FIRST LECTURE.

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one over the face of Agamemnon ; neither height nordepth, propriety of expreflion was his aim.

The critic grants that the expedient of Timanthesmay be allowed in 4 inftances of blood,’ the Supportedafped of which would change a fcene of commiferationand terror into one of abomination and horror, whichought for ever to be excluded from the province of art,of poetry as well as painting: and would not the face ofAgamemnon , uncovered, have had this effed? was notthe fcene he muft have witneffed a fcene of blood ? andwhofe blood was to be fhed ? that of his own daughter—and what daughter ? young, beautiful, helplefs, inno-cent, reftgned—the very idea of resignation in fuch aviditn, muft either have aded irrefiftibly to procure herrelief, or thrown a veil over a father’s face. A man whois determined to fport wit at the expence of heartalone could call fuch an expedient ridiculous — 4 as ri-4 diculous,’ Mr. Falconet continues 4 as a poet would be,4 who in a pathetic fttuation, inftead of fatisfying my ex-4 pedation, to rid himfelf of the buftnefs, Should fay,4 that the Sentiments of his hero are fo far above what-4 ever can be faid on the occafton, that he Shall fay4 nothing.’ And has not Homer, though he does nottell us this, aded upon a Similar principle ? has he not,

when