The doctrines of Lucretius, particularly that which impugns the superintending care of Providence, were first formally opposed by the Stoic Manilius in his Astronomic poem. In modern times, his whole philosophical system has been refuted in the long and elaborate poem of the Cardinal Polignac, entitled, _Anti-Lucretius, sive de Deo et Natura_. This enormous work, though incomplete, consists of nine books, of about 1300 lines each, and the whole is addressed to Quintius, an atheist, who corresponds to the Lorenzo of the _Night Thoughts_. Descartes is the Epicurus of the poem, and the subject of many heavy panegyrics. In the philosophical part of his subject, the Cardinal has sometimes refuted, at too great length, propositions which are manifestly absurd—at others, he has impugned demonstrated truths—and the moral system of Lucretius he throughout has grossly misunderstood. But he has rendered ample justice to his poetical merit; and, in giving a compendium of the subject of his great antagonist’s poem, he has caught some share of the poetical spirit with which his predecessor was inspired:— “Hic agitare velit Cytheriam inglorius artem: Hic myrtum floresque legat, quos tinxit Adonis Sanguine, dilectus Veneri puer; aut Heliconem, Et colles Baccho, partim, Phœboque sacratos Incolat. Hic, placidi latebris in mollibus antri, Silenum recubantem, et amico nectare venas Inflatum stupeat titubanti voce canentem; Et juvenum cæcos ignes, et vulnera dicat, Et vacuæ, pulsis terroribus, otia vitæ, Fœcundosque greges, et amæni gaudia ruris: Hæc et plura canens, avidè bibat ore diserto Pegaseos latices; et nomen grande Poetæ, Non Sapientis, amet. Lauro insignire poetam Quis dubitet? Primus viridanteis ipse coronas Imponam capiti, et meritas pro carmine laudes Ante alios dicam.” ——(455)