Be Homer's works your ftudy and delight, And trace the Mufes upward to their spring. And but from Nature's fountains fcorn'd to draw: VARIATIONS. VER. 130. When firft young Maro fung of Kings and Wars, COMMENTARY. ture, yet the vulgar reader would believe him to be a copier of Homer; and though he copied Homer, yet the judicious reader would fee him to be an imitator of Nature: the finest praise which any one, who came after Homer, could receive. NOTES. VER. 130. When firft young Maro, etc.] Virg. Eclog. vi, It is a tradition preferved by Servius, that Virgil began with writing a poem of the Alban and Roman affairs; which he found above his years, and defcended first to imitate Theocritus on rural fubjects, and afterwards to copy Homer in Heroic poetry. P. But when t'examine ev'ry part he came, Some beauties yet no Precepts can declare, Are nameless graces which no methods teach, And which a mafter-hand alone can reach. 145 If, where the rules not far enough extend, (Since rules were made but to promote their end) 140 COMMENTARY. VER. 141. Some beauties yet no Precepts can declare, etc.] Our Author, in these two general precepts for ftudying Nature and her Commentators, having confidered Poetry as it is, or may be reduced to Rule; left this fhould be mistaken as fufficient to attain PERFECTION either in writing or judging, he proceeds [from 140 to 201.] to point up to thofe fublimer beauties which Rules will never reach, that is, enable us either to execute or tafte: and which rife so high above all precept as not even to be defcribed by it; but being entirely the gift of Heaven, Art and Reafon have no further share in their production than just to moderate their operations. These Sublimities of Poetry, like the Mysteries of Religion (fome of which are above Reafon, and fome contrary to it) may be divided into two forts, fuch as are above Rules, and fuch as are contrary to them. Be Homer's works your ftudy and delight, Read them by day, and meditate by night; Thence form your judgment, thence your maxi bring, And trace the Mufes upward to their fpring. Still with itself compar'd, his text peruse; And let your comment be the Mantuan Muf When first young Maro in his boundless n A work t'outlast immortal Rome design'd, Perhaps he feem'd above the Critic's law, And but from Nature's fountains fcorn'd to VARIATIONS. VER. 130. When firft young Maro fung of Kings and Wars, COMMENTARY. ture, yet the vulgar reader would believe him to be a Homer; and though he copied Homer, yet the judicio would fee him to be an imitator of Nature: the fin which any one, who came after Homer, could receiv NOTES. VER. 130. When firft young Maro, etc.] Virg. Ecl It is a tradition preferved by Servius, that Virgil b writing a poem of the Alban and Roman affairs; found above his years, and defcended first to imitate tus on rural fubjects, and afterwards to copy Homer poetry. P. Be Homer's works your ftudy and delight, And trace the Mufes upward to their spring. And but from Nature's fountains fcorn'd to draw VARIATIONS. VER. 130. When first young Maro fung of Kings and Wars, COMMENTARY. ture, yet the vulgar reader would believe him to be a copier Homer; and though he copied Homer, yet the judicious read would fee him to be an imitator of Nature: the finest pra which any one, who came after Homer, could receive. NOTES. VER. 130. When firft young Maro, etc.] Virg. Eclog. vi, It is a tradition preferved by Servius, that Virgil began v writing a poem of the Alban and Roman affairs; which found above his years, and defcended first to imitate Theo tus on rural fubjects, and afterwards to copy Homer in He poetry. P. |