“their ancient Poets[1]:” Before they are polished into Flattery and Falshood, we feel the Force of their Words, and the Truth of their Thoughts.
In common Life, no doubt, the witty facetious Man is now the preferable Character: But he is only a middling Person, and no Hero[2]; bearing a Personage for which there is hardly an Inch of room in an Epic Poem. To be witty in a Matter of Consequence, where the Risque is high, and the Execution requires Caution or Boldness, is Impertinence and Buffoonry.
VIRGIL knew well the Importance of this Imitation of ancient Manners; and borrowed from Ennius his antiquated Terms, and the strong obsolete Turn of his Sentences. Nay, he has adopted as many of the old Forms used at Sacrifices, Games, Consecrations, and even Forms of Law, as the Emergencies of his admired Poem wou'd permit.
