The Brittish Princes: An Heroick Poem/Preface to the Reader

by Edward Howard

THE

PREFACE

TO THE

READER.

mongst so many Writers Antient and Modern, who have added glory to the Muses, their number is few that have advanced Heroick Poesie; in which the Antients imployed the best talents of their Muses, and like some wonderful Fabricks, had their Structures raised by the greatest Princes of this Science, which has so much elevated the esteem of its first Authors, that there has been little allow'd of merit to succeeding Poets, and does reasonably require some acknowledgement in me, in respect of my own undertaking, since it is hard for a Modern Poem of this kind to find a Reception in the world, so much devoted to the praise of precedent Writers; nor can it be denyed, but that an Heroick Poem (whose perfections were task enough for the best pen of the Antients) is rendred to our age far more difficult to be accomplished, while both the Greek and Latin Poets had the advantage of those more concise and sublime Languages, to maintain the glory of their Epick works, (which above all kinds of writing discover the power and weight of a tongue) besides they had no small helps by introducing their Gods and Goddesses, whereby they could vary their Dialogues and Descriptions whensoever they wanted other matter: But this sacred Priviledge allowed to the antient Poets, (when the Muses were a part of their Divinity) will hardly give a like concession to us, who are Subjects to Heaven by different Letters-Patents, to which purpose, as I have avoided in my Poem any fabulous converse of that kind, so have I not introduced any practice of Christian Religion (not but the times of which I write may be supposed unprincipled enough to allow it) But rather taken for my Brittish Heroes a Religion from the results of nature, as more proper to Poesie; and which in point of morality, might not be ungrateful to the Reader of whatsoever perswasion.

The worth of Heroick Poesie is so well known to the Judicious, that it may seem impertinent in me to give any argument for its esteem; yet since I have made it the subject of my pen, I will presume to say something of its excellency in general; as one that, beholding some antient famous Structure, endeavors to model in some proportion a meaner of his own: Nor did Homer and Virgil (with some other of the Antients) in their Epick works shew us only the greatness of their buildings, but the state and ornaments of their contrivance, in which they erected their own Monuments to be everlasting with their Heroes, for whom they raised their glorious Principalities, with sublime instructions of humane life, that by them, the Prince is taught greatness, the Statesman Prudence, the Polititian Craft, the Souldier Stratagem, the Philosopher Ethicks (with other high reflections on that excellent Science,) the Lover nobleness of passion from the bright flames of Parnassus, and even the Gold of nature universally refin'd in the Poets Mint, from whose vast treasure of thoughts, and actions, the most fam'd Dramaticks, drew the noble vein of Dialogue, and taught the Buskin to renown the Stage, while from the glory of Epike Contrivance and Action, the deepness of Intrigue and Plot was probably first dignified: No less does it honor the famous Pencils, whose highest art is to delineate Images; from hence, and by their powerful imaginations, express representations of all passions of the mind, with other noble endowments of nature from those poetical figures of glory. Thus much concerning the excellency of this Subject in general.

And now to pay a due esteem to such Poets of our own Country, who are justly dignified by the Heroick Muse, of whom though the Catalogue be small (and Rome the once Mistress of Arms and Wit, scarcely numbers Three that are allowed the honor of Enrollment, though she make her claim from the glory of Virgil, Lucan, and Statius) yet have these our Native Poets deservedly merited esteem, perhaps above those any other Nation has produced in the times they lived; and of these the most considerable, I think may be granted our famous Spencer, and the late Sir William Davenant, (not considering Daniel, Drayton, and the like, rather Historians than Epicke Poets) the first of whom is by many granted a Parallel to most of the Antients, whose Genius was in all degrees proportion'd for the work he accomplished, or for whatsoever structures his Muse had thought fit to raise, whose thoughts were like so many nerves and sinews ready with due motion and strength to actuate the body he produced; nor was the success of his Poem less worthy of Admiration, which notwithstanding it be frequent in words of obsolete signification, had the good fortune to have a Reception suitable to its desert, which tells us the age he writ in, had a value for sense above words, though perhaps he may have received deservedly some censure in that particular, since our Language (when he writ) was held much improved, that it has been the wonder as well as pity of some, that so famous a Poet should so much obscure the glory of his thoughts, wrapt up in words and expressions, which time and use had well nigh exploded: And though words serve our uses but like Counters or numbers to summe our intellectual Products, yet they must be currant as the money of the Age, or they will hardly pass: Nor is it less ridiculous to see a man confidently walk in the antiquated and mothy Garments of his Predecessors, out of an obstinate contempt of the present Mode, than to imitate the expressions of obsolete Authors, which renders even Wit barbarous, and looks like some affront to the present Age, which expects from Writers due esteem of the tongue they speak. But this objection which I have presumed to mention against Renowned Spencer, (though it be a Common one, and the most is laid to his charge,) shews us that his building was rather mighty than curious, and like the Pyramids of Egypt, may expect to be a long Companion of times.

His next most remarkable Successor in the Heroick Way, I suppose there are few will deny the late Sir William Davenant a merit I judge he may claim in his work of Gondibert, in which there are many remote and excellent thoughts, with apt and perspicuous expressions, the essential dignities of the Muses, whose chiefest beauties flow from the ornaments of words, and delightful variety of imagination, from which choice productions of nature, the Muses are most desirous to adopt their Children, and in no small degree are justly acknowledged to the honor of his pen: Notwithstanding which, his Heroick Poem of Gondibert (coming into the world in a capricious time of censure) perhaps did not meet with a deserved reception, though the severest of his Judges, I doubt not are forced to grant, that there is in that work more to be praised than pardoned. I wish I could affirm as much of what I have now published. To compare the excellencies of these two Authors were not convenient in this place, since it would be little advantage to either, their works being of different natures; besides it must joyn some censure to their applause, or the Criticks, and Censorious, will not think themselves righted, if their objections pass unmentioned, who have somewhat broader eyes, to perceive the errors and mistakes of Writers, than to behold any thing which deserves their approbation: The truth is, the latter more obliged the language of his Country than the former, who either out of affected singularity, or thinking it fit to honor the Dialects of ages past, seemed so much devoted to them, as if he would be an example against all that should innovate words that had not an antitient tradition from our tongue: Nor do I think it would easily be resolved if put to the test, whether it had not more commendably spoke our diligence, if our native words & Dialects, had been better cultivated for use than a perpetual transplanting so many from forreign soils, while the state of our language seems not unlike a greedy kind of prodigality, which contracts variety of debts to make a large purchase, not considering he ruines in the mean time his antient Patrimony.

I know there are many amongst us who allow much to the improving of wit from the enlarging of our tongue, as if there were a Reciprocation in both; and for the same reason must judge we are alwayes on the mending hand, since we are still like to continue, introducing of words. But when shall wit and its Refiner Language after this rate receive their ultimate perfection, since as Horace sayes

Si meliora dies ut vina poemata reddat,
Scire velim pretium Chartis quetus arroget annus.

But neither these eminent persons, nor any other of our own Writers, whose pens might doubtless have winged their Muses to their higest pitch of Heroick glory, have handled this Subject; or for the honor of our Nation, laid the Scene at home after the example of Virgil, who brought his Æneas from Troy into Italy, and there made him encounter as famous Heroes as that Story could relate, though written by the immortal pen of Homer, while our antient and often Revolution of State, with the darkness of Story, (the best time for a Poet to kindle his flame) gives as much happy occasion to feign, and for the dignity of the Muses, to render truth (were it possible) more considerable from fiction, as is to be gather'd from any other in the World: I shall onely presume to give this reason for my design in modelling this Poem, which I have some cause to expect will not be less grateful, since the foundation is laid with our own Materials, and rais'd at home, though it be a Work I could wish had been performed above my abilities. The time I have pitched on, is near upon the departure of the Romans out of Brittany; An Age, that certainly rendred this Countrey famous in Warr, which cannot reasonably be doubted from their Conflicts five hundred years, with so formidable an Enemy as Rome; Nor less acquainted with their best Moralls, which from the repute of so great an Empire, gave Discipline to the World in Manners, as well as Armes: And, could not but add much to the Civilizing of the Brittains, a People they had so long been acquainted with, and by them nobly sought: To which purpose the famous Historian, Cornelius Tacitus, who Wrote in the time of Domitian, speaks them to have received the Habits, Manners, and Letters of the Romans. And though Histories are too silent of the Glorious Actions of our Predecessors; yet the deep Scratches on our Countreys Face, from those numerous Relicks of Camps and Fortifications, at this day beheld, speak enough, without other Records, the famous encounters of our Ancestors: For this reason the Reader must be so ingenious, as not to look upon my Poem as a History, but rather hold himself obliged to my Muse, that has provided Heroes, and Princes, who, for ought he knowes, had then a being; or, from a reasonable Concession, might be supposed to have. Their Representations likewise, in point of Government in my Poem, I conceive not unnatural, to what was then practised, in this Isle, which is granted, by all Historians, to have had several Principalities; the wisdome of whose Princes, could not but unite them, against their Common Enemy, whensoe'r their Concerne requires it, of which we have Examples in Story: And, whereas I have raised a Son to the most famous King Arthur, in my Character of Albianus, not known to our Histories. I may say thus much in behalfe of my Muses Records; That, since so little, and that darkely, is discover'd to us from Story, of that Heroick Prince, or the certain time of his Raign, it is possible the being of so glorious a Son, (though true) may be at this day (with other Monuments of him) equally unknown. While this Island, receiving so many Alterations in State, from Romans, Saxons, Danes, and Normans; who, with the Ruines of Warr, have been even fatal to the very Memories of our Predecessors, by almost a total suppression of our most antient Records (as if it had been the sole ambition of their Power and Success, to make Posterity believe they had a being from their Conqueror, have ecclipsed, with those Presidents of Fame, the High Renown of Royal Arthur; whose Deeds Authors are forced to deliver but as their best Fables. For the Character of Vortiger, our Stories of this Age (though very obscure and imperfect) mention him a Prince of this Nation; and possibly I have taken his Figure, more resembling what he truely was, or ought to be supposed, than had I endeavoured to produce his Life (as it stands imperfectly framed in Story) which considering the difference of Writers in the occurrences of that Age, must render much of the Truth they pretend to deliver, little better than mistake or fiction.

As to the Queen, whom I mention by the name of Bonduca, the strictness of some may be apt to call me to an Account; because there was a Brittish Queen called Voadicia, Boadicia, or Bonduca, in the time of Nero, mentioned by Historians, which is granted to precede the Age I take for my Poem, for whose satisfaction, I desire they will be contented to believe (as my Muse presumes to verifie) that this was another Person, though as Heroick and Glorious a Queen as the former: It being not at all impossible (since as I have already expressed) there were so few of the Princes of those times faithfully delivered to us from History: That there is not seldome the difference of an Age, or more, in Writers, as to their times, of being in the World: But however, this to the Judicious can appear no fault, when Virgil (allow'd to be the Prince of Poets) makes Dido and his Æneas contemporaries, which according to the strictness of Chronology, could not be by some hundreds of years.

For introducing the Roman Consul into my Poem, I suppose there cannot be any ground for exception, there being at that time a Consull called by the name of Ætius, or Ennius, who Commanded both in Gaul and Brittany: And, for my Character of Alvatrix, he may well be allowed to be the Roman Generals Martial associate, since Gaul had not then freed it self from the Tallons of the Roman Eagle, being somewhat later than Brittany discharged from that Bondage, and consequently obliged to bear Armes in their Quarrel; which is so possible to be true, that it cannot prejudice my introducing him here: With like plausible liberty have I framed the Character of Merlinus (in imitation of our famous Merlin, supposed to be living about the age I have taken for my Poem) and the rest: But, I fear I have given the Reader a needless trouble in behalfe of my Characters, since I have little reason to doubt he will not willingly comply with the liberty I have taken.

Having thus given an account of the quality of my Poem, I cannot but give him this short one of the Quantity of it, which is, that these two Books are not my intended end, as may be judged from the Conclusion of my second; My Original design being to introduce our famous Progenitors the Saxons, and so Body in the end both Nations together; who, after many bloody Conflicts united themselves into one People: But, I find it is time to bid my Reader farewell, though, before I part with him, I must oblige him not to misconster my sense, in what I have written concerning Religion, which, as is already mentioned, I thought most proper in a Poem, to raise meerly from the Principles of Nature: As likewise where I have expressed any thing concerning Superstitious Practises and Priests (who originally must be supposed to be the Grand Introducers of those Delusions, which have so missed, and abused Mankind.) The Reader is desired to take all expressions of this kind (as they are really meant,) not against any perswasion of Christian Religion, and the Holy Functions appertaining to it; But, in General, and wholly directed against False, and Erroneous Worships and Beliefes; which, least there should be any imputation charged on me, or those Reflections I have made, Wrested to a contrary Sense, I could not but instance this my defence, Concluding, that as this Poem was writ for my Diversion, so it now comes to be published; having received incouragement from the Judgments of some Friends, who thought it might not be unwelcome to the World, (A Motive, powerful enough, to incline my Consent;) nor did I Judge it unreasonable for me to expect it, since no less a Novelty, than any this Age hath produced: Yet, I am not so fond, as to believe, there is much got, from entertaining the World in Print; it being too much good Fortune, to hope, that any thing can pass so currant, as not to meet with Detraction, Mistake, or Envy (which never want darts to wound a Merit farr Superior than I pretend to) there being few who are Candid, and truely discerning, whose Judgments have any sway, or not descry'd by the prevalency of Malevolent, or weaker apprehensions. But, since I have sent this Poem abroad to shift for it self, I must submit to what Reception the World will please to allow it; not doubting, but the impartially Judicious may receive no very inconsiderable satisfaction.

 

Farewell.