“ The two poems of Glover have indeed the body of poetry, but there is no animating spirit: yet the Scholar must be pleased with their classical propriety, and the young heart will feel itself warmed by the struggle and success of free men. ”

“ What avails a man's piety to the Gods, if in all his dealings with men he prove himself a villain? If we represent Deity as commanding a bad action, we make a Moloch God, and furnish arguments for the Atheist. ”

“ It has been established as a necessary rule for the Epic, that the subject be national. To this rule I have acted in direct opposition, and chosen for the subject of my poem the defeat of my country. If among my readers there be one who can wish success to injustice, because his countrymen supported it, I desire not that man's approbation. ”

“ The lines from 266 to 272, are likewise mine, and the lines from 286 to 291.
The general fault of Epic Poems is, that we feel little interest for the Heroes they celebrate. The national vanity of a Greek or a Roman might have been gratified by the renown of Achilles, or Æneas, but to engage the unprejudiced, there must be more of human feelings than is generally to be found in the character of Warriors: from this objection the Odyssey alone may be excepted. ”

“ The power of Story is strikingly exemplified in the Italian Poets: they please universally, even in Translations. In the proportioning of his character, Tasso has generally failed. Godfrey is the hero of the poem, Rinaldo of the poet, and Tancred of the reader. ”