the very caft of the periods; neither to omiť nor confound any rites or customs of antiquity: Perhaps too he ought to include the whole in a shorter compass than has hitherto been done by any tranflator, who has tolerably preferved either the fenfe or poetry. What I would further recommend to him, is to ftudy his Author rather from his own text, than from any commentaries, how learned foever, or whatever figure they may make in the estimation of the world; to confider him attentively in comparison with Virgil above all the ancients, and with Milton above all the moderns. Next these, the Archbishop of Cambray's Telemachus may give him the trueft idea of the spirit and turn of our Author, and Boffu's admirable treatife of the Epic poem the jufteft notion of his defign and conduct. But after all, with whatever judgment and study a man may proceed, or with whatever happiness he may perform fuch a work, he must hope to please but a few; thofe only who have at once a taste of poetry, and competent learning. For to fatisfy fuch as want either, is not in the nature of this undertaking; fince a mere modern wit can like nothing that is not modern, and a pedant nothing that is not Greek.

What I have done is fubmitted to the publick, from whofe opinions I am prepared to learn; though I fear no judges fo little as our best poets, who are most fenfible of the weight of this task. As for the worst, whatever they fhall please to fay, they may give me fome concern as they are unhappy men, but none as they are malignant

writers. I was guided in this tranflation by judgments very different from theirs, and by perfons for whom they can have no kindness, if an old observation be true, that the strongest antipathy in the world is that of fools to men of wit. Mr. Addifon was the firft whofe advice determined me to undertake this tafk, who was pleafed to write to me upon that occafion in fuch terms as I cannot repeat without vanity. I was obliged to Sir Richard Steele for a very early recommendation of my undertaking to the publick. Dr. Swift promoted my intereft with that warmth with which he always ferves his friend. The humanity and franknefs of Sir Samuel Garth are what I never knew wanting on any occafion. I must also acknowledge with infinite pleasure, the many friendly offices, as well as fincere criticisms of Mr. Congreve, who had led me the way in tranflating fome parts of Homer. I must add the names of Mr. Rowe and Dr. Parnell, though I fhall take a further opportunity of doing juftice to the laft, whofe good-nature (to give it a great panegyrick) is no less extensive than his learning. The favour of these gentlemen is not entirely undeserved by one who bears them so true an affection. But what can I fay of the honour fo many of the Great have done me, while the first names of the age appear as my fubfcribers, and the most distinguished patrons and ornaments of learning as my chief encouragers. Among thefe it is a particular pleasure to me to find, that my highest obligations are to fuch who have done moft honour to the name of Poet: That

his Grace the Duke of Buckingham was not difpleafed I should undertake the Author to whom he has given (in his excellent Efay) fo complete

a Praise.

Read Homer once, and you can read no more;
For all Books elfe appear fo mean, jo poor,
Verfe will feem Proje: but still perfift to read,
And Homer will be all the Books you need.

That the Earl of Hallifax was one of the first to favour me, of whom it is hard to fay whether the advancement of the polite arts is more owing to his generofity or his example. That fuch a Genius as my Lord Bolingbroke, not more distinguifhed in the great fcenes of business, than in all the useful and entertaining parts of learning, has not refused to be the critick of these fheets, and the patron of their writer. And that the noble author of the Tragedy of Heroic Love, has continued his partiality to me, from my writing paftorals, to my attempting the Iliad. I cannot deny myself the pride of confeffing, that I have had the advantage not only of their advice for the conduct in general, but their correction of feveral particulars of this translation.

I could fay a great deal of the pleasure of being distinguished by the Earl of Carnarvon, but it is almost abfurd to particularize any one generous action in a person whose whole life is a continued feries of them. Mr. Stanhope, the prefent Secretary of State, will pardon my defire of having it known that he was pleased to promote

this affair. The particular zeal of Mr. Harcourt (the fon of the late Lord Chancellor) gave me a proof how much I am honoured in a fhare of his friendship. I must attribute to the fame motive that of feveral others of my friends, to whom all acknowledgments are rendered unneceffary by the privileges of a familiar correfpondence: And I am fatisfied I can no way better oblige men of their turn, than by my filence.

In fhort, I have found more patrons than ever Homer wanted. He would have thought himself happy to have met the fame favour at Athens that has been fhewed me by its learned rival, the University of Oxford. And I can hardly envy him thofe pompous honours he received after death, when I reflect on the enjoyment of fo many agreeable obligations, and eafy friendships, which make the fatisfaction of life. This dif tinction is the more to be acknowledged, as it is shewn to one whofe pen has never gratified the prejudices of particular parties, or the vanities of particular men, Whatever the fuccefs may prove, I shall never repent of an undertaking in which I have experienced the candour and friendship of fo many perfons of merit; and in which I hope to pass fome of thofe years of youth that are ge nerally lost in a circle of follies, after a manner neither wholly unufeful to others, nor difagres able to myself.

PREFACE

TO THE

Works of SHAKESPEAR.

I

T is not my design to enter into a Criticism upon this Author; though to do it effectually and not fuperficially, would be the best occafion that any just writer could take, to form the judgment and taste of our nation. For of all English Poets, Shakespear must be confeffed to be the fairest and fulleft fubject for criticifm, and to afford the moft numerous, as well as moft confpicuous inftances, both of beauties and faults of all forts. But this far exceeds the bounds of à Preface, the bufinefs of which is only to give an account of the fate of his works, and the dif advantages under which they have been tranf mitted to us. We fhall hereby extenuate many faults which are his, and clear him from the imputation of many which are not: A defign, which though it can be no guide to future criticks to do him juftice in one way, will at least be fufficient to prevent their doing him an injuftice in the other."