Page:Virgil's Pastorals, Georgics and Aeneis - Dryden (1709) - volume 2.djvu/97

Be pleas'd, My Lord, to accept, with your wonted goodness, this unworthy Present, which I make you. I have taken off one trouble from you, of defending it, by acknowledging its Imperfections: And tho' some part of them are cover'd in the Verse; (as Erictho­nius rode always in a Chariot, to hide his lameness,) such of them as cannot be conceal'd, you will please to connive at, though in the strictness of your Judgment, you cannot Pardon. If Homer was allow'd to nod sometimes, in so long a Work, it will be no wonder if I often fall asleep. You took my Aureng-zeb into your Pro­tection, with all his faults: And I hope here cannot be so many, because I Translate an Author, who gives me such Examples of Correctness. What my Jury may be, I know not; but tis good for a Criminal to plead before a favourable Judge: If I had said Partial, wou'd your Lordship have forgiven me? Or will you give me leave to acquaint the World, that I have many times been oblig'd to your Bounty since the Revolution. Though I never was reduc'd to beg a Charity, nor ever had the Impudence to ask one, either of your Lordship, or your Noble Kinsman the Earl of Dorset, much less of any other; yet when I least expected it, you have both remember'd me. So inherent it is in your Family, not to forget an Old Servant. It looks rather like Ingra­titude on my part, that where I have been so often oblig'd, I have ap­pear'd so seldom to return my thanks; and where I was also so sure of being well receiv'd. Somewhat of Laziness was in the case; and somewhat too of Modesty: But nothing of Disrespect, or Unthank­fulness. I will not say that your Lordship has encourag'd me to this Presumption, lest if my Labours meet with no success in Publick, I may expose your Judgment to be Censur'd. As for my own Enemies, I shall never think them worth an Answer; and if your Lordship has any, they will not dare to