The Preface to the Reader.
something of its excellency in general; as one that, beholding some antient famous Structure, endeavors to model in some proportion a meaner of his own: Nor did Homer and Virgil (with some other of the Antients) in their Epick works shew us only the greatness of their buildings, but the state and ornaments of their contrivance, in which they erected their own Monuments to be everlasting with their Heroes, for whom they raised their glorious Principalities, with sublime instructions of humane life, that by them, the Prince is taught greatness, the Statesman Prudence, the Polititian Craft, the Souldier Stratagem, the Philosopher Ethicks (with other high reflections on that excellent Science,) the Lover nobleness of passion from the bright flames of Parnassus, and even the Gold of nature universally refin'd in the Poets Mint, from whose vast treasure of thoughts, and actions, the most fam'd Dramaticks, drew the noble vein of Dialogue, and taught the Buskin to renown the Stage, while from the glory of Epike Contrivance and Action, the deepness of Intrigue and Plot was probably first dignified: No less does it honor the famous Pencils, whose highest art is to delineate Images; from hence, and by their powerful imaginations, express representations of all passions of the mind, with other noble endowments of nature from those poetical figures of glory. Thus much concerning the excellency of this Subject in general.
And
