Page:Virgil's Pastorals, Georgics and Aeneis - Dryden (1709) - volume 2.djvu/67

 who are better taught by our Religion, yet own every wonderful Accident which befalls us for the best, to be brought to pass by some special Provi­dence of Almighty God; and by the care of guardian Angels: And from hence I might infer, that no Heroick Poem can be writ on the Epicuræan Principles. Which I cou'd easily demonstrate, if there were need to prove it, or I had leisure.

When Venus opens the Eyes of her Son Æneas, to behold the Gods who combated against Troy, in that fatal Night when it was surpriz'd; we share the pleasure of that glorious Vision, (which Tasso has not ill Copied in the sacking of Jerusalem.) But the Greeks had done their bu­siness; though neither Neptune, Juno, or Pallas, had given them their Divine assistance. The most crude Machine which Virgil uses, is in the Episode of Camilla, where Opis by the command of her Mistress, kills Aruns. The next is in the Twelfth Æneid, where Venus cures her Son Æneas. But in the last of these, the Poet was driven to a ne­cessity; for Turnus was to be slain that very day: And Æneas, wound­ed as he was, cou'd not have Engag'd him in single Combat, unless his Hurt had been miraculously heal'd. And the Poet had consider'd that the Dittany which she brought from Crete, cou'd not have wrought so speedy an effect, without the Juice of Ambrosia, which she mingled with it. After all, that his Machine might not seem too violent, we see the Heroe limping after Turnus. The Wound was skin'd; but the strength of his Thigh was not restor'd. But what Reason had our Author to wound Æneas at so critical a time? And how came the Cuisses to be worse temper'd than the rest of his Armour, which was all wrought by Vulcan and his Journey-men? These difficulties are not easily to be solv'd, without confessing that Virgil had not Life enough to correct his Work: Tho' he had re-