[203] It may be noted incidentally that, according to the “New English Dictionary,” the term _personification_ owes its first literary appearance to the famous “Dictionary” of 1755, where it is thus defined, and (appropriately enough) illustrated: “_Prosopopeia_, the change of things to persons, as ‘Confusion heard his voice.’” [204] Phelps, _op. cit._, pp. 37-38. [205] “Letter” to Mallet, August 11, 1726: “I thank you heartily for your hint about personizing of Inspiration: it strikes me.” [206] Cf. also “Winter,” 794 and “Autumn,” 143. [207] For some happy instances of its use in English poetry, as well as for a detailed account of Thomson’s use of personification, see especially Morel, _op. cit._, pp. 444-455. [208] Poets of Great Britain (1793), Vol. IX, p. 414. [209] “British Poets,” Vol. XXII (1822), p. 117. [210] “A Collection of Poems by several hands,” 3 vols., 1748; 2nd edition, with Vol. IV, 1749; Vol. V and VI, 1758; Pearch’s continuations, Vol. VII and VIII, 1768, and Vol. IX and X, 1770. [211] “Dodsley” (1770 ed.), Vol. IV, p. 50. [212] _Ibid._, VI, 148. [213] “Dodsley-Pearch,” X, p. 5. [214] _Vide_ also Bell’s “Fugitive Poetry” (1791). Vol. XI, where there is a section devoted to “Poems in the manner of Milton.” [215] “Dodsley-Pearch,” X, p. 269. [216] At the same time there appeared a similar volume of the Odes of William Collins, “Odes on Several Descriptive and Allegoric Subjects,” the original intention having been to publish in one volume. Collins’s collection had a lukewarm reception, so that the author soon burned the unsold copies. But see Articles in “The Times Literary Supplement,” January 5th (p. 5) and January 12, 1922 (p. 28), by Mr. H. O. White, on “William Collins and his Contemporary Critics,” from which it would appear that the Odes were not received with such indifference as is commonly believed. [217] Cf. “Pope’s Works,” ed. Courthope and Elwin, Vol. V, p. 365. [218] _Vide_ also “The Triumph of Isis” (1749), and “The Monody written near Stratford-on-Avon.” (“Poets of Great Britain,” 1794, Vol. XI, pp. 1061-4.) [219] Cf. Gosse, “A History of Eighteenth Century Literature” (1889), p. 233. [220] Cf. Courthope, “Hist. Engl. Poetry,” Vol. V, pp. 397-8. [221] “Lives,” ed. G. Birkbeck Hill, Vol. III, p. 341. [222] “On Lyric Poetry—Poetical Works,” ed. Mitford (Aldine, ed. 1896), Vol. II, p. 147. [223] In the Aldine edition, ed. Thomas (1901) these personified abstractions are not invested with a capital letter. [224] “Biographia Literaria” (ed. Shawcross, 1907), p. 12; cf. also “Table Talk” (October 23, 1833), ed. H. N. Coleridge (1858), p. 340. “Gray’s personifications,” he said, “were mere printer’s devil’s personifications,” etc.