THE RUMINATOR.

CONTAINING

ASERIES OF MORAL AND SENTIMENTAL

ESSAYS.

"Meditation here

May think down hours to moments. Here the heart

May give an useful lesson to the head."

COWPER.

N° XLIX.

Few Books animated by Genius: the great delight afforded by such as possess it.

AMONG the innumerable volumes, with which the shelves of libraries groan, how few are animated with any striking portion of that living spirit, which is infused by genius. Of the best of them, the major part are heavy and dead masses of learning. Dr. Johnson, speaking of Dr. Birch, the biographer, remarked, "Tom Birch is as brisk as a bee in conversation, but no sooner does he take a pen in his

hand, than it becomes a torpedo to him, and benumbs all his faculties." a Minds must be more than ordinarily endowed, to give vitality to ideas and language without any aid from external objects. A lively and breathing picture of the visions of the brain can only be produced by the fervour of genius.

Books are in general little more than transcripts of those which went before them, with a little difference of arrangement and combination: the same ingredients only poured into new vessels. Memory is the principal faculty which has been exercised in making them. When thoughts or images are brought forward, which have originated in the mind of the author, they will exhibit a freshness and vigour, that, even though they may be similar to such as have been produced by others, will make them interesting and valuable. There is all the difference, which there is between an original, and a copy, in painting. There may be the same outlines, the same figures and colours; but the difference can be better felt than expressed; one is faint, and cold, and dead; the other breathes and

moves.

It is idle to be quibbling about the definition of literary genius, and limiting it to one or two forms of excellence; every thing is genius, which is inspired by this living spirit. Nor is it confined alone a Boswell, i. 138.

to poetry, though in poetry its higher powers may be exhibited: still less is it narrowed to one or two tracks of poetry: though Dr. Darwin seemed strangely to think almost all the mèrit of that art was restrained to the representation of material objects. Elevated thoughts, and tender sentiments, when conveyed in congenial language, partake surely as much of the essence of this divine power, as the most brilliant imagery!

I desire no more infallible test of genius, than that ardent manner, which, displaying the scul of the writer predominant over his language, communicates its own fire to the reader, and carries him along with it. He, who is characterized by this trait, gives an interest to every subject that he touches, and throws sparks of light on the dullest subject.

I have been in the habit of contemplating beings so gifted, with a peculiar degree of veneration, beyond perhaps what the sternness of a cold philosophy will allow. Their powers seem to be out of all proportion to their learning, acquirements, and opportunities; or rather appear to have no kind of concurrence with them. They are actuated by something beyond themselves; and are in some respects like the Æolian harps, on which the airs of heaven play involuntary music. I continually think of the happy, though somewhat severe words,

in which some one (Lord Orford, I think,) spoke of Goldsmith. He called him "an inspired ideot!"

Men of this cast have an acuteness of sensibility which is dangerous to their peace, and too frequently troublesome to others. A due regulation of it can alone conduct them to old age; and to the performance of those greater undertakings by which a high and permanent fame is secured. Burns, and many more, have fallen sacrifices in early life. Some on the contrary have touched it with too violent a hand, and have extinguished their genius with it.

These richly endowed mortals too frequently pay dear enough for their superiority. Ordinary minds make no allowance for their eccentricities; but pursue them with unrelenting ridicule and hatred. Unsusceptible of the charms of their eloquence, they perceive only the impetuosity of their passions, and the inequality of their judgments. They see them inferior and neglectful in the trifles, in which alone they are themselves conversant; and think of them by the puny standard of their own pleasures and pursuits: while if a glimpse of the preeminence to which they are entitled breaks in upon their dark intellects, envy rises at the same instant, and makes them worse foes than mere dulness.

I am not sure that I would wish my child to