Page:The Brittish Princes, an Heroick Poem - Howard (1669, 1st ed).djvu/31

 the morning. What is it? or, Who can tell whether it be better to have it, or be without it, especially if it be a pointed Wit? I will take my liberty to praise what I like, as well as they do to reprehend what they do not like. Your Poem, Sir, contains a well and judiciously contrived Story, full of admirable and Heroick actions, set forth in noble and perspicuous language, such as becomes the dignity of the persons you introduce, which two things of themselves are the height of Poetry. I know, that variety of story, true, or feigned, is the thing wherewith the Reader is entertain'd most delightfully: And this also, to the smallness of the Vollume is not wanting. Yours is but one small piece, whereas the Poets that are with us, so much admir'd, have taken larger Subjects. But, let an English reader, in Homer or Virgil in English, by whomsoever translated, read one piece by it self, no greater than yours, I may make a question whether he will be less pleased with yours than his: I know you do not equal your Poem to either of theirs, the bulk of a Work does not distinguish the Art of the Workman: besides, 'tis a vertue in a Poet to advance the honour of his remotest Ancestors, especially when it has not been done before, What, though you out-goe the limits of certain History? Do Painters, when they Paint the Face of the Earth, leave a blanck beyond what they know? Do not they fill up the space with strange Rocks, Monsters, and other Gallantry, to fix their work in the memory of Men by the delight of fancy? So will your Reader from this Poem think ho-