Je l’ai vaincu, Princesse, et le Dieu de combats M’y favorisoit moins que vos divins appas. Ils conduisoient ma main, ils enfloient mon courage, Cette pleine victoire est leur dernier ouvrage, C’est l’effet des ardeurs qu’ils daignoient m’inspirer; Et vos beaux yeux enfin m’ayant fait soûpirer, Pour faire que votre ame avec gloire y réponde, M’ont rendu le premier, et de Rome, et du monde; C’est ce glorieux titre, à présent effectif, Que je viens ennoblir par celui de captif; Heureux, si mon ésprit gagne tant sur le vôtre, Qu’il en estime l’un, et me permette l’autre. _Pompée, act 4. sc. 3._ The last class comprehends sentiments that are unnatural, as being suited to no character nor passion. These may be subdivided into three branches: first, sentiments unsuitable to the constitution of man and the laws of his nature; second, inconsistent sentiments; third, sentiments that are pure rant and extravagance. * * * * * When the fable is of human affairs, every event, every incident, and every circumstance, ought to be natural, otherwise the imitation is imperfect. But an imperfect imitation is a venial fault, compared with that of running cross to nature. In the _Hippolytus_ of Euripides[61], Hippolytus, wishing for another self in his own situation, How much (says he) should I be touched with his misfortune! as if it were natural to grieve more for the misfortunes of another than for one’s own. _Osmyn._ Yet I behold her--yet--and now no more. Turn your lights inward, Eyes, and view my thought, So shall you still behold her--’twill not be. O impotence of sight! mechanic sense Which to exterior objects ow’st thy faculty, Not seeing of election, but necessity. Thus do our eyes, as do all common mirrors, Successively reflect succeeding images. Nor what they would, but must; a star or toad; Just as the hand of Chance administers! _Mourning Bride, act 2. sc. 8._ No man, in his senses, ever thought of applying his eyes to discover what passes in his mind; far less of blaming his eyes for not seeing a thought or idea. In Moliere’s _L’Avare_[62], Harpagon being robbed of his money, seizes himself by the arm, mistaking it for that of the robber. And again he expresses himself as follows: Je veux aller querir la justice, et faire donner la question à toute ma maison; à servantes, à valets, à fils, à fille, et à moi aussi. This is so absurd as scarce to provoke a smile if it be not at the author. * * * * * Of the second branch the following are examples. ---- Now bid me run And I will strive with things impossible, Yea get the better of them. _Julius Cæsar, act 2. sc. 3._ Vos mains seules ont droit de vaincre un invincible. _Le Cid, act 5. sc. last._