nal opinion. He talks of un raffinement de fierté in the Romans, and asks, if they are of this globe, or fpirits of a fuperior world? The Greeks of Racine, fays he, are not indeed of that univerfe, which belonged only to Corneille; but with what pleasure does he make us behold ourselves in the perfons he presents to us! and how agreeably would the heroes of antiquity be furprised to find themselves adorned by new manners, not indeed like their own, but which yet do not misbecome them! It can hardly be supposed that a Critic of Pere Brumoy's taste did not mean to convey an oblique cenfure in thefe obfervations. The Tragic Poet is not to let his Pegasus, like the Hippogriffe of Aftolpho, carry him to the moon; he is to reprefent men such as they were; and, indeed, when the fable and manners do not agree, great improprieties and perfect incredibility enfue, If a Grecian fable is chofen, Grecian + Theatre Grec. par Brumoy. manners should accompany it. A fuperficial decorum is kept up if Agamemnon appears a great chief; but he should be a Greek chief too, if he is to facrifice his daughter to Diana. The fame magnanimity of fentiment might certainly have been found in Guftavus Adolphus, and in other generals; but then how monftrous would appear the great catastrophe of the play! If Shakespear had not preserved the Roman character and fentiments, in his play of the Death of Julius Cæfar, we should have abhorred Brutus as an Affaffin, who by this artifice appears a Tyrannicide: and had not Mr. Addison made Cato a Patriot, according to the Roman mode, we should think he was mad for killing himself becaufe Cæfar was likely to become perpetual dictator. It is difficult to fympathize with a man's paffions, without adopting, for the time, his opinions, customs, and prejudices: but it is certainly neceffary to exhibit the man as strongly ftrongly tinctured with those prejudices and customs as poffible. To all but fuperficial Critics would it not appear as ridiculous to see Thefeus and Achilles wear French manners, as a French drefs? A little reflection would fhew it is more fo for there are relations between fentiments and manners, and none between fentiments and dress. It is ftrange that Painters, who are to give the mute inanimate figure, are required to be rigid obfervers of the Coftumi, and that the dramatic Poet, who is to imitate fentiment, discourse, and action, fhould be allowed to neglect them. |