had such an influence upon our minds, what should not we expect from that of Porus and Alexander, upon a subject so uncommon? I could likewise have wish'd, that the Author had given us a greater idea of this War. And, indeed, the passage of the Hydaspes is so strange, that it is hardly to be conceived; a prodigious Army on't'other side the River, with terrible Chariots and Elephants, at that time formidable; the Lightning, Thunder, and Tempests, which occasion a general confusion; and, above all, when so large a River must be pass'd over in Skins; in more, a hundred dreadful things, which astonish'd the Macedonians, and which made Alexander say, that at last he had found a danger worthy of himself; all this, I say, ought to have raised the imagination of the Poet, both in the Description of the Preparations, and the Recital of the Battle.
However, he scarce mentions the Camps of these two Kings, whom he robs of their true Character, to enslave them to imaginary Princesses. All that is either great or valuable amongst men, the defence of a Country, the preservation of a Kingdom, don't excite Porus to the Battle; he is encourag'd to it by the beautiful eyes of Axiana alone, and the design of his Valour, is only to recommend himself by it to her. Thus Knight-Errants are described, when they undertake an adventure; and the finest Genius, in my opinion, that Spain has produc'd, never makes Don Quixot enter the lists, before he has recommended himself to Dulcinea.
A maker of Romances may model his Heroes according to his fancy. Neither is it of great importance, to confine one's self religiously to the true Character of an obscure Prince, to whose reputation we are perfect strangers: but those great Persons of Antiquity, so famous in their age, and better
