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New themes succeeding bards began to chuse,
And in a wider field engag'd the muse;
The common bulk of subjects to rehearse
In all the rich varieties of verse.
Yet none of all with equal honors shine,
(But those which celebrate the pow'r divine,)
To those exalted measures which declare,
The deeds of heroes, and the sons of war.
From hence posterity the name bestow'd
On this rich present of the delphick god;
Fame says, Phemonoe in this measure gave
Apollo's answers from the Pythian cave.

But e'er you write, consult your strength, and chuse
A theme proportion'd justly to your muse.
For tho' in chief these precepts are bestow'd
On him, who sings an hero or a god;
To other themes their gen'ral use extends,
And serves in different views to different ends.
Whether the lofty muse with tragick rage
Would proudly stalk in buskins on the stage;

Or