceress Erictho reanimates a slain soldier, and makes him prophecy to Sextus Pompeius.In Silius Italicus, B. XIII. v. 490, Scipio resorts to Autonoe, the Gumean` Sibyl, VOL. III. K merit of originality, in this narrative of the descent of Eneas, to consult the shade of Anchises, and avail him self, of the prophetic warnings of the venerable dead; it Sibyl, who, at his intreaty, evokes the shades, to foretel the future.-And, in his third book, v. 570, in imitation of Virgil, he introduces Jove, as revealing to Venus the future fortunes of the Roman people.- -In Spenser's Fairy Queen, the sage Merlin declares to Britomart, the future success of her love, and the fortunes, and future fates, of her posterity.-In Ariosto, Bradamante arrives at the tomb of Merlin, and learns, partly, from the mouth of that sage enchanter, partly, from the shades, evoked by the magic art of Melissa, the future fortunes of the house of Este.- In another part, she sees the wars, which were in other times, to be carried on, by the French, in Italy, depicted on the walls, by the magic art of the same Merlin. In another passage, a prediction, respecting the fate of Hippolytus d'Este, is very ingeniously introduced.-In Tasso's Gierusalemme, the race and fortunes of the house of Este, are exhibited to Rinaldo, by a hermit, pourtrayed on a shield.—In the poem of Trissino, the history of future times is inwoven with his poem, by way of narrative, in two places.— The first is in Book IX. where Belisarius meets a hermit, on mount Casius, who shuts him up in a grotto, where were two vast mirrors-the one, exhibiting the past the other, future events. The other is in Book XXIV. where Narses, while he remains in Nursia, part of what is now called the dutchy of Spoleto, visits the ancient Sibyl.-Professor Heyne proceeds to point out a similar use of predictions, in the Henriqueide of the Count of Ericeira, a noble Portuguese poet.—In the Lusiad of Camoens, by a very aukward imitation of Virgil, it is imitated, and that closely, from the descent of Ulysses to confer with the shade of Tiresias. It is not unlikely, too, that Apollonius had the prophetic admonitions of the goddess Circe in view, when he put a similar disclosure of the future into the mouth of Phineus. Anchises concludes with a full disclosure of the future fortunes of his son. "Natum per singula duxit, "Incenditque animum famæ venientis amore: "Exin bella viro memorat quæ deinde gerenda, "Laurentisque docet populos urbemque Latini; "Et quo quemque modo fugiatque, feratque laborem." Similar to this machinery, (as I have already observed) which reveals the future either in part, or in the whole, by the voice of oracles, the mouths of prophets, and inspired persons, the apparition of departed shades, or the intervention of the deity, is the use of dreams and visions, which gives an admirable opportunity to a poetical imagination, of combining a doubtful shadowy display of futurity, in a Virgil, Jupiter is introduced disclosing to Venus, the future good fortune of the Lusitanians.—In two subsequent cantos, however, the poet makes ample amends; and most nobly and happily introduces his revelations of futurity. In the Paradise Lost of Milton, the archangel Michael, in his conference with Adam, after his fall, makes the future pass in review before him.-The learned professor also adverts to the Henriade of Voltaire-the Columbiade of Madame du Bocage-the Maid of Orleans of Chapelain—the Clovis of Desmarets-the Malthe, or Lisle Adam, of Privat de Fontenilles-the Saint Lewis of Le Moine. In all of which, this kind of machinery is introduced, in various forms. little glooming light much like a shade, with that wild and fanciful imagery, that disregard of the laws of nature, and the rules of probability, which the very nature of a dream authorises. This gives occasion, for the relieving of the dryness of a narrative, and relating many circum stances, which are necessary to be known, to the reader, in a more figurative, ornamented, and interesting manner. The different visions, introduced by Apollonius Rhodius, may be cited, as instances of the highest beauty, and the most exquisite genius, in the contrivance.-Virgil, who saw the admirable use, to which the machinery of visions might be turned, has employed it yet more frequently than Apollonius, and always with fine effect. How beautifully is Hector introduced, in the vision in the second book!- -how natural is it! and how properly does it usher in the calamities that follow! "Tempus erat quo prima quies mortalibus ægris The influence of visions, in conjunction with other ominous appearances, and portents, contributes to hurry on the unfortunate queen of Carthage, to her last act of desperation. “In somnis ferus Eneas: semperque relinqui In the fifth book of the Æneid, there is a fine vision, most happily and artificially introduced, at a very important crisis, dignus vindice nodus, where some preternatural warning was requisite, to decide the perplexed counsels and uncertain purposes of the hero.This vision also prepares the reader, for the subsequent descent of Æneas to the infernal regions, guided by the Sibyl. "In curas animus diducitur omnes. "Et nox atra polum bigis subvecta tenebat, In the seventh book, Latinus is admonished, by a viẻ sion, to expect the arrival of strangers, and a foreign husband for his daughter. In the eighth book, Æneas, revolving the opposition, that awaited him in Italy, is filled with great perplexity. Magno curarum fluctuat æstu, "Atque animum nunc huc celerem nunc dividit Illuc." From this anxiety he is relieved, by a dream; in which the river god, Tiber, appears to him, with assurances of his future success, and directions for his conduct. "Nox erat, et terras animalia fessa per omnes The whole passage is wonderfully picturesque and poetical. The use of portents and prodigies, and the introduction of deities, and other supernatural beings, form another branch of machinery, which poets (as I have said) employ, to |