The PREFACE.
ture upon such an Undertaking; and there are but a few likewise that understand the true nature and design of an Epick Poem.
There have been many Reasons brought to prove it next to impossible for one of our Modern Poets to write a true Heroick Poem, such a one as Homer and Virgil have wrote. Some of these Reasons I shall just mention, and prove them to be only pretences at the best; and then I shall make bold to propose some other Reasons of the declining State of Heroick Poetry in our times, which perhaps may seem to the unprejudic'd Reader to be of more weight and consequence, than any that have as yet been alledg'd.
First of all 'tis objected by some, That we want due Matter for an Heroick Poem:. That is, the History of our Nation is not able to furnish us with an Action or an Hero that is fit for such a Poem. Were we indeed to judge of this by the Practice of Sir William D'Avenant and Mr. Cowley, who have each of them made choice of a Subject and Hero, that has nothing to do with the English Nation, we might then be inclin'd to suppose it was for want of due and just Matter in our own Annals. But I think they had no need of searching into Foreign History for their Actions and Hero's, since they might with more Credit to themselves and with more Honor to their Country, have met with both nigher Home. 'Tis certain our own History could have furnish'd them with as just a Subject for Heroick Poetry, as any other Experience has shown us since, by the happy Choice Dr. Blackmore has made of Prince Arthur, that our Annals are not so barren of Great and Noble Actions and Heros as some would pretend. It argues then great Ignorance, or at least great Negligence in the search of our Records to say, That we want due Matter for an Heroick Poem.
Again 'tis objected by others, That we want a Genius for such an Undertaking. This indeed is a weightierReason
