And making narrower fearch they found, tho' late, And fav'd himself as cheap as e'er he could. The tender page with horny fifts was gall'd; Was of his trade, and of the Bible free. Plain truths enough for needful ufe they found; } The danger's much the fame; on feveral fhelves What then remains, but waving each extreme, Nor poudly feek beyond our power to know: Thus have I made my own opinions clear: THE ADVERTISEMENT. TH HIS tranflation of monfieur Boileau's Art of Poetry was made in the year 1680, by Sir William Soame of Suffolk, Baronet; who being very intimately acquainted with Mr. Dryden, defired his revifal of it. I faw the manufcript lie in Mr. Dryden's hands for above fix months, who made very confiderable alterations in it, particularly the beginning of the fourth Canto: and it being his opinion that it would be better to apply the poem to English writers, than keep to the French names, as it was firft tranflated, Sir William defired he would take the pains to make that alteration; and accordingly that was entirely done by Mr. Dryden. year 1683; The poem was first published in the Sir William was after fent ambaffador to Conftantinople, in the reign of King James, but died in the voyage. J. T. R CANTO I. ASH author, 'tis a vain prefumptuous crime, You then that burn with the defire to try And for each author can a talent find: Waller a hero's mighty acts extol, But authors that themselves too much efteem, Το |