The PREFACE.
If these are the Lines which they call Flat and Spiritless, I wish mine cou'd be Flat and Spiritless too! And therefore to make short work, I shall only beg Mr. Dryden's leave to congratulate him upon his admirable Flatness and Dulness in a Rapture of Poetical Indignation,
Then dares the [1]poring Critick snarl? And dare
The [1]puny Brats of Momus threaten War?
And cann't the proud perverse Arachne's Fate
Deter the [1]Mungrils e'r it prove too late?
In vain, alass! we warn the [1]harden'd Brood:
In vain expect they'll ever come to good.
No: They'd conceive more Venom if they cou'd.
But let each [1]Viper at his Peril bite,
While you defie the most ingenious Spite.
So Parian Columns rais'd with costly care
[1]Vile Snails and Worms may dawb, yet not impaire,
While the tough Titles and obdurate Rime
Fateague the busie Grinders of old Time.
Not but your Maro justly may complain,
Since your Translation ends his ancient Reign,
And but by your officious Muse outvy'd,
That vast Immortal Name had never dy'd.
The [1]puny Brats of Momus threaten War?
And cann't the proud perverse Arachne's Fate
Deter the [1]Mungrils e'r it prove too late?
In vain, alass! we warn the [1]harden'd Brood:
In vain expect they'll ever come to good.
No: They'd conceive more Venom if they cou'd.
But let each [1]Viper at his Peril bite,
While you defie the most ingenious Spite.
So Parian Columns rais'd with costly care
[1]Vile Snails and Worms may dawb, yet not impaire,
While the tough Titles and obdurate Rime
Fateague the busie Grinders of old Time.
Not but your Maro justly may complain,
Since your Translation ends his ancient Reign,
And but by your officious Muse outvy'd,
That vast Immortal Name had never dy'd.
But asking my Reader's Pardon for my Impertinences, I have now no more to add, but desire him to fall to, and much good may't do him.
ERRATA.
Page 9. line 15. for Wight read Wights, p. 11. l. 15. for were r. wee, p. 17. l. 8. for fix r. fix'd, p. 17. l. 20. for wreathing r. wreaking, p. 18. l. 13. for Boaster r. Bogster.
HOMER
