Page:Virgil's Pastorals, Georgics and Aeneis - Dryden (1709) - volume 3.djvu/353

Rh, I think I have discover'd a secret Compli­ment to the Emperour, which none of the Commentators have ob­serv'd. Virgil had just before describ'd the Miseries which Rome had undergone betwixt the Triumvirs and the Commonwealth-Party: In the close of all, he seems to excuse the Crimes committed by his Pa­tron Cæsar, as if he were constrain'd against his own Temper to those violent Proceedings, by the necessity of the Times in general, but more particularly by his two Partners, Anthony and Lepidus. Fertur Equis Auriga, nec audit Currus habenas. They were the Head-strong Horses, who hurried Octavius, the trembling Charioteer along, and were deaf to his reclaiming them. I observe farther; that the present Wars, in which all Europe, and part of Asia are ingag'd at pre­sent; are wag'd in the same places here describ'd: Atque hinc Eu­phrates, illinc Germania Bellam, &c. As if Virgil had Prophecy'd of this Age.

''Georgic. 2d''. The Praises of Italy, (Translated by the Learned, and e­very way Excellent Mr. Chetwood) which are Printed in one of my Mis­cellany Poems, are the greatest Ornament of this Book. Wherein for want of sufficient skill in Gardening, Agriculture, &c. I may possibly be mistaken in some Terms. But concerning Grafting, my Honour'd Friend Sir William Bowyer has assur'd me, that Virgil has shewn more of Poetry than Skill, at least in relation to our more Northern Climates. And that many of our Stocks will not receive such Grafts, as our Poet tells us would Bear in Italy. Nature has conspir'd with Art to