Dennis, John (1658-1734)

The Grounds of Criticism in Poetry

London

Printed for Geo. Strahan

1704

"For he tells us in the beginning of the Treatise that the Sublime does not so properly persuade us, as it Ravishes and Transports us, and produces in us a certain Admiration mingled with astonishment and with surprise, which is quite another thing than the barely Pleasing or the barely perswading; that it gives a noble Vigour to a Discourse, an invincible force which commits a pleasing Rape upon the very Soul of the Reader; that whenever it breaks out where it ought to do, like the Artillery of Jove, it Thunders blazes and strikes at once, and shews all the united force of a Writer."

To this I answer, that tho' Longinus did by long Study, and habitude know the Sublime when he saw it, as well as any Man, yet he had not so clear a knowledge of the Nature of it as to explain it clearly to others. For if he had done that, as the Objector says, he would have defin'd it, but he has been so far from defining it, that in one place he has given an account of it that is contrary to the true nature of it. For he tells us in that Chapter which treats of the Fountains of Sublimity, that Loftiness is often without any Passion at all. Which is contrary to the true nature of it. The sublime is indeed often without Common Passion, as ordinary Passion is often without that. But then it is never without Enthusiastick Passion. For the Sublime is nothing else but a great Thought, or Great Thoughts moving the Soul from it's Ordinary Scituation by the Enthusiasm which naturally attends them. Now Longinus had a notion of Enthusiastick Passion; for he establishes it in that very Chapter for the second Source of Sublimity. Now Longinus by affirming that the Sublime may be without not only that, but ordinary Passion, says a thing that is not only contrary to the true Nature of it, but contradictory of Himself. For he tells us in the beginning of the Treatise that the Sublime does not so properly persuade us, as it Ravishes and Transports us, and produces in us a certain Admiration mingled with astonishment and with surprise, which is quite another thing than the barely Pleasing or the barely perswading; that it gives a noble Vigour to a Discourse, an invincible force which commits a pleasing Rape upon the very Soul of the Reader; that whenever it breaks out where it ought to do, like the Artillery of Jove, it Thunders blazes and strikes at once, and shews all the united force of a Writer. Now I leave the Reader to Judge, whether Longinius has not been saying here all along that Sublimity is never without Passion.
(pp. 77-9)

Body::Rape

The Grounds of Criticism in Poetry, Contain'd In some New Discoveries never made before, requisite for the Writing and Judging of Poems surely. Being A Preliminary to a larger Work design'd to be publish'd in Folio, and Entituled, A Criticism upon our most Celebrated English Poets Deceas'd. By Mr. Dennis (London: Printed for Geo. Strahan and Bernard Lintott, 1704). <Link to ECCO-TCP> [46], 127 p.

07/11/2013