Mr. Upton's Remarks on the Action and Hiftory of Dr. Hurd's Remarks on the Plan and Conduct of - cxlii clv - clxxxix CXCV 1 MR. HUGHES'S ESSAY ON ALLEGORICAL POETRY. IT is a misfortune, as Mr. Waller obferves, which attends the writers of English poetry, that they can hardly expect their works fhould laft long in a tongue which is daily changing; that, whilst they are new, envy is apt to prevail against them; and, as that wears off, our language itfelf fails. Our poets, therefore, he says, fhould imitate judicious ftatuaries, that choose the most durable materials; and should carve in Latin or Greek, if they would have their labours preferved for ever. Notwithstanding the difadvantage he has mentioned, we have two ancient English poets, Chaucer and Spenfer, who may, perhaps, be reckoned as exceptions to this remark: Thefe feem to have taken deep root, like old British oaks, and to flourish in defiance of all the injuries of time and weather. The former is, indeed, much more obfolete in his style than the latter; but it is owing to an extraordinary native strength in both that they have been able thus far to furvive amidft the changes of our tongue, and feem rather likely, among the curious. at leaft, to preferve the knowledge of our ancient language, than to be in danger of being deftroyed with it, and buried under its ruins. VOL. II. |