fpoke of, lie fo remote from vulgar ap prehenfion, that, without either jea loufy or malignity, DULLNESS itself will be fure to create them many peevifh detractors. For an ordinary critic can scarce help finding fault with what he does not underftand, or being angry where he has no ideas. On all these accounts it may poffibly happen, as I faid, that your critical labours will draw upon you upon you much popular refentment and invective. But if fuch should be the prefent effect of your endeavours to cultivate and complete this elegant part of literature, you, who know the temper of the learn ed world, and, by your eminent merits, have so oft provoked its injuftice, will not be disturbed or furprized at it: much lefs fhould it difcourage those who are difpofed to do you more right, from celebrating, and, as they find VOL. II. them b themselves able, from copying your example; For USE will father what's begot by SENSE, as well in this, as in other inftances. my own. YOU SEE, Sir, what there is of encomium in the turn of this Letter, was intended not fo much for your fake, as Had my purpose been any other, I must have chofen very ill among the various parts of your character to take this for the fubject of an addrefs to you. For, after all I have faid and think of your critical abilities, it might seem almost as strange in a panegyrift on Mr. Warburton to tell of his admirable criticisms on POPE and SHAKESPEAR, as it would be in him, who fhould defign an encomium on Socrates, to infift on his excellent fculpture of MERCURY and the GRACES. Yet there is a time, when it may allowed to lay a ftrefs on the amuse be ments ments of fuch men. It is, when an adventurer in either art would do an honour to his profeffion. I am, with the trueft efteem, Reverend Sir, Your most obedient and moft bumble fervant, CAMBRIDGE, R. HURD. [x] Q. HORATII FLACCI EPISTOLA AD AUGUSTUM. UM tot fuftineas et tanta negotia folus, CRM Res Italas armis tuteris, moribus ornes, Legibus emendes; in publica commoda peccem, Si longo fermone morer tua tempora, Caefar. COMMENTARY. EPISTOLA AD AUGUSTUM.] In conducting this work, which is an apology for the poets of his own time, the method of the writer is no other, than that which plain fenfe, and the subject itself required of him. For, as the main dislike to the Auguftan poets had arifen from an excessive reverence paid to their elder brethren, the first part of the epiftle [from 1 to 118] is very naturally laid out in the ridicule and confutation of fo abfurd a prejudice. And having, by this preparation, obtained a candid hearing for his defence, he then proceeds [in what follows, to the end] to vindicate their real merits; fetting in view the excellencies of the Latin poetry, as cultivated by the great modern masters; and throwing the blame of their ill fuccefs, and of the contempt in which they had lain, not fo much on themselves, or their profeffion (the dignity of which, in particular, he infifts highly upon, and afferts with spirit) as on the viciVOL. II. B ous |