Page:Virgil's Pastorals, Georgics and Aeneis - Dryden (1709) - volume 2.djvu/38



I give not here my Translation of these Verses; tho' I think I have not ill succeeded in them; because your Lordship is so great a Master of the Original, that I have no reason to desire you shou'd see Virgil and me so near together. But you may please, my Lord, to take notice, that the Latin Author refines upon the Greek; and insinuates, That Homer had done his Heroe Wrong, in giving the advantage of the Duel to his own Countryman; though Diomedes was manifestly the second Champion of the Grecians: and Ulysses preferr'd him before Ajax, when he chose him for the Companion of his Nightly Expedition: for he had a Head piece of his own; and wanted only the Fortitude of another, to bring him off with safety; and that he might compass his Design with Honour.

The French Translator thus proceeds: They who accuse Æneas for want of Courage, either understand not Virgil, or have read him slightly; otherwise they would not raise an Objection so easy to be answer'd. Hereupon he gives so many Instances of the Heroe's Valour, that to repeat them after him, would tire your Lordship, and put me to the unnecessary trouble of Transcribing the greatest part of the three last Æneids. In short, more could not be expected from an Amadis, a Sir Lancelot, or the whole Round Table, than he performs. Proxima quæque metit gladio, is the perfect Account of a Knight-Errant. If it be reply'd, continues Segrais, that it was not difficult for him to undertake and atchieve such hardy Enterprizes, because he wore Enchanted Arms; that Accusation, in the first place, must fall on Homer, e'er it can reach Virgil.