An Efay on Tale-Writing. 368 ly of recalling to the recollection of abrupt, and the author hould com your readers, that Criticifm was in- monly profefs that his knowledge of cluded in your original plán; and that it had arifen from fome unforeseen the fubject of this Letter, though of accident. This faves the trouble of a different complexion from fome of a long introduction, and brings the your recent Numbers, is not contra- author and reader fairly at once into dictory to the general tenor of your the fubject. A piece of butter on a defign. torn leaf, the being benighted on a It is not my intention to trouble long journey, the traveller's horfe loeither you or your readers with re-, fing a fhoe, have been fuch hacknied marks on any voluminous compofition expedients that I cannot poffibly apof eminent writers, or fcrupulously to prove their repetition. The introduc balance the nice difcriminations of va- tion of the mail-coach is, however, a rying commentators. No, Sir, mine new and fortunate epoch; and I doubt is a virgin-theme, as yet untouched not of its being fpeedily adopted by by the rude hand of criticism; and feveral writers in every variation of unreftrained by the galling fhackles of fracture, until the whole stock of ca prefcriptive method. And, perhaps, fualties be exhausted. my efforts may not be unattended with The principal incident fhould not fome advantage immediately to your- be extravagant, but be fome common, felf, as the compofitions to which I occurrence, that it may come home allude have commonly been diffused to the bofoms of a great number. A through periodical channels. These tender fair-one feduced by her lovercompofitions are thofe narrations of a dutiful fon turned out of doors by blended fiction and fentiment, which, too inconfiderable from their fize to fwell into circulatory duodecimos, af fume the general humble denomination of TALES, and are diftinguifhed by the epithets Tender, Pathetic, Sentimental, founded on Fact, &c. &c. As Ariftotle deduced his Rules from the great Originals who preceded him, it shall be my province to follow fo illuftrious an example, and in this primary Effay to inculcate fome general precepts; and not to point out in detail, or extract individual excelIencies, which are profufely scattered through the ample labours of writers of this defcription. It is effential to a Tale that it fhould be tender; for who is there that would not defire for his works the precious balm of a figh or a tear, rather than they should excite the applaufe of a fmile, or the boisterous acclamation of laughter. It should not abound too much in, incident, left the curiofity be excited as much as the finer feelings. an unnatural father-a marriage of love and inclination thwarted by unfeeling parents and all common.e vents of a fimilar nature, are admireable topics. So much for the plot or groundwork; in which at intervals fhould be interfperfed inferior circumftances, pathetic if poffible, but the more minute they are, the greater will be their effect. A dog-a cow lowing for its calf a weeping willow-a withered oak-an old woman-thin grey hairs on a human head-and the like, may certainly be introduced with great fuccefs. The Diction may be allowed to be generally unequal, but fhould unqueftionably be florid and elevated at those intervals of the narration, where fuch embellishments may be requifite. Horace's prohibition of the "purpurei panni," muft be totally difregarded. Exclamations fhould never be used without the most abfolute neceffity. They are a fpecies of affront on the feelings of a reader, who throws down the book with indignation when he is Y y 2 informe The opening of a Tale fhould be informed at what paffages he is to be affected. Alas has had its day, and must now fubmit in its turn to the common chance of worldly revolutions. Indeed, it would be fcarcely noticed, were not the mark of interjection! commonly annexed to it. Dafhes are more striking and pathe tic, and are, befides, a very neat addition of typographical ornament. In refpect to Epithets great caution is indifpenfable. The fun is ever golden, the moon ever filver: the fea is azure, and the meadow verdant the foliage of the trees is commonly green, except in the fombre or darkpathetic, when the autumnal tinge greatly enhances the pathos. Mythology and Allegory must be introduced with circumfpection. The darts of Cupid, the fires of ambition, the warmth of love, the coldness of difdain, from their general acceptation, may be used without danger. -- Allufions derived from Natural Philofophy are more novel and brilliant, the electrical fhock of passion, the vibration of reciprocal feelings, and all phrafes of the fame caft, if the reader be a young lady at a boarding-fchool, or a young gentleman behind a count er, tend at once to dazzle and furprize. To infinuate, or even to directly advance a coincidence between the Hero and Heroine, and any relative accompanying circumftance, is wonderfully efficacious, but is a felicity, though frequently attempted, not always attained by the most eminent authors. The following inftances may probably exemplify my meaning. In one corner of the field was a venerable elm, bare at the bottom, with its top fcantily crowned with leaves, which formed no inappofite fimilitude of the venerable owner, verging to the grave by a gradual and natural decay-this is of the latter kind :-in the direct fpecies may be claffed fuch paffages, as, the lovely Maria, cherished by the tender care of a parent, delighted to con template the fragile and fragrant wilde bine twining its flender folds around the fupporting poplar. Though at first fight it may appear inconfiderable, it is really material to affign appropriate and characteristic names and places; Caffander, Cleora, and all the lift of romantic or hiftoric appellations, have been long explod ed, and invention is now freely per mitted to create and to apply. The name of the Hero fhould therefore excite refpect by a due arrangement of harmonious and fonorous letters; and that of the Heroine fhould melt into liquid foftnefs. Titles of amiable perfonages fhould gently flow: fuch as are intended to create disgust, should hoarfely rumble. Place is far from being an unimport ant confideration in the texture of tales. To introduce the reader to an amiable pair, fitting by a good coal fire, is a minute but unfentimental citcumstance. I would always there fore recommend a bower, which, tho not common in real, is very convenient in fictitious gardens-but, left it might be mistaken for one of the lath edifices, fo frequent under this denomination in the vicinity of large cities, it should likewife be covered with honeyfuckle or jafmine, whofe truant sprigs the Heroine's gentle hand may be fuppofed to have conducted along the convex trellis. The Denouement of a Tale muft be fimple, if the principle incident be fo. Yet it will admit endlefs variations, and in all cafes where the au thor is in the leaft degree embarraf fed, a Fragment is a never-failing expedient, and here I cannot but recommend the great convenience of thofe intervals which occur in periodical publications; for by them an author is enabled to drop his narrative all at once, and to leave his reader for a week in an agreeable ftate of fufpence and expectation. Morality, though not effential, is a pretty ornament to a Tale; yet it fhould Mr Burke. Should be fparingly adopted. I have ever greatly admired the infinuation which authors of this description fo delicately convey refpecting the conjugal fidelity of their married heroines; for we are univerfaliy informed, that the boys are the very pictures of their fathers, and that the girls have all the graces of their mothers. Such, Sir, are fome of the opinions 365 I have formed on this fubject, which I have thrown together without order or connection; and if from them the rifing generation of Tale-Writers may cull any ufeful or improving hints, my ambition will be gratified:-If you ima gine that they may contribute to the amufement of the public, they are very much at your fervice. A. M. T Characters by the Editor of the New Edition of Bellendenus *. HE three books of Bellende nus are refpectively dedicated, by the Editor, to Mr Burke, Lord North, and Mr Fox. Of these three Ornaments of Britain to whom this edition of Bellendenus is dedicated, fays he, we make no fcruple of declaring, that we both think and fpeak with honour. In one of these characters we have feen the traits of a fortune moft fingularly oppofite. Formerly, when he rofe to fpeak, the Senate liftened in the ftilleft filence; but now, although his el oquence be pure and foft as the fnows of Winter, he cannot, but with difficulty, obtain attention. When I confider the extreme indignity, indeed I may fay atrociousness, of fuch conduct, the beautiful language which Paterculus has applied to Drufus, often prefents itself to my mind. He found the fenate inimical to those measures * of which their own good was evidently the object. Such indeed was the * fingular fortune of Drufus, that the fe⚫nate liftened with greater complacency to those whose motives might be suspected, than to him whose wisdom ⚫ and virtue were confpicuous. The ⚫ honour which he conferred upon their body, they difdained; but what was aimed against their fecurity by others, they bore with equanimity." His fuperior luftre they were unable to fupport, but they allowed the more moderate claims of his opponents. There is a man who has a great command of words, esteemed by the vulgar a first-rate orator, fimply from his celerity of fpeaking. Whatever his followers may fay, will not deter me from fpeaking what I think of the eloquence of BURKE. Athens was the parent and patronefs of science; but an Athenian audience would have liftened with delight to Burke; would have admired his inventive copiousness of diction; would have thought the goddess Suada herself enthroned upon his lips. There were fome amongst the Romans who confidered a dry style, and poverty of fentiment, as Attic, provided the language was polifhed, courtly, and elegant; and who difdained the lofty, magnificent, copious ftyle of oratory. But many who pri ded themfelves on their tafte, their learning, and their judgment, were ignorant of the gradations, the inequa lities, and variety of Attic eloquence. Cicero * See fome account of Bellendenus in Edin. Mag. Vol. VI. p. 264. †.I. DE STATU PRISCI ORBIS in Religione, Re politica, et Litteris.' II. CICERONIS PRINCEPS; five, De Statu Principis et Imperii.' III. CICERONIS CONSUL, SENATOR, SENATUSQUE ROMANUS; five, De Stata Reip. et Urbis Imperantis Orbis.' Cicero himself was, by fome, infolent ly termed Diffufe, Afiatic, and Tumid. In thefe days also there are not wanting those who infinuate that Burke is deftitute both of energy and modulation. I am proud to speak a different language: I do not hesitate to aver, that fuch affected fentiments proceed from an inability to bear the luftre of his eloquence. He who imitates Burke, may be affured that his model is marked by Attic excellence; he who hears him with delight, may be fatisfied that his own progrefs in literature is far from contemptible. That man requires no ftudied pane gyric as to his moral character, whofe manners are conciliating and agreeable, and whofe actions are directed by the rules of virtue. But the rec titude and integrity of Burke have been fo obviously confpicuous, that, defying all fcrutiny into his own, he may be juftified in exacting a rigorous account of another's conduct *. The fecond character, of whom I would fpeak, has not enjoyed a forune correfpondent to his integrity or his genius. Great as are his claims to praife, our admiration is principally attracted to the firmness with which he fupported adverfity; to the dignity which, in the midst of danger and of difficulty, he preferved pure and undiminished.. Cicero has remarked, with a degree of truth which experience corroborates, that the moft momentous changes of circumftances frequently take place in the shortest periods of time; both as to affairs of policy and of war, but more particularly in civil contentions; which are not only influenced, but al moft entirely governed, by fame and by opinion. Lord NORTH poffeffes great natural acutenefs, which he has improved by art and experience. With confiderable dignity, he unites thofe powers of wit which are both agreeable in a dorning a narration, and particularly fertile and happy in exciting ridicule. His memory is rich in the knowledge of antiquity, and happy in applying it to his purpofe. His fpeeches diftinguifh him as an individual most amiably refolved to bear with the infirmities and follies of mankind; and of ten has his polished urbanity restrained the ill-humour and afperity of others. His ftyle, though not much ornamented, is certainly not mean; he comprehends a fubject readily, and explains it with fuccefs. It is not his smallest praife, that he not only fays all that is neceffary to his purpose, but that he never fays more. Upon all occafions he difcerns the proper limit, and would rather conclude to avoid tedioufnefs, than hazard the failure of obtaining attention, by speaking too long. Confidering him as a Civilian, we cannot think him deficient in any one quality neceffary to form the po litician. To these accomplishments of the orator, poffeffed from nature, or acquired by diligence, is added, the genuine and the greatest love of his country, whofe ancient forms and difcipline he not only understands to ad miration, but defends, whenever they become fubject-matter of difpute, with vigour and with firmnefs. If we inveftigate more minutely the character of his mind, we fhall have occafion to obferve, that when in poffeffion of the higheft dignity, and oppofed The following is a tranflation of the Dedication of the firft Book ::With respect fuitable to the occafion, this book is infcribed to EDMUND BURKE; a man moft peculiarly diftinguished by learning alike elegant and extenfive; by thofe nobler energies of mind, acute to invent, prompt to explain, fruitful to adorn: who has confiftently and conftantly deferved from Science, which meed alone he himself has found to defy every viciffitude of place and time; from the Senate, which, when menaced by danger, confidered him its pride and its fupport; lafly, from this our country (to its most affectionate citizens, alas! not always generous or juft) all that can be conferred of honour or of gratitude. Mr Fox. pofed by a powerful competitor, he conducted himself with the extremeft 367 exclaim, in the language of Lycurgus, What manner of citizen do you sup moderation. We shall find him stea-pofe me to be, who, having fo long dy in his attachments, placable when offended, fuccefsful in infpiring that confidence which he never difappointed; never using his power to the depreffion of the weak; without the very appearance of criminality; unless it be imputed to him, that, in the profecution of the American war, he did not keep pace with the ardour of public expectation. That war, originally occafioned by measures in which he had no concern, was undertaken by him with hefitation and reluctance. All refiftance being ineffectual, he was impelled to arms to arms already stained with unexpiated blood-by the combined efforts of the Sovereign, the Senate, and the People. He has left us an impreffive but melancholy example, how little the remembrance of past liberality benefits the generous donor; but how effentially noble minds may be injured by incautious credulity, and the imputation of imagined criminality. He poffeffes, however, in the fecret receffes of his heart, what enables him to fupport with complacency the heaviest oppreffions of calamity. Whenever, with confcious rectitude, his memory dwells on that acrimony of reproach, which has purfued his character; whenever he calls to mind the faithleffnefs, the ingratitude of that gaudy tribe, whom he led by the hand to honours and to wealth; he will remember also, and conducted public affairs, have perhaps given money for the prevention of injuftice, but never feceived any thing to promote it *? My third illuftrious character poffeffes a mind great and lofty, and at the fame time full of candour and fimplicity; who alone claims the fingular merit of excelling in every fpecies of eloquence. But as on this fubject there are a variety of fentiments, both amongst the vulgar, and amongst men who have obtained fome fmall tincture of learning; I fhall difcufs it fomewhat at large, and with all the perfpicuity I am able. I have feen many orators difcompofed and distracted, from their extreme folicitude in the choice of words. But the mind of Mr Fox is fo continually exercifed in the contemplation of various fubjects, that the expreffions most appropriate to each feem to prefent themfeives fpontaneoufly. He well knows that there is no word without its own peculiar force and propriety; fo that many which, abftractedly confidered, may feem mean and vulgar, acquire, from his application of them, confequence and beauty. If the occafion demand it, he can at pleasure adopt ornament, or energy, with every variety of modulation. He has the faculty of expref *Dedication of the fecond Book fing In teftimony of the profoundest reverence, attachment, and admiration, this book is dedicated to the most honourable FREDERICK Lord NORTH, who, in that fpecies of eloquence fteady to its object, whilft temperate in its means, is confeffedly unrivalled; who, in every focial intercourfe of life, preferves the trueft dignity; neither tinged with gloom, nor debased by severity, but marked by affability and the sweetest humour; who, poffeffing claims to the partial regards of the firft both of men and citizens, with fimple and unaffected candour has fhewn himself able to forget enmities; who, when deferted by the faithless train of ungrateful followers, fuffered no refentment to purfue them; who, in defending the laws and conftitution of his country, was uniformly vigilant; who, in times replete with dan ger, and involving his own fecurity, reâed unappalled on the noble consciousnefs af Virtue. |