The PREFACE.
his, will no doubt discover; and they will without doubt from thence form a nobler Idea of Virgil, and his Design, than hitherto they have conceiv'd. If he seems, like his Country-men, to be too Verbose, 'tis only upon the account of his studying to make all things as plain and as intelligible as may be; and whether that be a real Fault, I leave others to judge. Beside the useful Reflexions he makes upon the Conduct of Virgil in particular, you will find many others of no less use upon the Practice of Homer, and upon Epick Poetry in general; and now and then some that will give you no small Light into the other two Parts of Great Poetry, Tragedy and Comedy. In a word, he has throughout the whole acquitted himself like a true, judicious, and impartial Critick. He commends the Excellencies of the Good, and censures the Failings of the Worst Poets with such a Justness and Moderation, as deserves a particular Esteem and Admiration. Tho Statius, Claudian, Lucan, Seneca, and others, fall under his Lash, yet he meddles with their Faults no farther than his Subject requires, and upon occasion he gives them their full Commendations: And on the contrary, tho he bestows on Homer and his admir'd Virgil very high and large Encomiums, yet they are no more than the most invidious part of the World have allow'd them; and he often blames both when he cannot in Justice excuse their Failings.
'Tis now high time I should give you some Account of the Reasons that induc'd me to the Translating this Author. One, and not the least, is the Excellency and Usefulness of these Reflexions, which are too good to be confin'd to a Foreign Language. 'Tis true, French is now become fashionable and common, and seems to be as universally studied, as Latin was formerly; and ev'ry Pretender to Gallantry and good Breeding, pretends at least to be a perfect Master and Judge of this Language. But however, I believe theLanguage
