Page:Virgil's Pastorals, Georgics and Aeneis - Dryden (1709) - volume 2.djvu/35

 they are worse Poets. Thus we generally allow, that they better understand the Management of a War, than our Islanders; but we know we are superiour to them in the day of Battel. They value themselves on their Generals, we on our Soldiers. But this is not the proper place to decide that Question, if they make it one. I shall say perhaps as much of other Nations, and their Poets, excepting only Tasso; and hope to make my Assertion good, which is but doing Justice to my Country; part of which Honour will reflect on your Lordship, whose Thoughts are always just; your Numbers harmonious, your Words chosen, your Expressions strong and manly, your Verse flowing, and your Turns as happy as they are easy. If you would set us more Copies, your Example would make all Precepts needless. In the mean time, that little you have Written is own'd, and that particularly by the Poets, (who are a Nation not over-lavish of Praise to their Contemporaries) as a principal Ornament of our Language: but the sweetest Essences are always confin'd in the smallest Glasses.

When I speak of your Lordship, tis never a digression, and therefore I need beg no pardon for it; but take up Segrais where I left him, and shall use him less often than I have occasion for him. For his Preface is a perfect piece of Criticism, full and clear, and digested into an exact Method; mine is loose, and, as I intended it, Epistolary. Yet I dwell on many things, which he durst not touch: For tis dangerous to offend an Arbitrary Master; and every Patron who has the Power of Augustus, has not his Clemency. In short, my Lord, I wou'd not Translate him, because I wou'd bring you somewhat of my own. His Notes and Observations on every Book, are of the same Excellency; and for the same Reason I omit the greater part.