Page:Poems on Several Occasions - Broome (1739, 2nd edition).djvu/16

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xiv

PREFACE.

preme business of Life to repair the ruins of a decay'd Word, to trouble the World with vain Niceties about a Letter, or a Syllable, or the Transposition of a Phrase, when the present reading is sufficiently intelligible. These learned Triflers are mere Weeders of an Author, they collect the Weeds for their own use, and permit others to gather the Herbs and Flowers: It would be of more advantage to Mankind when once an Author is faithfully published, to turn our Thoughts from the Words to the Sentiments, and make them more easy and intelligible. A Skill in verbal Criticism is in reality but a Skill in guessing, and consequently he is the best Critic who guesses best: A mighty attainment! And yet with what Pomp is a trivial Alteration usher'd into the World? Such Writers are like ^[1]Caligula, who raised a mighty Army, andalarm'd

↑ Postremo, quasi perpetraturus bellum directâ acie in littore Oceani, ac ballistis machinisque dispositis, nemine gnaro ac opinante quidnam cœpturus esset, repente ut Conchas legerent, galeasque & sinus replerent, imperavit; Et indicium Victoriæ altissimam turrem excitavit. Suetonius.

[1] Postremo, quasi perpetraturus bellum directâ acie in littore Oceani, ac ballistis machinisque dispositis, nemine gnaro ac opinante quidnam cœpturus esset, repente ut Conchas legerent, galeasque & sinus replerent, imperavit; Et indicium Victoriæ altissimam turrem excitavit. Suetonius.

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