Discourse on Criticism and of Poetry: From Poems on Several Occasions (1707)

Discourse on Criticism and of Poetry, written by Samuel Cobb in 1707, is an essay that explores the nature of poetry and the art of literary criticism during the Augustan era. Cobb, a Cambridge-educated writer known for his wit, examines the evolution of poetry, its divine origins, and critiques contemporary critics for their harsh judgments. He advocates for a nuanced understanding of poetry that values creativity and individuality, arguing for the poet's freedom from rigid constraints imposed by critics.