"Et nova fictaque nuper habebunt verba fidem, fi "Græco fonte cadant, parcè detorta

י,

The inference is exceeding plain: for if a Roman poet might have liberty to coin a word, fuppofing only that it was derived from the Greek, was put into a Latin termination, and that he used this liberty but feldom, and with modefty; how much more juftly may I challenge that privilege to do it with the fame prerequifites, from the best and most judicious of Latin writers! In fome places, where either the fancy or the words were his, or any other's, I have noted it in the margin, that I might not seem a plagiary; in others I have neglected it, to avoid as well tedioufnefs, as the affectation of doing it too often. Such defcriptions or images well wrought, which I promise not for mine, are, as I have faid, the adequate delight of heroic poefy; for they beget admiration, which is its proper object; as the images of the burlesque, which is contrary to this, by the fame reafon beget laughter; for the one shews nature beautified, as in the picture of a fair woman, which we all admire; the other fhews her deformed, as in that of a lazar, or of a fool with diftorted face and antique geftures, at which we cannot forbear to laugh, because it is a deviation from nature. But though the fame images ferve equally for the Epic poefy, and for the hiftoric and panegyric, which are branches of it, yet a several sort of sculpture is to be ufed in them. If fome of them are to be like thofe of Juvenal, "Stantes in curribus Æmi❝liani,"

66

"liani," heroes drawn in their triumphal chariots, and in their full proportion; others are to be like that of Virgil, Spirantia mollius æra:" there is fomewhat more of foftnefs and tendernefs to be fhewn in them. You will foon find I write not this without concern. Some, who have seen a paper of verfes, which I wrote last year to her Highnefs the Dutchefs, have accufed them of that only thing I could defend in them. They said, I did "humi ferpere;" that I wanted not only height of fancy, but dignity of words, to fet it off. I might well anfwer with that of Horace, "Nunc non erat his locus;" I knew I addreffed them to a lady, and accordingly I affected the foftnefs of expreffion, and the smoothness of meafure, rather than the height of thought; and in what I did endeavour, it is no vanity to fay I have fucceeded. I deteft arrogance ; but there is fome difference betwixt that and a juft defence. But I will not farther bribe your candor, or the reader's. I leave them to fpeak for me; and, if they can, to make out that character, not pretending to a greater, which I have given them.

And now, fir, it is time I fhould relieve you from the tedious length of this account. You have better

and more profitable employment for your hours, and I wrong the publick to detain you longer. In conclufion, I must leave my poem to you with all its faults, which I hope to find fewer in the printing by your emendations. I know you are not of the number of thofe, of whom the younger Pliny fpecks; "Nec funt parum multi, "qui carpere amicos fuos judicium vocant:" I am rather

του

too fecure of you on that fide. Your candor in pardoning my errors may make you more remifs in correcting them; if you will not withal confider that they come into the world with your approbation, and through your hands. I beg from you the greatest favour you can confer upon an absent person, fince I repose upon your management what is dearest to me, my fame and reputation; and therefore I hope it will ftir you up to make my poem fairer by many of your blots; if not, you know the ftory of the gamefter who married the rich man's daughter, and when her father denied the portion, christened all the children by his furname, that if, in conclufion, they must beg, they fhould do fo by one name, as well as by the other. But fince the reproach of my faults will light on you, it is but reafon I should do you that justice to the readers, to let them know, that, if there be any thing tolerable in this poem, they owe the argument to your choice, the writing to your encouragement, the correction to your judgment, and the care of it to your friendship, to which he must ever acknowledge himself to owe all things, who is,

SIR,

The most obedient, and moft

Faithful of your fervants,

From Charlton in Wiltshire,

Nov. 10, 1666.

JOHN DRYDEN.

[61]

ANNUS MIRABILIS:

THE YEAR OF WONDERS,

MDCLXVI.

I.

IN thriving arts long time had Holland grown,
Crouching at home and cruel when abroad:
Scarce leaving us the means to claim our own;
Our king they courted, and our merchants aw'd.
II.

Trade, which like blood fhould circularly flow,
Stopp'd in their channels, found its freedom loft:
Thither the wealth of all the world did go,

And seem'd but shipwreck'd on fo base a coast,
III.

For them alone the heavens had kindly heat ;
In eastern quarries ripening precious dew:
For them the Idumæan balm did fweat,
And in hot Ceilon fpicy forefts grew.

IV.

The fun but feem'd the labourer of the year;
Each waxing moon fupply'd her watery store,
To fwell those tides which from the line did bear
Their brim-full veffels to the Belgian fhore."

V. Thus,

V.

Thus, mighty in her fhips, stood Carthage long,
And fwept the riches of the world from far;
Yet ftoop'd to Rome, lefs wealthy, but more firong:
And this may prove our fecond Punic war.

VI.

What peace can be, where both to one pretend? (But they more diligent, and we more strong) Or if a peace, it foon must have an end;

For they would grow too powerful were it long.

VII.

Behold two nations then, engag'd fo far,

That each feven years the fit must shake each land: Where France will fide to weaken us by war,

Who only can his vast designs withstand.

VIII.

See how he feeds th' Iberian with delays,
To render us his timely friendship vain :
And while his fecret foul on Flanders preys,
He rocks the cradle of the babe of Spain.
IX.

Such deep defigns of empire does he lay

O'er them, whofe caufe he seems to take in hand; And prudently would make them lords at sea, To whom with eafe he can give laws by land.

X.

This faw our king; and long within his breast
His penfive counfels balanc'd to and fro :
He griev'd the land he freed should be opprefs'd,
And he lefs for it than ufurpers do.

XI. His