The ancients, who in these matters were not, perhaps, such blockheads as some may conceive, considered poetical quotation as one of the requisite ornaments of oratory.  Cicero, even in his philosophical works, is as little sparing of quotations as Plutarch.  Old Montaigne is so stuffed with them, that he owns, if they were taken out of him little of himself would remain; and yet this never injured that original turn which the old Gascon has given to his thoughts.  I suspect that Addison hardly ever composed a Spectator which was not founded on some quotation, noted in those three folio manuscript volumes which he previously collected; and Addison lasts, while Steele, who always wrote from first impressions and to the times, with perhaps no inferior genius, has passed away, insomuch that Dr. Beattie once considered that he was obliging the world by collecting Addison’s papers, and carefully omitting Steele’s.

Quotation, like much better things, has its abuses.  One may quote till one compiles.  The ancient lawyers used to quote at the bar till they had stagnated their own cause.  “Retournons a nos moutons,” was the cry of the client.  But these vagrant prowlers must be consigned to the beadles of criticism.  Such do not always understand the authors whose names adorn their barren pages, and which are taken, too, from the third or the thirtieth hand.  Those who trust to such false quoters will often learn how contrary this transmission is to the sense and the application of the original.  Every transplantation has altered the fruit of the tree; every new channel the quality of the stream in its remove from the spring-head.  Bayle, when writing on “Comets,” discovered this; for having collected many things applicable to his work, as they stood quoted in some modern writers, when he came to compare them with their originals, he was surprised to find that they were nothing for his purpose! the originals conveyed a quite contrary sense to that of the pretended quoters, who often, from innocent blundering, and sometimes from purposed deception, had falsified their quotations.  This is an useful story for second-hand authorities!

Selden had formed some notions on this subject of quotations in his “Table-talk,” art. “Books and Authors;” but, as Le Clerc justly observes, proud of his immense reading, he has too often violated his own precept.  “In quoting of books,” says Selden, “quote such authors as are usually read; others read for your own satisfaction, but not name them.”  Now it happens that no writer names more authors, except Prynne,[279] than the learned Selden.  La Mothe le Vayer’s curious works consist of fifteen volumes; he is among the greatest quoters.  Whoever turns them over will perceive that he is an original thinker, and a great wit; his style, indeed, is meagre, which, as much as his quotations, may have proved fatal to him.  But in both these cases it is evident that even quoters who have abused the privilege of quotation are not necessarily writers of a mean genius.