The PREFACE.
Homer's and Virgil's days; and withal what strange Effects it always had upon the Minds of Men: These things, and much to the same purpose have been told over and over, and need not be repeated here. Not only Aristotle and Horace, but their Commentators and the Criticks, not only of our own but other Nations, have made it their Business to set forth its Excellence, and to recommend it to Mankind as the noblest Humane (I had almost said Divine) Art that is. Besides, that its true Use and End is to instruct and profit the World more than to delight and please it, has been so fully and clearly made out, by D'acier in his Preface before his Reflections on Aristotle's Poesie, and lately by our own Country-man the Learned Dr. Blackmore in his Preface before his Prince Arthur, that I think my self exempted in a great measure from that task likewise.
But however, it cannot but with a Blush be confessed, that most of our Modern Poets seem to have diverted the true Design of Poetry to one of a quite contrary Nature, whilst they study rather to please the debauch'd World in their own way, than to give them any wholesome instruction to become Wiser and Better. To such as these therefore it would be adviseable to consult Dr. Blackmore's Preface, and the third Chapter of the fourth Book in the ensuing Treatise: And they will there find how much the being a Man of Probity and Vertue is to be preferr'd, to the being a debauch'd, complaisant and temporizing Poet. They would do well to consider, that all the Reproach and Scandal which is cast upon Poetry and Themselves, is in a great measure owing to their own ill conduct. For when the unthoughtful Many see Men of debauch'd Principles Usurp to themselves the sacred Name of Poet; when they see base, servile, mercenary Souls prostitute their Pens to mean, sordid, and unbecoming Subjects, such as lewd and profane Plays,
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