your army. Judge what you are to expect from a conjunction of these forces. "You shall be compelled to abate that pride, "with which, as if you were abfolute lord "of the univerfe, you command me to become your captive."

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Aurelian, fays Vopifcus, had no fooner read this difdainful letter, than he blushed (not fo much with fhame, as) with indignation. He rodoubled his efforts, invested the town more closely than ever, and kept it in continual alarms. No art was left untried, which the conduct of a general could fuggeft, or the bravery of angry foldiers could put in execution. He intercepted the aid, which was marching from Perfia to their relief. He reduced the Saracen and Armenian forces, either by strength of arms, or the subtilty of intrigues; till at length, the Palmyrenians, deprived of all prospect of relief, and worn out by continual affaults from without, and by famine within, were obliged to open the gates and receive their conqueror. The queen and Longinus could not tamely stay to put on their chains. Mounted on the swifteft camels, they endeavoured to fly into Perfia, to make fresh head against Aurelian, who, entering the city,

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was vexed to find his victory imperfect, and Zenobia yet unfubdued. A body of the swiftest horfe was immediately dispatched in purfuit, who overtook and made them prifoners as they were croffing the Euphrates. Zofimus. Aurelian, after he had fettled Palmyra, returned to Emifa, whither the captives were carried after him. He fat on his tribunal to receive Zenobia, or rather to infult her. The Roman foldiers throng around her, and demand her death with inceffant fhouts. Zenobia now was no longer herfelf; the former greatness of her fpirit quite funk within her; she owned a mafter, and pleaded for her Life. "Her counsellors (fhe faid) were to be

blamed, and not herself. What could a "weak short-fighted woman do, when befet by artful and ambitious men, who made "her fubfervient to all their schemes? She never had aimed at empire, had they not placed it before her eyes in all its allure<< ments. The letter which affronted Aure"lian, was not her own; Longinus wrote it, "the infolence was his." This was no fooner heard, than Aurelian, who was foldier enough to conquer, but not heroe enough to forgive, poured all his vengeance on the head of Longinus. He was borne away to immediate

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execution, amidst the generous condolence of those, who knew his merit, and admired the inward generofity of his foul. He pitied Zenobia, and comforted his friends. He looked upon death as a bleffing, fince it rescued his body from flavery, and gave his foul the most defirable freedom. "This world (faid he "with his expiring breath) is nothing but a prifon; happy therefore he, who gets fooneft "out of it, and gains his liberty."

The writings of Longinus are numerous, fome on philofophical, but the greatest part on critical fubjects. Dr. Pearce has collected the titles of twenty-five Treatifes, none of which, except this on the Sublime, have escaped from the depredations of time and barbarians. And even this is refcued as from a wreck, damaged too much and shatter'd by the ftorm. Yet on this little and imperfect piece has the fame of Longinus been founded and erected. The learned and judicious have bestowed extraordinary commendation upon it. The golden Treatife is its general title. It is one of those valuable remnants of antiquity, of which enough remains to engage our admiration, and excite an earnest regret for every particle of it that has perished. It resembles those mutilated statues, which are fome

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fometimes dug out of ruins. Limbs are broke off, which it is not in the power of any living artist to replace, because the fine proportion and delicate finishing of the trunk excludes all hope of equalling fuch mafterly performances. From a constant inspection and close study of such an antique fragment at Rome, Michael Angelo learned to execute and to teach the art of Sculpture; it was therefore called Michael Angelo's School. The same use may be made of this imperfect piece on the Sublime, fince it is a noble fchool for Critics, Poets, Orators, and Hiftorians,

"The Sublime, fays Longinus, is an image "reflected from the inward greatness of the "foul." The remark is refined and just; and who more deferving than he of its application? Let his fentiments be confidered as reflexions from his own mind; let this piece on the Sublime be regarded as the picture of its author. It is pity we have not a larger portrait of him; but as that cannot be had, we must take up at prefent with this incompleat, tho' beautiful miniature. The features are graceful, the air is noble, the colouring lively enough, to shew how fine it was, and how many qualifications are neceffary to form the character of a Critic with dignity and applause.

Eleva

Elevation of Thought, the greatest qualiification requifite to an Orator or Poet, is equally neceffary to a Critic, and is the most fhining talent in Longinus. Nature had implanted the feeds of it within him, which he himself improved and nursed up to perfection, by an intimacy with the greatest and fublimest writers. Whenever he has Homer in view, he catches his fire, and increases the light and ardor of it. The space between heaven and earth marks out the extent of the Poet's genius; but the world itself feems too narrow a confinement for that of the Critic *. And tho' his thoughts are fometimes ftretched to an immeasurable fize, yet they are always great without fwelling, bold without rashness, far beyond what any other could or durft have said, and always proper and judicious.

As his Sentiments are noble and lofty, so his Stile is mafterly, enlivened by variety, and flexible with ease. There is no beauty pointed out by him in any other, which he does not imitate, and frequently excel, whilft he is making Remarks upon it. How he admires and improves upon Homer, has been hinted already. When Plato is his subject, the words glide along in a smooth, and eafy, and peaceable flow. When he speaks of Hyperides, he copies

* See Sect. IX.

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