Page:Virgil's Pastorals, Georgics and Aeneis - Dryden (1709) - volume 2.djvu/73

 forc'd upon it, once or twice in every Line, because they have a redundancy of Vowels in their Language. Their Metal is so soft, that it will not Coyn without Alloy to harden it. On the other side, for the Reason already nam'd, tis all we can do to give sufficient sweetness to our Language: We must not only chuse our words for Elegance, but for Sound. To perform which, a Mastery in the Language is requir'd; the Poet must have a Magazin of Words, and have the Art to manage his few Vowels to the best advantage, that they may go the farther. He must also know the nature of the Vowels, which are more sonorous, and which more soft and sweet; and so dispose them as his present Occasions require: All which, and a thousand Secrets of Versification beside, he may learn from Virgil, if he will take him for his Guide. If he be above Virgil, and is resolv'd to follow his own Verve (as the French call it,) the Proverb will fall hea­vily upon him; Who teaches himself, has a Fool for his Master.

Virgil employ'd Eleven Years upon his Æneis, yet he left it as he thought himself imperfect. Which when I seriously consider, I wish, that instead of three years which I have spent in the Translation of his Works, I had four years more allow'd me to correct my Errours, that I might make my Version somewhat more tolerable than it is. For a Poet cannot have too great a reverence for his Readers, if he expects his Labours shou'd survive him. Yet I will neither plead my Age nor Sickness, in excuse of the faults which I have made: That I wanted time, is all I have to say. For some of my Subscribers grew so clamorous, that I cou'd no longer deferr the Publication. I hope from the Can­dour of your Lordship, and your often experienc'd goodness to me; that if the faults are not too many, you will make allowances with Horace;