Page:Monsieur Bossu's Treatise of the epick poem - Le Bossu (1695).djvu/7



SIR,

''ensuing Treatise, since it has learned to speak English, seems, by a peculiar kind of Title, to lay a more especial Claim to your Patronage, than to any others. For though the Translator be a perfect Stranger to you, yet the Author, which he has ventur'd to translate, is well known by all to be one you are intimately acquainted with: witness your excellent Prince Arthur, wherein you have in a great measure confin'd your self to the Rules and Precepts which Aristotle and Horace, and even our Bossu, have prescrib'd to the'' Epick Poem.

'Tis upon this Account, Sir, that I presume to cast this Translation under your Protection; not questioning but, as the good-natur'd Critick is always the Poet's Friend; so now, vice versâ, the generous Poet will stand the Criticks Friend, and