Page:Virgil's Pastorals, Georgics and Aeneis - Dryden (1709) - volume 1.pdf/66

 at first, prov'd Mortal. The agitation of the Vessel, for it was now Autumn, near the time of his Birth, brought him so low, that he could hardly reach Brindisi. In his Sickness he frequently, and with great importunity, call'd for his Scrutore, that he might Burn his Æneis, but Augustus interposing by his Royal Authority, he made his last Will, of which something shall be said afterwards. And considering probably how much Homer had been disfigur'd by the Arbitrary Compilers of his Works, oblig'd Tucca and Varius to add nothing, nor so much as fill up the Breaks he left in his Poem. He order'd that his Bones should be carried to Naples, in which place he had pass'd the most agreeable part of his Life. Augustus, not only as Executor, and Friend, but according to the Duty of the ''Pont. Max''. when a Funeral happen'd in his Family, took care himself to see the Will punctually executed. He went out of the World with all that Calmness of Mind with which the Ancient Writer of his Life says he came into it.