rality, than such a mode of forwarding the catastrophe of his poem.--The Argonautics and the Æneid commence alike, with a prediction; and there is throughout a remarkable parallelism of prophecy, in the two poems.The Argonauts have their future wanderings explained to them, by Phineus. Helenus discloses to Eneas, a prophetic sketch of the delays, which must intervene, the regions he must visit, and the difficulties he must encounter.-There is a remarkable coincidence in the closes, of the two speeches, of Phineus, and Helenus.-They stop short abruptly, in the midst of their prophetic fervours; they impose silence, on themselves, through a fear of displeasing the deities, by too full a disclosure of futurity.-The Argonauts are perplexed, by an obscure injunction, to recompense their mother, for the care she had taken of them, and the sufferings she had endured, by bearing them in her womb.-The Trojans are terrified, by the ambiguous and unintelligible menace, of the harpy Celano, who tells them, that they shall be reduced, to eat their tables.-Triton is raised from the deep, to direct the Argonauts on their way.— Eneas descends to the infernal shades, to learn from the spirit of Anchises, the future events of his voyage; and Anchises discloses to him these particulars, and also the names and fates of his posterity. Latinus is warned, by oracles, and prodigies, of the arrival of the Trojans, and of the alliance, that awaits his daughter. Thus, Virgil, who has endeavoured, with great skill, to avail himself of every beauty, which he observed in Apollonius, has introduced portentous and monitory visions, with very striking effect. And these devices and machines he has managed so judiciously, that they seem rather offered to him, nay, forced upon him, by his subject. For whether the legends were originally devised by older poets, or actually received, as truths, in popular popular tradition, there was a wonderful agreement of writers, concerning the visions, omens, and auguries, which preceded and announced the arrival of Æneas in Italy.- Phrygia was, as it were, the original seat of the arts of divination.-Departing from hence, the Trojans are said, to have imported these arts with them, into Greece and Italy. In fact, in all rude ages, before the birth of philosophy, and diffusion of knowledge, the belief in oracular predictions, omens, and divination, has been general.-The authority of oracles was particularly great, on every occasion of leading out new colonies. Of course, nothing could be more applicable to the circumstance of the Trojans settling a colony in Italy, than omens and predictions. The poet took up this old superstition; and adapted it to the support and embellishment of his fable; so that every thing, which he relates, seems actually to proceed, from the decrees of fate, and the intervention of the deities; which gives a wonderful air of probability, and an high degree of solemnity to his narrative.-Virgil, in his tenth Eneid, line 33, says-sin tot responsa secuti quæ superi manesque dabant.-Æneas assures Dido, that the injunctions of Gryneus Apollo, and the Lycian oracles, compel him to seek Italy. Book IV. "Sed nunc Italiam magnam Grynaus Apollo "Italiam non sponte sequor,” He mentions, also, that Cassandra had early pointed out Italy, as the destination of the Trojans. In the third third book, he introduces old Anchises, as alluding to the circumstance. "Sola mihi tales casus Cassundra canebat, "Nunc repeto hæc generi portendere debita nostro "Et sæpe Hesperiam, sæpe Italia regna vocare. "Sed quis ad Hesperia venturos litora Teucros "Crederet? aut quem tum vates Cassandra moveret? "Cedamus Phabo et monitis," &'c. The poet, also, with great art, makes the views of his hero gradually open upon him. The promises of the divinities develope themselves, and become comprehensible with the advance of time-he is conducted gradually, from predictions, which are dark and obscure, to such as admit of more easy interpretation. The shade of Hector, Book II. v. 281, promises him a settlement; and tells him, he shall found a colony beyond the sea; but points out no determinate place. "Tibi commendat Troja penates.— "Hos cape fatorum conutes, his moenia quære, Magno pererrato quæ statues denique ponto." The Penates appearing to Æneas, in a vision, Book III. v. 163, point out Italy, as his resting place, in terms tolerably plain and clear; and show what was meant, by the oracle of Phebus, when it directed them to seek out the ancient seats of their fathers. "Mutandæ sedes-non hæc tibi litora suasit The The information given by Helenus, in the same book, v. 381, is still more clear and explicit. He informs Eneas, that he must expect considerable delays, in his progress to Italy. He points out the various regions, which he must visit; he imparts to him a certain sign, which, he tells him, shall indicate the place and time, of his founding his colony. He sets his mind, in some degree, at ease, respecting the prophecy of the harpies, which seemed to menace dreadful famine.He cautions him, against touching at any part of the Italian coast, where Grecian colonies were established; and instructs him, in what manner he should perform solemn religious rites. He apprizes him, of the dangers, which he has to apprehend, from Scylla and Charybdis. He advises him, in the most impressive and eager manner, to appease the wrath of Juno, and cultivate that deity; and, lastly, counsels him, to seek out the Cumaan sibyl, and to learn from her the future events, and course of fortune, that await him in Italy, in terms yet more clear and plain. Quin adeas vatem, precibusque oracula poscas "Ipsa canat, vocemque volens atque ora resolvat. "Illa tibi Italia populos venturaque bella, Et quo quemque modo fugiatque ferasque laborem." "Et The reader will observe a marked resemblance, between the speech of Phineus, in the Argonautics, and this of Helenus, in the Æneid; not only, in the general tendency, but in the parts and topics.Eneas, having succeeded, in his application to the Sibyl, Book VI. v. 165, says "O sanctissima vates, "Prescia venturida, non indebita posco "Regna "Regna meis fatis, Latio considere Teucros, She enters into a more specific and explicit revelation, of the various events, which were to befal the Trojans, and their leader, in Italy.-Verse 84. "In regna Lavini "Dardanide venient mitte hanc de pectore curam: "Sed non et venisse volent, bella horrida bella "Et Tybrim multo spumantem sanguine cerno." "Alius Latio jam partus Achilles, "Natus et ipsa dea, neç Teucris addita Juno "Usquam aberit," &c. "Causa tanti mali conjux, iterum hospita Teucris "Externique iterum thalami," &c. "Ito, Quâ tua te fortuna sinet. Via prima salutis, Thus, the sibyl uttered her ambiguous and circuitous predictions; while the god, who ruled her labouring breast, some truths revealed, in terms concealed the rest. Eneas, by his earnest and pathetic entreaties, prevails on the Sibyl, to conduct him to the infernal regions. He descends, under her guidance, reaches the Elysian fields, and has an interview with the shade of his father. In this conversation with Anchises, new and more perfect lights are poured, on the mental eye. The revelation of the divine will is completed; and the future fortunes, and all the events, with which the ages to come were pregnant, are opened to his view. The venerable shade makes his destined progeny pass in order before him. An exhibition, which is rendered natural, and apposite, on this occasion, by a most ingenious and |