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PREFACE.

NOW the Translations of Mr. Addison's POEMS ap∣pear together, it may not be improper to make a few Observa∣tions on Modern Latin Poetry, and in particular the following Compo∣sitions.

Since the general Disuse and Cor∣ruption of the Latin Tongue, there are not many Attempts in Poetry in that Language that retain the Purity and Page  vi Graces of the Augustan-Age. The Italians, by the Encouragement of the House of MEDICIS, first began the Study and Imitation of the best Roman Poets; and about the Time of Leo the X^th, there appeared a great Number of fine Genius's, who endea∣vour'd to shake off the Barbarity, and polish the Rust of an ignorant Age. The Event very near answer'd their Expectations, and the Muses seem'd to be re-instated in their old Land of Inheritance. The Reader may see a Collection of their best Pieces in a Volume intitul'd Poetae Italici; but among all of them Vida is the most pure and elegant, tho' some are of∣fended at the perpetual Imitation of his Darling VIRGIL. The French have nothing considerable that I have Page  vii seen in this way, but Rapin, whose Poems every where discover a Roman Colouring; and as he does not fol∣low VIRGIL'S Expression so nearly as Vida, he is more agreeable to the Judicious. Vida with an easy Feli∣city adapts VIRGIL'S Words to every Subject, Rapin chuses rather to imitate his manner of Expression than borrow his very Phrases: So that we may say of these Two, as Mr. Dryden does of Fletcher's and Johnson's copy∣ing Shakespear:

The Dutch themselves have some no mean Latin Poems, as is evident from the Works of Grotius and Heinsius.Page  viiiBuchanan is the just boast of the Scots Nation: He was a perfect Master of the Latin Tongue, knew all its Strength and Beauties, and very happily trans∣fus'd them into his own Poems. That neglected Piece of his De Sphaerâ is upon so nice and difficult a Subject as fine and noble a Poem as ever was wrote; tho' I don't know by what Fate, the Modern Criticks are never pleas'd to mention it to his Honour. I beg their Pardons for calling them Criticks, a Name too glorious for these Borrowers of others Opinions, who live upon the Plunder of Sca∣liger and Rapin without consulting the Originals; where, if they have happen'd to praise any thing, these Gentlemen take all upon trust, and Page  ix are Strangers to every Fault and Ex∣cellence they have omitted to Blame or Commend.

As to our own Nation, the Occa∣sional Copies in the Ʋniversity Col∣lections, are the best Poems we have; the chief of which are publish'd in the Musae Anglicanae, tho' I have read a great many more which deserve an equal Honour. Out of these we have singled the Poems of Mr. Addison, as the most shining Ornaments of that Work, and given the unlearned Reader the Pleasure of admiring them in his Native Language. I will not say that it is absolutely necessary to be a good Latin Poet in order to become a good English One, but I Page  x am sure that he who imitates the Antients in their own Language will slide more easily into their way of Thinking, adapt their Graces by De∣grees, and beautifully transplant them into his Mother-Tongue; and these are no vulgar Beauties in an English Poem. I could mention how suc∣cessfully this was done by Milton formerly, and in our Times by Mr. Addison, if it did not draw me into too great a length of Pre∣face, which more properly belongs to the following Pieces.

Most of these, tho' very perfect in their kinds, I am apt to believe were design'd as Trials of a great Genius, after the modest manner of Page  xi the Antients, who began to sport and play in Essays of their Poetical Strength before they attempted Sub∣jects of a greater Dignity. To speak of them in general, I observe that the Language is Pure, Elegant, and Sounding; the Versification easy and numerous, happily adapted to the different Subjects it describes, free from the affected Turns, Puerile Le∣vities, and other Flatnesses, which betray a false Taste, and Defect of Judgment. The Critick every where accompanies the Poet, and even here a discerning Eye might have seen the Promises of a CAMPAIGN and a CATO.

Page  xii The Battel of the Pygmies and Cranes, The Puppet-Show, and The Bowling-Green, are of the Mock-Heroic kind, the Subjects mean and trivial, seemingly incapable of Poetical Ornaments, but are rais'd to the Heroic, by a splendid Boldness of Expression, a Pomp of Verse, by Metaphors, Allusions, and Simili∣tudes drawn from Things of a higher Class, and such as are suited by Nature to convey Ideas of Great∣ness and Magnificence to the Mind. VIRGIL, in his Georgicks, is the great Master in this way, with this Difference only, that his is a serious Geandeur, this a Mimic one, his pro∣duces Admiration, this Laughter.

Page  xiii The Resurrection is a noble Piece, drawn after the Painter with a master∣ly Hand. As it has been spoken to by the Translator, I leave the Rea∣der to his Observations.

The Barometer is a fine Philoso∣phical Poem, describing the Effects of the Air on that wonderful Instru∣ment with great Exactness, as well as in the most beautiful Poetry. The Odes to Dr. Burnett and Dr. Hannes are written in the true Spirit of HORACE, and are only equall'd among the Moderns by those excel∣lent ones of the Latter.

Page  xiv The Peace of Reswick is here plac'd last, but first in the Original, in which the Author seems to have exerted all his Powers, to make it shine above his other Compositions. It is, indeed, a Master-Piece, the Images are chosen with a nice Judg∣ment, work'd up with a Delicacy of Imagination, and plac'd in the strong∣est Light. Every thing strikes at the first View, and yet will bear the strictest Eye to re-examine it. The Descriptions being both just and surprizing, put the Mind upon the full stretch as they are preparing, and exceed the boldest Expectations when finish'd. Upon this occasion I can't help remarking, that the Art ofPage  xvWar being so much chang'd since the Roman Times, it must be a difficult Task to find Words in that Lan∣guage to express even the common Ideas of a Modern Battel; but to do it in all its terrible Scenes of new Inventions was reserv'd for the Pen of Mr. Addison.

The Translators, I hope, need not make any excuse to the Reader, tho' they will want an Apology to the Author, whose Excellencies their Co∣pies but faintly imitate. All that I can say in our Defence, is, that some of them have fell into much worse Hands before, who have mangled his Sense, and debas'd his Poetry, by a cold, unspirited Translation. Thus Page  xvi if he does some Kindness in a moral way, who takes off part of an In∣jury, tho' he can't redress the Whole, we may hope at least to be forgiven who have corrected many Abuses cast on Mr. Addison by former Authors, tho' we could not in all things do him the Justice he de∣serves.