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of an immoral, nothing of improper tendency will be imputed to a piece of poetical playfulness, in fact, genuine praise, like all other species of truth, is known by its bearing full investigation: it is what the giver is happy that he can justly bestow, and the receiver conscious that he may boldly accept; but adulation must ever be afraid of enquiry, and must, in proportion to their degrees of moral sensibility,
Be shame "to him that gives and him that takes."
The verses in p. 191, want a title, nor does the motto, although it gave occasion to them, altogether express the sense of the writer, who meant to observe that some of our best acquisitions, and some of our nobler conquests are rendered ineffectual, by the passing away of opportunity and the changes made by time; an argument that such acquirements and moral habits are reserved for a state of being, in which they may have the uses here denied them.
In the story of Sir Eustace Grey, an attempt is made to describe the wanderings of a mind first irritated by the consequences of error and misfortune, and afterwards soothed by a species of enthusiastic conversion, still keeping him insane: a task very difficult, and if the presumption of the attempt may find pardon, it will not be refused to the failure of the poet: It is said of our Shakespeare, respecting madness;
"In that circle none dare walk but he."—
