Taste among the Romans) that the Introduction of the Polite Arts of Greece had given the Writers of his Time great advantages over their Predeceffors; that their Morals were much improved, and the Licence of those ancient Poets reftrained: that Satire and Comedy were become more just and useful; that whatever extravagancies were left on the Stage, were owing to the Ill Taste of the Nobility; that Poets, under due Regulations, were in many respects useful to the State, and concludes, that it was upon them the Emperor himfelf muft depend, for his Fame with Pofterity. We may farther learn from this Epiftle, that Horace made his Court to this Great Prince by writing with a decent Freedom toward him, with a just Contempt of his low Flatterers, and with a manly Regard to his own Character, P. 1 THE HE Reflections of Horace, and t past in his Epistle to Auguftus, feer able to the prefent Times, that I could ne ing them to the use of my own Country thought them confiderable enough to addre. Prince; whom he paints with all the great a lities of a Monarch, upon whom the Rom for the Encrease of an Abfolute Empire. Bu Poem entirely English, I was willing to ad of thofe which contribute to the Happir People, and are more confiftent with the W Neighbours. This Epiftle will fhew the learned World len into Two mistakes: one, that Auguftus of Poets in general; whereas he not only pr but the Best Writers to name him, but re that Care even to the Civil Magiftrate: Adm tores, ne paterentur Nomen fuum obfolefieri,etc. that this Piece was only a general Difcourfe whereas it was an Apology for the Poets, in orde Auguftus more their Patron. Horace here plea of his Cotemporaries, first against the Taste o whofe humour it was to magnify the Author ceding Age; fecondly against the Court a who encouraged only the Writers for the Ti laftly against the Emperor himfelf, who ha them of little Ufe to the Government. He View of the Progrefs of Learning, and the on of Mankind! a fustain 1, and open all the Main; , and Laws amend; uch a Monarch, steal he Public Weal? 6 v the Boaft of Fame, d facred Name, 's endur'd, ty fecur'd, Cities ftorm'd, world reform'd; h a figh, to find afe mankind! t breath, 145 t but by Death. IO 15 1, but to those who civi- ith a figh,] The exprefloravere judiciously placed. d, etc.] It hath been the L EPISTOLA I. Ad AUGUSTUM. a CUM UM tot fuftineas et tanta negotia folus, Res Italas armis tuteris, moribus ornes, Legibus emendes; in publica commoda peccem, Si longo fermone morer tua tempora, Caefar. b C • Romulus, et Liber pater, et cum Caftore Pollux, Poft ingentia facta, Deorum in templa recepti, Dum terras hominumque colunt genus, afpera bella Componunt, agros adfignant, oppida condunt; • Ploravere fuis non refpondere favorem Speratum meritis. diram qui contudit Hydram, Notaque fatali portenta labore fubegit, Comperit invidiam fupremo fine domari. NOTES. Book ii. Epift. 1.] The Poet always rifes with his original; and very often, without. This whole Imitation is extremely noble and fublime. VER. 7. Edward and Henry, etc.] Romulus, et Liber Horace very judicioufly praifes Auguftus for the co. founded, not for the victories he had won; and therefore com、 r, etc. he EPISTLE I. To AUGUSTUS. W Hile you, great Patron of Mankind! a fustain с • Clos'd their long Glories with a figh, to find 15 Finas Envy never conquer'd, but by Death. с 10 NOTES. pares him, not to thofe who defolated, but to those who civilized mankind. The imitation wants this grace: and, for a very obvious reafon, fhould not have aimed at it, as he has done the mention of Alfred. isine 13. Clos'd their long Glories with a figh,] The expreffion extremely beautiful; and the ploravere judiciously placed. VER. 16. Finds envy never conquer'd, etc.] It hath been the VOL. IV. L |
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