Hic sua præferri quanquam vetat acta paternis;
Libera fama tamen, nullisque obnoxia jussis
Invitum præfert.———
The Author in the two first Lines shows the affectionate Condescention of the Father; in the three last, the pious Gratitude of the Son.
The Compliments to Augustus are very frequent in the last Book of the Metamorphosis; as those to the same Emperor are in the Georgicks of Virgil, which also strike the Imagination by their agreeable Flattery.
Hæc super arvorum cultu, pecorumque canebam,
Et super arboribus; Cæsar dum magnus ad altum
Fulminat Euphratem bello, victorque volentes
Per populos dat jura, viamque affectat Olympo.
Again on Julius,
Imperium Oceano, famam qui terminet astris
Julius——— Æn. B. I.
The Compliments have a great Sublimity, and worthy of the Grandeur of the Heroes, and the Wit of the Poet.
Ovid as much deserves Praise, for saying a great deal in a little, as Censure for saying a little in a great deal. None of the Classick Poets had the Talent of expressing himself with more Force and Perspicuity.
