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brought entirely within the restraint of written law。 Genius will still have room enough to expatiate； and keep always the same distance from narrow comprehension and mechanical performance。
What we now call genius begins； not where rules； abstractedly taken； end； but where known vulgar and trite rules have no longer any place。 It must of necessity be that even works of genius； as well as every other effect； as it must have its cause； must likewise have its rules； it cannot be by chance that excellences are produced with any constancy； or any certainty； for this is not the nature of chance； but the rules by which men of extraordinary parts； and such as are called men of genius work； are either such as they discover by their own peculiar observation； or of such a nice texture as not easily to admit handling or expressing in words； especially as artists are not very frequently skilful in that mode of communicating ideas。
Unsubstantial； however； as these rules may seem； and difficult as it may be to convey them in writing； they are still seen and felt in the mind of the artist； and he works from them with as much certainty as if they were embodied； as I may say； upon paper。 It is true these refined principles cannot be always made palpable； like the more gross rules of art； yet it does not follow but that the mind may be put in such a train that it shall perceive； by a kind of scientific sense； that propriety which words； particularly words of unpractised writers such as we are； can but very feebly suggest。
Invention is one of the great marks of genius； but if we consult experience； we shall find that it is by being conversant with the inventions of others that we learn to invent； as by reading the thoughts of others we learn to think。
Whoever has so far formed his taste as to be able to relish and feel the beauties of the great masters has gone a great way in his study； for； merely from a consciousness of this relish of the right； the mind swells with an inward pride； and is almost as powerfully affected as if it had itself produced what it admires。 Our hearts frequently warmed in this manner by the contact of those whom we wish to resemble； will undoubtedly catch something of their way of thinking； and we shall receive in our own bosoms some radiation at least of their fire and splendour。 That disposition； which is so strong in children； still continues with us； of catching involuntarily the general air and manner of those with whom we are most conversant； with this difference only； that a young mind is naturally pliable and imitative； but in a more advanced state it grows rigid； and must be warmed and softened before it will receive a deep impression。
From these considerations； which a little of your reflection will carry a great way further； it appears of what great consequence it is that our minds should be habituated to the contemplation of excellence； and that； far from being contented to make such habits the discipline of our youth only； we should； to the last moment of our lives； continue a settled intercourse with all the true examples of grandeur。 Their inventions are not only the food of our infancy； but the substance which supplies the fullest maturity of our vigour。
The mind is but a barren soil； is a soil soon exhausted； and will produce no crop； or only one； unless it be continually fertilised and enriched with foreign matter。
When we have had continually before us the great works of art to impregnate our minds with kindred ideas； we are then； and not till then； fit to produce something； of the same species。 We behold all about us with the eyes of these penetrating observers； and our minds； accustomed to think the thoughts of the noblest and brightest intellects； are prepared for the discovery and selection of all that is great and noble in nature。 The greatest natural genius cannot subsist on its own stock： he who resolves never to ransack any mind but his own will be soon reduced； from mere barrenness； to the poorest of all imitations； he will be obliged to imitate himself； and to repeat what he has before often repeated。 When we know the subject designed by such men； it will never be difficult to guess what kind of work is to be produced。
It is vain for painters or poets to endeavour to invent without materials on which the mind may work； and from which invention must originate。 Nothing can come of nothing。
Homer is supposed to be possessed of all the learning of his time。 And we are certain that Michael Angelo and Raffaelle were equally possessed of all knowledge in the art which was discoverable in the works of their predecessors。
A mind enriched by an assemblage of all the treasures of ancient and modern art will be more elevated and fruitful in resources in proportion to the number of ideas which have been carefully collected and thoroughly digested。 There can be no doubt that he who has the most materials has the greatest means of invention； and if he has not the power of using them； it must proceed from a feebleness of intellect or from the confused manner in which those collections have been laid up in his mind。
The addition of other men's judgment is so far from weakening； as is the opinion of many； our own； that it will fashion and consolidate those ideas of excellence which lay in their birth feeble； ill…shaped； and confused； but which are finished and put in order by the authority and practice of those whose works may be said to have been consecrated by having stood the test of ages。
The mind； or genius； has been compared to a spark of fire which is smothered by a heap of fuel and prevented from blazing into a flame。 This simile； which is made use of by the younger Pliny； may be easily mistaken for argument or proof。
There is no danger of the mind's being over…burdened with knowledge； or the genius extinguished by any addition of images； on the contrary； these acquisitions may as well； perhaps better； be compared； if comparisons signified anything in reasoning； to the supply of living embers； which will contribute to strengthen the spark that without the association of more would have died away。
The truth is； he whose feebleness is such as to make other men's thoughts an incumbrance to him can have no very great strength of mind or genius of his own to be destroyed； so that not much harm will be done at worst。
We may oppose to Pliny the greater authority of Cicero； who is continually enforcing the necessity of this method of study。 In his dialogue on Oratory he makes Crassus say； that one of the first and most important precepts is to choose a proper model for our imitation。 Hoc fit primum in preceptis meis ut demonstremus quem imitemur。
When I speak of the habitual imitation and continued study of masters； it is not to be understood that I advise any endeavour to copy the exact peculiar colour and complexion of another man's mind； the success of such an attempt must always be like his who imitates exactly the air； manner； and gestures of him whom he admires。 His model may be excellent； but the copy will be ridiculous； this ridicule does not arise from his having imitated； but from his not having chosen the right mode of imitation。
It is a