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Printed for T. COOPER, at the Globe in Pater-nofter-Row.

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ADVERTISEMENT.

HE Reflections of Horace, and the Judgments paft in this Epiftle to Augustus, feem'd fo feasonable to the prefent Times, that I could not help applying them to the use of my own Country. The Author thought them confiderable enough to addrefs them to His Prince; whom he paints with all the great and good Qualities of a Monarch, upon whom the Romans depended for the Encreafe of an Abfolute Empire. But to make the Poem entirely English, I was willing to add one or two fuch, as contribute to the Happiness of a Free People, and are more confiftent with the Welfare of our Neighbours.

This Epiftle will show 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 Prætores, ne paterentur Nomen fuum obfolefieri, &c. The other to imagine this Piece to be a general Discourse of Poetry; whereas it is an Apology for the Poets, in order to render Auguftus more their Patron. Horace here pleads the Cause of his Cotemporaries, firft against the Taste of the

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Town,

iv

ADVERTISEMENT.

Town, whofe humour it was to magnify the Authors of the preceding Age; fecondly against the Court and Nobility, who encouraged only the Writers for the Theatre; and lastly against the Emperor himself, who had conceived them of little ufe to the Government. He shews (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 reftrained: that Satire and Comedy were become more just 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 refpects ufeful to the State; and concludes, that it was upon them the Emperor himself must depend, for his Fame with Pofte": rity.

We may farther learn from this Epiftle, 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.

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THE

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Hile You, great Patron of Mankind, fuftain 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 shall the Mufe, from fuch a Monarch, fteal

An hour, and not defraud the Publick Weal? vari

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

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After

* Cum tot fuftineas, &c.

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Romulus, et Liber pater, &c.

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