Disraeli, Isaac (1766-1848)

A Dissertation on Anecdotes

London

Printed for C. and G. Kearsley, and J. Murray

1793

"Their mind is not always prepared to pour forth its burning ideas; it is kindled by the flame which it strikes from the collision of the works of great writers."

Men of genius catch inspiration from that of others. Their mind is not always prepared to pour forth its burning ideas; it is kindled by the flame which it strikes from the collision of the works of great writers. It was thus that Cicero informs us that he animated his eloquence by a constant perusal of the poetry of the Latins and Greeks. Poets awaken their imagination by the verses of other poets. Malherbe, Corneille, and Racine, before they applied themselves to composition, put their mind into its proper tone, by repeating the glowing passages of their favourite poets. The most fervid verses of Homer, and the sweetest of Euripides, enriched the memory of Milton*. It is related of Bossuet, that before he composed a funeral oration, he was accustomed to withdraw for four or five days into his study, and read Homer. When he was asked the reason of this practice, he expressed himself in these verses,

--Magnam mihi mentem, animumque,
Delius inspirat vates--
(pp. 48-9)

Fire::Burning Fire::Kindling Fire::Flame

Only 1 entry in ESTC (1793).

A Dissertation on Anecdotes; by the Author of Curiosities of Literature. (London: Printed for C. and G. Kearsley, and J. Murray, 1793). <Link to ESTC><Link to ECCO-TCP>

04/29/2014