The PREFACE.
ments. Virgil had the luck to live in better times, for he met with a Maecenas, who honour'd him with his favour, encourag'd him with his Gifts, and introduc'd him into the Esteem of Augustus himself. This indeed was something more than the empty Breath of popular Applause; and Parnassus at that time was not such a starving, barren Soil, as before and afterwards it prov'd. Then Poets were had in admiration, and every one receiv'd that recompence, which was their due. This was the Poets Golden Age, and all other Polite Learning met with such ample Encouragement, as made it flourish more under the Reign of Augustus, than in after Ages, even to the Honour and Admiration of those, and to the disgrace and reproach of succeeding times. There have been indeed some intervals since, wherein Poets have met with their due Rewards. Aristo and Tasso are said to have met with their Patrons, who accepted of their Pieces, and recompenc'd their Labours And in France, Richlieu was a great and never-failing Friend to the Muses and their Votaries, But at other times the poor Bards have been left to feed upon the empty Air of Vulgar Fame. For a proof of this, we need only have recourse to the Poets of our own Nation, who whilst living have most of them met with the same fate as their fore-Father Homer; tho' when Dead they have like him been even Idoliz'd. But this Posthumous Fame is but a poor Subsistence for a living Poet: And this gives us a just occasion to enquire in to the Reasons of the declining State of Epick Poetry among the Moderns, especially in our own Nation.
One would wonder how it comes to pass, that in such an Age as this, wherein all manner of Polite Learning shines with as great a Lustre, as it did in the Reign of Augustus, Epick Poetry should be the only slighted and neglected thing. But for all our Wonder, Experience shews us, that 'tis so far disregarded by the Learned World, that few or none, tho' duly qualified, will ven-ture
