Page:Virgil's Pastorals, Georgics and Aeneis - Dryden (1709) - volume 2.djvu/31

to be a Knave. I shall continue still to speak my Thoughts like a free-born Subject, as I am; though such things, perhaps, as no Dutch Commentator cou'd, and I am sure no Frenchman durst. I have already told your Lordship my Opinion of Virgil; that he was no Arbitrary Man: Oblig'd he was to his Master for his Bounty, and he repays him with good Counsel, how to behave himself in his new Monarchy, so as to gain the Affections of his Subjects, and deserve to be call'd the Father of his Country. From this Consideration it is, that he chose the ground-work of his Poem, one Empire destroy'd, and another rais'd from the ruins of it. This was just the Parallel. Æneas cou'd not pretend to be Priam's Heir in a Lineal Succession: For Anchises the Heroe's Father, was only of the second Branch of the Royal Family; and Helenus, a Son of Priam, was yet surviving, and might lawfully claim before him. It may be, Virgil mentions him on that Account. Neither has he forgotten Priamus, in the Fifth of his Æneis, the Son of Polites, youngest Son to Priam; who was slain by Pyrrhus, in the Second Book. Æneas had only Married Creusa, Priam's Daughter, and by her could have no Title, while any of the Male Issue were remaining. In this case, the Poet gave him the next Title, which is, that of an Elective King. The remaining Trojans chose him to lead them forth, and settle them in some Foreign Country. Ilioneus in his Speech to Dido, calls him expresly by the Name of King. Our Poet, who all this while had Augustus in his Eye, had no desire he should seem to succeed by any right of Inheritance, deriv'd from Julius Cæsar; such a Title being but one degree remov'd from Conquest. For what was introduc'd by force, by force may be remov'd. Twas better for the People that they should give, than he should take. Since that Gift was indeed no more at bottom, than a Trust. Virgil gives