1365 In deep fufpence the Trojan seem'd to stand; 1360 And, just appear'd to strike, reprefs'd his hand. He roll'd his eyes, and every moment felt His manly foul with more compaffion melt. When, cafting down a cafual glance, he spy'd The golden belt that glitter'd on his fide: The fatal fpoils which haughty Turnus tore From dying Pallas, and in triumph wore. Then, rouz'd anew to wrath, he loudly cries (Flames, while he spoke, came flashing from his eyes); Traitor, doft thou, doft thou to grace pretend, Clad, as thou art, in trophies of my friend? To this fad foul a grateful offering go; 'Tis Pallas, Pallas gives this deadly blow. He rais'd his arm aloft; and at the word, Deep in his bofom drove the fhining sword. 1370 1375 The ftreaming blood diftain'd his arms around, wound. POST [94] POST SCRIPT. WHAT Virgil wrote in the vigour of his age, in plenty and at eafe, I have undertaken to tanflate in my declining years: ftruggling with wants, oppreffed with fickness, curbed in my genius, liable to be misconftrued in all I write; and my judges, if they are not very equitable, already prejudiced against me, by the lying character which has been given them of my morals. Yet, fteady to my principles, and not difpirited with my afflictions, I have, by the bleffing of God on my endeavours, overcome all difficulties; and, in fome measure, acquitted myfelf of the debt which I owed the public, when I undertook this work. In the first place, therefore, I thankfully acknowledge to the Almighty Power, the affiftance he has given me in the beginning, the profecution, and conclufion of my prefent ftudies, which are more happily performed, than I could have promised to myself, when I laboured under fuch difcouragements. For, what I have done, imperfect as it is, for want of health and leisure to correct it, will be judged in after-ages, and poffibly in the present, to be no dishonour to my native country; whose language and poetry would be more esteemed abroad, if they were better understood. Somewhat (give me leave to fay) I have added to both of them, in the choice of words, and harmony of numbers, which were wanting, especially the laft, in all our poets, even in those who, being endued with genius, yet have not cultivated their mother-tongue with fuffi cient care; or, relying on the beauty of their thoughts, have judged the ornament of words, and sweetness of found, unneceffary. One is for raking in Chaucer (our English Ennius) for antiquated words, which are never to be revived, but when found or fignificancy is wanting in the prefent language. But many of his deferve not this redemption, any more than the crowds of men who daily die, or are flain for fix-pence in a battle, merit to be reftored to life, if a wifh could revive them. Others have no ear for verfe, nor choice of words, nor diftinction of thoughts; but mingle farthings with their gold to make up the fum. Here is a field of fatire opened to me: but, fince the Revolution, I have wholly renounced that talent. For who would give phyfic to the great, when he is uncalled? to do this patient no good, and endanger himself for his prefcription? Neither am I ignorant, but I may justly be condemned for many of thofe faults, of which I have too liberally arraigned others. "Cynthius aurem vellet,. & admonuit.” It is enough for me, if the government will let me pafs unquestioned. In the mean time, Lam obliged, in gratitude, to return my thanks to many of them, who have not only diftinguished me from others of the fame party, by a particular exception of grace, but, without ⚫ confidering the man, have been bountiful to the poet : have encouraged Virgil to speak fuch English as I could teach him, and reward his interpreter, for the pains he has taken, in bringing him over into Britain, by defraying the charges of his voyage. Even Cerberus, when he had received the fop, permitted Æneas to to pass freely to Elyfium. Had it been offered me, and I had refufed it, yet ftill fome gratitude is due to fuch who were willing to oblige me. But how much more to thofe from whom I have received the favours which they have offered to one of a different perfuafion ? amongst whom I cannot omit naming the earls of Derby and of Peterborough. To the first of these, I have not the honour to be known; and therefore his libera lity was as much unexpected, as it was undeserved. The prefent earl of Peterborough has been pleased long fince to accept the tenders of my fervice; his favours are fo frequent to me, that I receive them almost by prefeription. No difference of interefts or opinion have been able to withdraw his protection from me and I might justly be condemned for the most unthankful of mankind, if I did not always preserve for him a most profound respect and inviolable gratitude. I must also add, that if the last Æneid shine among its fellows, it is >>owing to the commands of Sir William Trumball, one of the principal fecretaries of ftate, who recommended it, as his favourite, to my care; and, for his fake particularly, I have made it mine. For who would con fefs wearinefs, when he enjoined a fresh labour? I could not but invoke the affiftance of a Mufe, for this laft office. "Extremum hunc Arethufa : "Negat quis carmina Gallo " Neither am I to forget the noble present which was made me by Gilbert Dolben, Efq; the worthy son of the late archbishop of York; who, when I began this work, enriched me with all the feveral editions of Vir gil, gil, and all the commentaries of thofe editions in Latin; amongst which, I could not but prefer the Dauphine's, as the laft, the shorteft, and the moft judicious. Fabrini I had also fent me from Italy; but either he understands Virgil but very imperfectly, or I have no knowledge of my author. Being invited, by that worthy gentleman Sir William Bowyer, to Denham-court, I tranflated the firft Georgic at his houfe, and the greatest part of the laft Æneid. A more friendly entertainment no man ever found. No wonder therefore if both thofe verfions furpafs the reft, and own the fatisfaction I received in his converfe, with whom I had the honour to be bred in Cambridge, and in the fame College. The feventh Eneid was made English at Burleigh, the magnificent abode of the Earl of Exeter in a village belonging to his family I was born, and under his roof I endeavoured to make that Æneid appear in English with as much luftre as I could: though my author has not given the finishing strokes either to it, or to the eleventh, as I perhaps could prove in both, if I durft prefume to criticize my master. By a letter from William Walsh, of Abberly, Efq; (who has fo long honoured me with his friendship, and who, without flattery, is the best critick of our nation) I have been informed that his grace the Duke of Shrewsbury has procured a printed copy of the Paftorals, Georgics, and fix firft Æneids, from my bookfeller, and has read them in the country, together with my friend. This noble perfon having been pleased to give them a commendation, which I prefume not to VGL. VII. infert; H |