Page:Virgil's Pastorals, Georgics and Aeneis - Dryden (1709) - volume 2.djvu/71

 kept him at a distance with his Spear. I wonder Ruæus saw not this, where he charges his Author so unjustly, for giving Turnus a second Sword, to no purpose. How cou'd he fasten a blow, or make a thrust, when he was not suffer'd to approach? Besides, the chief Errand of the Dira, was to warn Juturna from the Field, for she cou'd have brought the Chariot again, when she saw her Brother worsted in the Duel. I might farther add, that Æneas was so eager of the Fight, that he left the City, now almost in his Possession, to decide his Quarrel with Tur­nus by the Sword: Whereas Turnus had manifestly declin'd the Combat, and suffer'd his Sister to convey him as far from the reach of his Enemy as she cou'd. I say not only suffer'd her, but consented to it; for tis plain, he knew her by these words:

I have dwelt so long on this Subject, that I must contract what I have to say, in reference to my Translation: Unless I would swell my Preface into a Volume, and make it formidable to your Lordship, when you see so many Pages yet behind. And indeed what I have already written either in Justification or Praise of Virgil, is against my self; for presuming to Copy, in my course English, the Thoughts and Beautiful Expressions of this inimitable Poet: Who flourish'd in an Age when his Language was brought to its last perfection, for which it was particularly owing to him and Horace. I will give your Lord­ship my Opinion, that those two Friends had consulted each others Judgment, wherein they should endeavour to excel; and they seem to have pitch'd on Propriety of Thought, Elegance of Words, and Harmony of Numbers.