PREFACE. Με Y tranflation of Vida's Art of Poetry having been more favourably received than I had reafon to expect, has encouraged me to publish this little Mifcellány of Poems and select Translations. I shall neither embarrass myfelf nor my reader with apologies concerning this collection; for whether it is a good or a bad one, all excufes are unneceffary in one cafe, and offered in vain in the other. An author of a Miscellany has a better chance of pleafing the world, than he who writes on a single subject; and I have sometimes known a bad, or (which is ftill worse) an indifferent Poet, meet with tolerable fuccefs; which has been owing more to the variety of subjects, than his happiness in treating them. I am fenfible the men of wit and pleasure will be difgufted to find fo great a part of this collection confift of facred poetry; but I affure thefe gentlemen, whatever they shall be pleafed to object, that I fhall never be ashamed of employing my talents (fuch as they are) in the service of my Maker; that it would look indecent in one of my profeffion, not to spend as much time on the pfalms of David, as the hymns of Callimachus; and farther, that if thofe beautiful pieces of divine poetry had been written by Callimachus, or any heathen author, they might have poffibly vouchfafed them a reading even in my tranflation. B 3 But But I will not trefpafs further on my reader's patience in profe, fince I shall have occafion enough for it, as well as for his good-nature, in the following verses; concerning which I muft acquaint him, that fome of them were written several years fince, and that I have precisely observed the rule of our great mafter Horace→→ Nonumque prematur in annum. But I may fay more justly than Mr. Prior faid of himself in the like cafe, that I have observed the Letter, more than the Spirit of the precept. 1727. To To MR. CHRISTOPHER PITT, F On his POEMS and TRANSLATIONS. ORGIVE th' ambitious fondnefs of a friend, For fuch thy worth, 'tis glory to commend ; To thee, from judgment, fuch applaufe is due, I praise myself while I am praifing you; As he who bears the lighted torch, receives Himself affistance from the light he gives. So much you please, so vast is my delight, In scenes which thy invention sets to view, In every line, in every word you speak, But breathe the odours of Aufonia's field. While in thy work with such success unite His ftrength of judgment, and his charms of speech, That precepts please, and mufic feems to teach. Left Left unimprov'd I feem to read thee o'er, Nor for chafte love, the luft of verse mistake ; * I'll quit the work, throw by my strong defire, G. RIDLEY. * See Mr. Pitt's tranflation of Vida, DB. |