[66] Unquestionably the description, in the passage quoted, and the simile, aid each other with great mutual effect. [67] Commentators on the Scripture, mentioned by our author in the "Religio Laici," where, speaking of Dickenson's translation of Pere Simon's "Critical History of the Old Testament," he calls it A treasure, which, if country curates buy, They Junius and Tremellius may defy.--Vol. X. p. 44. [68] This display of learning seems a little out of place. Undoubtedly it was important, if the accusation had been, that Virgil had misplaced his seasons. But, as to the mere length of time employed in his epic, there seems no better reason why it should be a year than a month, or two years than one, so long as the interest is effectually maintained. [69] Our author seems always to have had a view to form the machinery of an epic poem, upon the principles of the Platonic philosophy, which he proposed to adapt to the guardian angels of kingdoms, mentioned by the prophet Daniel. Vol. xii. p. 25. [70] These lines are inaccurately quoted, for ----_Non me tua fervida terrent Dicta, ferox_, &c. Æneid xii. l. 895. [71] Misquoted again; for ----_non me tua fervida terrent Dicta, ferox_. I think the passage may easily be interpreted without disparagement of Æneas's valour, even without adopting Dryden's construction. Turnus, a brave and proud man, reduced to the humiliating situation of confessing his fears, naturally imputes them to the more honourable cause, a dread, namely, of supernatural interference. To confess his terror to arise from the force of his mortal adversary, would have been degrading to his character. [72] It is singular, that, under this conviction, Dryden should have complied with the custom of his age, in striking out the vowel before the end of such words as _winged_. [73] This celebrated couplet occurs in Sir John Denham's "Cooper's Hill," a poem which was praised beyond its merit by the author's contemporaries. After allowing that the lines are smooth and sonorous, which indeed were infrequent qualities of the versification of the period, I fear much of their merit lies in the skilful antithesis of the attributes of the river. [74] Louis XIV.; whom Dryden probably in his heart compared with disadvantage to the needy Charles, who loved literary merit without rewarding it; the saturnine James, who rewarded without loving it; and the phlegmatic William, who did neither the one nor the other. [75] St John, in his conversation with Astolfo, on the latter's arrival in the Moon.