Page:The Brittish Princes, an Heroick Poem - Howard (1669, 1st ed).djvu/7



THE

PREFACE

TO THE

READER.

Mongst so many Writers Antient and Modern, who have added glory to the Muses, their number is few that have advanced Heroick Poesie; in which the Antients imployed the best talents of their Muses, and like some wonderful Fabricks, had their Structures raised by the greatest Princes of this Science, which has so much elevated the esteem of its first Authors, that there has been little allow'd of merit to succeeding Poets, and does reasonably require some acknowledgement in me, in respect of my own undertaking, since it is hard for a Modern Poem of this kind to find a Reception in the world, so much devoted to the praise of precedent Writers;