But enough has been said to show that similarities of a certain kind, whether criticism is able to detect them or not, may be such as must be attributed to an original writer, and not to a mere imitator.
(d) Applying these principles to the case of the Laws, we have now to point out that they contain the class of refined or unconscious similarities which are indicative of genuineness.

The parallelisms are like the repetitions of favourite thoughts into which every one is apt to fall unawares in conversation or in writing.

They are found in a work which contains many beautiful and remarkable passages.

We may therefore begin by claiming this presumption in their favour.

Such undesigned coincidences, as we may venture to call them, are the following.