quity: Perhaps too he ought to include the whole in a fhorter compafs, than has hitherto been done by any tranflator, who has tolerably preserved either the sense or poetry. What I would farther recommend to him, is to ftudy his author rather from his own text, than from any commentators, 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 thefe, 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; tho' I fear no judges fo little as our best poets, who are moft fenfible of the weight of this task, As for the worst, whatever they fhall pleafe 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 obfervation be true, that the strongeft antipathy in the world is that of fools to men of wit. Mr. Addison was the firft whofe advice determined me to undertake this talk, who was pleased to write to me upon that occafion in fuch terms, as I cannot repeat without vanity. I was obliged to Sir Richard Steel 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 frankness 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 shall take a further opportunity of doing justice to the last, whofe good-nature (to give it a great panegyrick) is no less extensive than his learning. The favour of these gentlemen is not entirely undeferved by one who bears them fo 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 sub

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scribers, and the most distinguished patrons and ornaments of learning as my chief encouragers. Among these it is a particular pleasure to me to find, that my higheft obligations are to fuch who have done most honour to the name of Poet: That his Grace the Duke of Buckingham was not displeased I fhould undertake the author to whom he has given (in his excellent Eay) fo complete a Praife.

Read Homer once, and you can read no more ;
For all Books elfe appear so mean, so poor,
Verje will feem Profe: but fill perfift to read,
And Homer vill be all the Books you need.

That the Earl of Halifax 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 such a Genius as my Lord Bolingbroke, not more diftinguifhed 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 sheets, 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 by attempting the Iliad. I cannot deny myfelf the pride of confeffing, that I have had the advan. tage not only of their advice for the conduct in ge

neral, but their correction of feveral particulars of this tranflation.

I could fay a great deal of the pleasure of being diftinguished 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 son of the late lord Chancellor) gave me a proof how much I am honoured in a fhare of his friendship. I muft 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 fatisfy'd 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 fhewn me by its learned rival, the Univerfity of Oxford. And I can hardly envy him thofe pompous honors 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 diftinction is the more to be acknowledged, as it is fhewn to one whofe pen has never gratified the prejudices of particular par

ties, or the vanities of particular men.

Whatever

the fuccefs may prove, I fhall 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 pafs fome of thofe years of youth that are generally loft in a circle of follies, after a manner neither wholly unufeful to others, nor difagreeable to myself.