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 As one, who lost at sea, had nations seen, And mark'd their towns, their manners, and their men, Since Troy was level'd to the dust by Greece; 'Till a few lines epitomiz'd the piece.


 * study now what order to maintain,

To link the work in one continu'd chain, That when the muse unravels all her scheme, And at the proper time unfolds the theme; Each part may find its own determin'd place, Laid out with method, and dispos'd with grace; That to the destined scope the piece may tend, And keep one constant tenor to the end. First to surprising novelties inclin'd, The bards some unexpected objects find, To wake attention and suspend the mind. A cold dull order bravely they forsake; Fixt and resolv'd the winding way to take, They nobly deviate from the beaten track. The poet marks th' occasion, as he sings, To launch out boldly from the midst of things,