Page:Virgil's Pastorals, Georgics and Aeneis - Dryden (1709) - volume 1.pdf/59

 the most remarkable Occurrences at home and abroad, but insists more particularly upon the Exploits of Augustus; insomuch, that tho' this Assertion may appear, at first, a little surprizing; he has in his Works deduc'd the History of a considerable part of the World from its Original, thro' the Fabulous and Heroick Ages, thro' the Monarchy and Commonwealth of Rome, for the space of four Thousand Years, down to within less than Forty of our Saviour's time, of whom he has preserv'd a most Illustrious Prophecy. Besides this, he points at many remarkable Passages of History under feign'd Names: the destruction of Alba, and Veii, under that of Troy: The Star Venus, which, Varro says, guided Æneas in his Voyage to Italy, in that Verse,

Romulus his Lance taking Root, and Budding, is describ'd in that Passage concerning Polydorus, lib. 3.

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