But however this may be, it may fairly be urged that in a "downright" painter of human life, with that passion for realism which Crabbe was one of the first to bring back into our literature, mere "polish" would have hindered, not helped, the effects he was bent on producing.

It is difficult in polishing the heroic couplet not to produce the impression of seeking epigrammatic point.

In Crabbe's strenuous and merciless analyses of human character his power would have been often weakened, had attention been diverted from the whole to the parts, and from the matter to the manner.

The "finish" of Gray, Goldsmith, and Rogers suited exquisitely with their pensive musings on Human Life.

It was otherwise with the stern presentment of such stories of human sin and misery as _Edward Shore_ or _Delay has Danger._.