Page:Ovid's Metamorphoses (Vol. 1) - tr Garth, Dryden, et. al. (1727).djvu/30

xii That of Hunger

That of the Plague

That of Fame

Virgil has also touch'd on the two last; in the one he had Lucretius in View; in the other, Homer: and I think it will not be to the Disadvantage of our Author to appear at the same time.

There are many other Descriptions scatter'd in the Metamorphoses, which for just Expression of Nature, and Majestick Modulation of Words, are only inferior to those already transcrib'd, as they are shorter; which makes the Objection, that his Diction is commonly loytring into Prose, a great deal too severe.

The Metamorphoses must be consider'd, as is observ'd before, very uncorrect; and Virgil's Works as finish'd: tho' his own Modesty wou'd not allow the Æneids to be so. It seems it was harder for him to please himself, than his Readers. His Judgment was certainly great, nor was his Vivacity of Imagination less; for the first without the last is too heavy, and like a Dress without Fancy; and the last without the first is too gay, and but all Trimming.

Our Author's Similitudes are next to be con- sider'd,