unaccustomed emotion in the mind; what we knew before, we cannot
learn; what is not unexpected, cannot surprise.

Of the ideas suggested by these awful scenes, from some we recede
with reverence, except when stated hours require their association;
and from others we shrink with horror, or admit them only as
salutary inflictions, as counterpoises to our interests and
passions. Such images rather obstruct the career of fancy than
incite it.

Pleasure and terror are indeed the genuine sources of poetry; but
poetical pleasure must be such as human imagination can at least
conceive, and poetical terrors such as human strength and fortitude
may combat. The good and evil of eternity are too ponderous for the
wings of wit; the mind sinks under them in passive helplessness,
content with calm belief and humble adoration.

Known truths, however, may take a different appearance, and be
conveyed to the mind by a new train of intermediate images. This
Milton has undertaken and performed with pregnancy and vigour of
mind peculiar to himself. Whoever considers the few radical
positions which the Scriptures afforded him, will wonder by what
energetic operation he expanded them to such extent, and ramified
them to so much variety, restrained as he was by religious reverence
from licentiousness of fiction.

Here is a full display of the united force of study and genius--of a
great accumulation of materials, with judgment to digest and fancy
to combine them: Milton was able to select from nature or from
story, from an ancient fable or from modern science, whatever could