Page:Monsieur Bossu's Treatise of the epick poem - Le Bossu (1695).djvu/71

Book I. But (without mentioning the Inconveniences the Latin Poet might meet with in forming a Fable upon the same Foundation, which the Greek had laid before him) the Roman State furnish'd him with Matter different enough to help him to avoid treading in the footsteps of him that went before him, and to preserve to him the glory of a primary invention. Homer in the Odysseïs spoke only for States already establish'd, and the Roman Empire was but of a new date. It was the change of a Commonwealth (to which Cæsar's Subjects had been always extreamly biggoted) into a Monarchy, which till then they could never endure. Thus, the Instructions, which the Poet ought to give both to Prince and People, were quite different from those Homer left his Countrymen.

He ought to instruct Augustus as the Founder of a great Empire, and to inspire into him as well as his Successors, the same Spirit and Conduct which had rais'd this Empire to such a Grandeur. A very expert Roman, and a great Politician (no less than Cicero himself) informs us, "That good Humour and Humanity was so far Essential to this State, that it was predominant even in the very midst of War; and that nothing but an absolute Necessity could put a stop to its good effects." And he adds, "That when this Conduct was lost, and this Genius, which gave life to the State, was gone, there was nothing left but bare Walls, and what in propriety of Speech might be term'd a dead Carcase." In short, he shews the Advantages which a mild and moderate Government has over a cruel and severe Conduct, which inspires Men with nothing but a slavish fear.

This then is the Instruction Virgil would give the Roman Emperors, who began in the Person of Augustus to be settled upon the Throne. This Instruction has two parts, as each of Homer's had. The first comprehends the Misfortunes which attend a Tyrannical and Violent Reign: And the second the Happiness, which is the Consequence of a mild Government. Homer has plac'd both the parts of each Fable in one and the same Person, Achilles at first is at variance with the Confederates, and afterwards is reconcil'd to them: Ulysses is absent from home, and at last returns thither: and in all this there is nothing of difficulty. But Virgil could not represent in one and the same Person, a Hero, who by his Violence and Impiety was the Ruin of his Country; and who afterwards by his Piety and Justice, restor'd it to its former Glory. This inequality of Manners and Conduct would have been intolerable, and especially in that Brevity, which the Recital of an Epick Poem requires; besides, such a sudden change is never to be rely'd on; Men would think it Hypocritical, and fear a very quick return of the old Tyranny. The Poet then is oblig'd to make use of two different Personages, to maintain the two parts of his exemplary instruction.