Page:Virgil's Pastorals, Georgics and Aeneis - Dryden (1709) - volume 1.pdf/52

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The Life of Virgil.

ble Servant) is respect, but (Friend) an affront, which notwithstanding implies the former, and a great deal more. Nor does true Greatness lose by such Familiarity; and those who have it not, as Mecænas and Pollio had, are not to be accounted Proud, but rather very Discreet, in their Reserves. Some Play-house Beauties do wisely to be seen at a distance, and to have the Lamps twinckle betwixt them and the Spectators.

But now Cæsar, who tho' he were none of the greatest Soldiers, was certainly the greatest Traveller, of a Prince, that had ever been, (for which Virgil so dexterously Complements him, Aeneid. 6.) takes a Voyage to Ægypt, and having happily finish'd that War, reduces that mighty Kingdom into the Form of a Province; over which he appointed Gallus his Lieutenant. This is the same Person to whom Virgil addresses his tenth Pastoral; changing, in compliance to his Request, his purpose of limiting them to the number of the Muses. The Praises of this Gallus took up a con-