King Arthur seems to be as brave a fellow as Almanzor, who says most heroically: "In spite of ghosts I'll on."] [Footnote 169: The ghost of Lausaria, in Cyrus, is a plain copy of this, and is therefore worth reading: "Ah, Cyrus! Thou may'st as well grasp water, or fleet air, As think of touching my immortal shade."--"Cyrus the Great." ] [Footnote 170: "Thou better part of heavenly air."--"Conquest of Granada." ] [Footnote 171: "A string of similes," says one, "proper to be hung up in the cabinet of a prince."] [Footnote 172: This passage hath been understood several different ways by the commentators. For my part I find it difficult to understand it at all. Mr. Dryden says-- "I've heard something how two bodies meet, But how two souls join I know not." So that, till the body of a spirit be better understood, it will be difficult to understand how it is possible to run him through it.] [Footnote 173: Cydaria is of the same fearful temper with Dollalolla: "I never durst in darkness be alone."--"Ind. Emp." ] [Footnote 174: "Think well of this, think that, think every way."--"Sophon." ] [Footnote 175: These quotations are more usual in the comic than in the tragic writers.] [Footnote 176: "This distress," says Mr. D--, "I must allow to be extremely beautiful, and tends to heighten the virtuous character of Dollallolla, who is so exceeding delicate, that she is in the highest apprehension from the inanimate embrace of a bolster. An example worthy of imitation for all our writers of tragedy."] [Footnote 177: "Credat Judæus Appella, Non ego," says Mr. D. "For, passing over the absurdity of being equal to odds, can we possibly suppose a little insignificant fellow--I say again a little insignificant fellow--able to vie with a strength which all the Samsons and Herculeses of antiquity would be unable to encounter?" I shall refer this incredulous critic to Mr. Dryden's defence of his Almanzor; and, lest that should not satisfy him, I shall quote a few lines from the speech of a much braver fellow than Almanzor, Mr. Johnson's Achilles: "Though human race rise in embattled hosts, To force her from my arms--Oh! son of Atreus! By that immortal pow'r, whose deathless spirit Informs this earth, I will oppose them all."--"Victim." ] [Footnote 178: "I have heard of being supported by a staff," says Mr. D., "but never of being supported by a helmet." I believe he never heard of sailing with wings, which he may read in no less a poet than Mr. Dryden: "Unless we borrow wings and sail through air."--"Love Triumphant. What will he say to a kneeling valley? "I'll stand Like a safe valley, that low bends the knee To some aspiring mountain."--"Injured Love."