LECTURE the Sixteenth.

Of the USEFULNESS of reading the POETS to an ORATOR.

N the Conclufion of the foregoing Lecture,

IN

I took Occasion to mention the Expediency of reading the Poets to all, who would excel in Eloquence, on the Account of one Article of mighty Moment, Figures. And I am perfuaded, that, upon a nearer View, others, not lefs material, will appear to concur in recommending it; for the Discovery of which the prefent Difquifition is intended. But in a Point variously thought of, for this hath it's Oppofers, and is in it's Nature delicate, I do not mean that you should rely on my Judgment; instead of which, I fhall lay before you the Sentiments of one well verfed in this, as in most other Parts of Learning Sentiments, which may add to Reason the Weight of Authority. My Purpofe is, to deliver the Substance of a Converfation upon this Subject, held by Eubulus, a Perfon of known Eminence both in the Senate and at the Bar, with his Friend Philemon ; which latter was pleafed, at my Requeft, to furnish me with an Account of it.

THE

THE unusual Manner, that of Dialogues, in Compofitions of this Sort, will be compensated by the Character of the principal Speaker; and it is hoped, that Indulgence of borrowing will be granted, where one's own Stock affordeth nothing equal. You readily excufe an. Hoft in carrying you Abroad, if it be into better Company, and to better Entertainment, than his Home could have afforded. The Occafion which gave Rife to the Conversation above-mentioned was this:

Philemon happened to make a Vifit to Eubulus, then, during the Summer Vacation, in his Country Retirement; and finding, at his Arrival, that his Friend had walked Abroad, he went, with the Freedom of an Intimate, to amuse himself in the Library of Eubulus till his Return; which happening in no long Time after, Eubulus, the first Salutations being over, expreffed the Pleasure he had in feeing his Friend, and, at the fame Time, his Fear, that Philemon had felt fome Uneafinefs in waiting for him fo long.

Phile. Be under no Concern, Eubulus, for I could have paffed much more Time here, without thinking it long. Nothing can be more pleafing than the Profpect from these Windows. What can be more beautiful than that vast Bay, which expands itself with such wide Circuit before us, presenting to the View, fo many Objects: Thofe Ships particularly of different Sizes; fome fixed at Anchor, fome in Motion, with all their Sails spread, and steer

ing with the fame Wind Courses almost contrary. Beyond, we fee the oppofite Coast, covered with Houfes, reflecting the Rays of the Sun, fet off with the darker Shade of Gardens and Groves; and at ftill greater Distance behold thofe Mountains which feem to vanish into the Clouds, and terminate the Scene with a rude and noble Magnificence! It seems to me, that a View of fo much Beauty and Variety could never tire.

Eub. THE Profpect is indeed charming; I have heard Travellers fay, that fcarcely any Country in Europe affords a more beautiful of the like Kind. However, it is certain, that fuch Beauties appear more striking to a Visitant than to the Owner; Familiarity renders him indifferent; or, if it did not, I doubt whether fuch Situations be proper for Study, as the Multitude of foreign Objects diftract the

Attention.

Phile. SAY rather, that it affords an easy and useful Relaxation. But it feems to me that you have prudently fuited your Kind of Reading to your Situation, at leaf I cannot otherwife account for it.

Eub. IN what Refpect?

Phile. CURIOSITY led me to take the Liberty of opening fome of the Books, which lie in Heaps upon this Table; and the Truth is, the View furprised me. I found them to be all of the poetical Kind; Authors which I fuppofed that you might have converfed with in your early Youth, but imagined, that you

had

had long difmiffed all fuch frivolous Acquaint

ances.

Eub. SOFTLY, good Philemon; beware of fing fuch harsh Epithets to a Set of Gentlemen, who have been honoured in all Ages; whofe Names are confecrated to Immortality; who have always laid Claim to peculiar Infpiration; whofe Genius and Language have been eftecmed fomewhat divine.

Phile. I KNOW they have not been sparing in their Praises of their own Art: But without amufing ourselves with their Enthusiasm, or rather Prefumption, answer me feriously; Have thefe Books been thrown here by Accident, or have you really, as it fhould feem by their Situation, been trying to entertain yourself with reading fuch?

Eub. The latter is true; I have been trying, and what is more, do país much of my Leisure in fuch Entertainment, as you call it; but, in my Stile, Employment, and useful Employment.

Phile. You amaze me. Is it then true, that Eubulus, engaged as he is in the Study of serious Eloquence, and univerfally allowed to excel therein, confumeth his Time in the Perufal of Writers, not useless only, but exceedingly hurtful to his Purpose ?

Eub. WHY useless? Why hurtful? Why do you think them fo? There remains yet fome Time until Dinner, and the Heat of the Weather preventeth us from any Amusement without Doors. What fay you? Shall we spend this Interval in difcuffing that Matter? It may

be

be no unuseful Speculation. Let us then fit down together in this Bow-Window, from whence you have a full Command of your admired Profpect. Very well.-Now, if pleafe, explain upon what Grounds, you build' this Opinion.

you

Phile. You take me ill prepared for fuch a Difquifition; I have never yet thought maturely on the Point, much lefs have I in Readinefs Arguments to produce ranged in Form and Method. Yet I look upon it as one of those Truths in themselves fo clear, that Arguments for the Proof of them can never be wanting.

Eub. Be fo good then as to propose them: I request it not through Love of difputing, but from a better Principle; I would gladly juftify myself to you; befide, I have fome Hope of doing you real Service, by reconciling you to an Acquaintance, which we usually commence early in Life, but break off too foon, to reap the Pleasure and Advantage it would afford to our riper Years; at which Time, Difufe, Bufinefs, and mistaken Notions, prevent the Renewal of it.

Phile. I HOPE that I fhall be always open to Conviction; and fince you will have it fo, I will mention Things briefly, and without Order, as they occur to me. My Charge is, that Poets are Enemies to true Oratory; the Reasons I ground it upon are thefe: Anfwer me, Eubulus, Are not the Ends of Eloquence to inform and to convince ?