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THE

FIRST EPISTLE

OF THE

SECOND BOOK

O F

HORA C E.

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HE Reflections of Horace, and the Judgments

THA

past in his Epiftle to Auguftus, feemed fo feafonable to the present Times, that I could not help applying them to the use of my own Country. The Author thought them confiderable enough to address them to his Prince; whom he paints with all the great and good qualities of a Monarch, upon whom the Romans depended for the Encrease of an Abfolute Empire. But to make the Poem entirely Englifh, I was willing to add one or two of those which contribute to the Happinefs of a Free People, and are more confiftent with the Welfare of our Neighbours.

This Epiftle will fhow the learned World to have fallen into Two mistakes: one, that Auguftus was a Patron of Poets in general; whereas he not only prohibited all but the Best Writers to name him, but recommended that Care even to the Civil Magiftrate: Admonebat Praetores, ne paterentur Nomen fuum obfolefieri, etc. The other, that this Piece was only a general Difcourfe of Poetry; whereas it was an Apology for the Poets, in order to render Auguftus more their Patron. Horace here pleads the Caufe of his Cotemporaries, first against the Tafte of the Town, whofe humour it was to magnify the Authors of the preceding Age; secondly against the Court and Nobility, who encouraged only the Writers for the Theatre; and laftly against

the Emperor himself, who had conceived them of little Ufe to the Government. He fhews (by a View of the Progress of Learning, and the Change of Taste among the Romans) that the Introduction of the Polite Arts of Greece had given the Writers of his Time great advantages over their Predeceffors; that their Morals were much improved, and the Licence of thofe ancient Poets restrained: that Satire and Comedy were become more juft and useful; that whatever extravagancies were left on the Stage, were owing to the Ill Taste of the Nobility; that Poets, under due Regulations, were in many respects useful to the State; and concludes, that it was upon them the Emperor himself must depend, for his Fame with Pofterity.

We may further learn from this Epistle, that Horace made his Court to this Great Prince by writing with a decent Freedom toward him, with a juft Contempt of his low Flatterers, and with a manly Regard to his own Character.

P.

EPISTOLA I.

CU

Ad A UGUSTU M.

a

UM tot fuftineas et tanta negotia folus,
Rex Italas armis tuteris, moribus ornes,

Legibus emendes; in 'publica commoda peccem,

Si longo fermone morer tua tempora, Caefar.

C

Romulus, et Liber pater, et cum Caftore
Pollux,

Post ingentia facta, "Deorum in templa recepti,
Dum terras hominumque colunt genus, afpera

bella

Componunt, agros adfignant, oppida condunt; Ploravere fuis non respondere favorem

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Speratum meritis. diram qui contudit Hydram,
Notaque fatali portenta labore fubegit,
Comperit 'invidiam fupremo fine domari.

NOTES.

Book ii. Ep. 1.] The Poet and very often, without it. premely noble and fublime.

always rifes with his Original; This whole Imitation is fu

VER. 7. Edward and Henry, &c.] Romulus, et Liber Pa ter, &c. Horace very judiciously praises Auguftus for the colonies he founded, not for the victories he had won; and therefore comparès him, not to those who defolated, but to those who civilized mankind. The Imitation wants this

EPISTLE I.

To AUGUSTUS.

HILE you, great Patron of Mankind! a fuftain

WHI

The balanc'd World, and open all the Main; Your Country, chief, in Arms abroad defend, At home, with Morals, Arts, and Laws amend; 'How fhall the Mufe, from fuch a Monarch, fteal

An hour, and not defraud the Public Weal?

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5

Edward and Henry, now the Boast of Fame, And virtuous Alfred, a more facred Name,

d

After a Life of gen'rous Toils endur'd,
The Gaul fubdu'd, or Property fecur'd,
Ambition humbled, mighty Cities storm'd,
Or Laws establish'd, and the world reform'd;
"Clos'd their long Glories, with a figh, to find
Th' unwilling Gratitude of base mankind!
All human Virtue, to its latest breath,
'Finds Envy never conquer'd, but by Death.

NOTES.

15

grace and, for a very obvious reafon, our Poet should not have aimed at it; as he has done in the mention of Alfred. VER. 13. Clos'd their long Glories, with a figh,] The expreffion is extremely beautiful; and the ploravere judiciously placed. VER. 16. Finds Envy never conquer'd, &c.] It hath been

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