Page:Monsieur Bossu's Treatise of the epick poem - Le Bossu (1695).djvu/72

28 Besides, several weighty Reasons did indispensibly oblige him to put Humanity and Good-Nature in the Manners of his Hero, and to make Piety his predominant Quality, and the very Soul of all his Vertues. One of these great Reasons is the desire and necessity he lay under of pleasing his chief Auditor, who alone was more considerable than all the rest. Augustus Cæsar did nothing to settle himself upon the Throne, but what his Piety put him upon undertaking; or at least he had a mind the World should think so. This is the Judgment which the most Prudent past upon him, even after he was dead, when he was no longer the subject of Mens Flatteries, or their Fear. This Cornelius Tacitus informs us of.

The Reasons why the Poet spoke thus of the new Establishment, were owing to the Subjects of Augustus, who made up the other part of the Audience; and the second Object of his Morality. He was oblig'd to make them lay aside the old Antipathy they had to Monarchy, to convince them of the Justice, and the legal Prerogative of Augustus, to divert them from so much desiring to oppose his designs, and to raise in them a Love and Veneration for this Prince.

Religion has always had a most powerful influence over the minds of the Vulgar. The first Roman Kings, and the new Emperors, made use thereof, by joyning the Sacerdotal to the Regal Office. The Poet likewise us'd his utmost care in searching for all the Advantages he could derive from thence, by making it the chief Foundation of his whole design. He makes it appear, "That the great Revolutions, which happen in States, are brought about by the appointment and will of God: That those who oppose them are Impious, and have been punish'd according to their Demerits, For Heaven never fails to protect the Heroes it makes choice of, to carry on and execute its great designs." This Maxim serves for the Foundation of the Æneid; and is that first part of the Fable which we call the Truth.

Besides, the Poet was oblig'd to represent his Hero free from all manner of Violence, and elected King by brave and generous People, who thought it an Honour to obey him, tho' they might lawfully have been their own Soveraigns, and have chosen what form of Government they pleas'd. In short it was requisite that the Justice of his Cause, like that of Augustus, should have been grounded upon the Rights of War.

In a word, the Hero should have been like Augustus, a New Monarch, the Founder of an Empire, a Lawgiver, a Pontifex, and a great Commander.