Hitherto the pleasures of the imagination belong to the human species in general. But there are certain particular men whose imagination is endowed with powers, and susceptible of pleasures, which the generality of mankind never participate. These are the men of genius, destined by nature to excel in one or other of the arts already mentioned. It is proposed, therefore, in the last place, to delineate that genius which in some degree appears common to them all; yet with a more peculiar consideration of poetry: inasmuch as poetry is the most extensive of those arts, the most philosophical, and the most useful. BOOK I. 1757. ARGUMENT. The subject proposed. Dedication. The ideas of the Supreme Being, the exemplars of all things. The variety of constitution in the minds of men; with its final cause. The general character of a fine imagination. All the immediate pleasures of the human imagination proceed either from Greatness or Beauty in external objects. The pleasure from Greatness; with its final cause. The natural connexion of Beauty with truth [2] and good. The different orders of Beauty in different objects. The infinite and all-comprehending form of Beauty, which belongs to the Divine Mind. The partial and artificial forms of Beauty, which belong to inferior intellectual beings. The origin and general conduct of beauty in man. The subordination of local beauties to the beauty of the Universe. Conclusion. With what enchantment Nature's goodly scene Attracts the sense of mortals; how the mind For its own eye doth objects nobler still Prepare; how men by various lessons learn To judge of Beauty's praise; what raptures fill The breast with fancy's native arts endow'd, And what true culture guides it to renown, My verse unfolds. Ye gods, or godlike powers, Ye guardians of the sacred task, attend Propitious. Hand in hand around your bard 10 Move in majestic measures, leading on His doubtful step through many a solemn path, Conscious of secrets which to human sight Ye only can reveal. Be great in him: And let your favour make him wise to speak Of all your wondrous empire; with a voice So temper'd to his theme, that those who hear May yield perpetual homage to yourselves. Thou chief, O daughter of eternal Love, Whate'er thy name; or Muse, or Grace, adored 20 By Grecian prophets; to the sons of Heaven Known, while with deep amazement thou dost there The perfect counsels read, the ideas old, Of thine omniscient Father; known on earth By the still horror and the blissful tear With which thou seizest on the soul of man; Thou chief, Poetic Spirit, from the banks Of Avon, whence thy holy fingers cull Fresh flowers and dews to sprinkle on the turf Where Shakspeare lies, be present. And with thee 30 Let Fiction come, on her aerial wings Wafting ten thousand colours, which in sport, By the light glances of her magic eye,