OF THE SEVENTH VOLUME. 5. A Differtation on the Subject of Medals, 6. An Account of a Letter addreffed to Cocchi, by Chevalier L. G. Aretino, refpecting fome Tranfactions in the Cifalpine Gallic War. A. U. C. 529, 33 ་ CONTENTS. to the Remarks and detached Pieces, to the Effay fur l'Etude de la Littérature, 192 to the Critical Obfervations on the Defign ALL epic poets feem to confider an exact catalogue of the armies which they fend into the field, and of the heroes by whom they are commanded, as a neceffary and effential part of their poems. A commentator is obliged to justify this practice; but to what reader did it ever give pleasure? Such catalogues destroy the intereft and retard the progrefs of the action, when our attention to it is moft alive. All the beauties of detail, and all the ornaments of poetry, fcarcely fuffice to amufe our wearinefs; a wearinefs produced by fuch enumerations even in hiftorical works, but which are pardoned in them, because neceffary. In hiftory, the victory commonly depends on the number and quality of the troops; but in epic poetry, it is always decided by the protection of the gods and the marvellous valor of the hero. Achilles is invincible; his myrmidons are fcarcely known. Homer has indeed given a catalogue; yet this perhaps VOL. VII. B |