20

FIRST LECTURE.

heroic power, Achilles alone unites their various but con-genial energies. The grace ot Nireus, the dignity ofAgamemnon , the impetuofity of Hedlor, the magnitude,the fleady prowefs of the great, the velocity of the IdlerAjax, the perfeverance of Ulyfles, the intrepidity ofDiomede , are emanations of energy that reunite inone fplendid centre fixed in Achilles . This ftandard ofthe unifon of homogeneous powers exhibited in fuccejfweaFHon by the poet, the painter, invigorated no doubt by.the contemplation of the works of Phidias , transferredto his own art and fubftantiated by form , when he fe-ledted the congenial beauties of Croton to compofea perfect female. Like Phidias too, he appears to havebeen lefs pathetic than fublime, and even in his femaleforms more ample and augufi than elegant or captivat-ing : his principle was epic, and this Ariftotle eitherconfidered not or did not comprehend, when he refufeshim the exprefiion of character in adtion and feature :Jupiter on his throne encircled by the celeflial fynod,and Helen, the arbitrefs of Troy, were no doubt theprincipal elements of his ftyle; but he could trace themother’s agitation in Alcmena, and in Penelope the pangsof wedded love,.

On thofe powers of his invention which Lucian re-rlates in the memoir infcribed with the name of Zeuxis ,

I fhall