'Of Genius', in The Occasional Paper, and Preface to The Creation by Aaron Hill
page 15 of 67 (22%)
page 15 of 67 (22%)
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auxere virtutes. Idque & Oracula & Autores docuerunt praclari_.
Ammian Marcel Lib. 21. [B] [Greek: Hapanti Daimôn andri symparistatai Euthys genomenô mystagôgos tou biou. Menan] [C] Scit Genius Natale comes, qui temperat Astrum, Nature Deus Humana. Horat. [Transcriber's Note: This footnote is not seen in the text.] [D] _Volunt unicuique Genium appositum Damonem benum & malum, hoc est rationem qua ad meliora semper boriatur, & libidinem qua ad pejora, hic est Larva & Genius malus, ille bonus Genius & Lar._ Serv. in Virgil, Lib. 6. v. 743. [E] _Indulge Genio: carpamus dulcia_. Pers. Sat. 5. [F] _Suum defraudans Genium._ Terent. Phorm. Act 1. But a _Genius_ in common Acceptation amongst _us_, doth not barely answer to this Sense. The _Pondus Animæ_ is to be taken into its Meaning, as well as the bare Inclination; as Gravitation in a Body (to which this bears great Resemblance) doth not barely imply a determination of its Motion towards a certain Center, but the _Vis_ or Force with which it is carried forward; and so the _English_ Word _Genius_, answers to the same _Latin_ Word, and _Ingenium_ together. [G]_Ingenium_ is the _Vis ingenita_, the natural Force or Power with which every Being is indued; and this, together with the particular Inclination of the Mind, towards any Business, or Study, or Way of Life, is what we mean |
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