fometimes copies, and has unhappily followed him in paffages where he wanders from the original. However, had he tranflated the whole work, I would no more have attempted Homer after him than Virgil, his verfion of whom (notwithstanding fome human errors) is the most noble and spirited tranflation I know in any language. But the fate of great genius's is like that of great ministers, tho' they are confeffedly the firft in the commonwealth of letters, they must be envy'd and calumniated only for being at the head of it.

That which in my opinion ought to be the endeavour of any one who tranflates Homer, is above all things to keep alive that spirit and fire which makes his chief character: In particular places, where the sense can bear any doubt, to follow the strongest and most poetical, as moft agreeing with that character; to copy him in all the variations of his ftyle, and the different modulations of his numbers; to preserve, in the more active or defcriptive parts, a warmth and elevation; in the more sedate or narrative, a plainnefs and folemnity; in the speeches, a fullness and perfpicuity; in the fentences, a shortnefs and gravity: Not to neglect even the little figures and turns on the words, nor fometimes the very caft of the periods; neither to omit nor confound any rites or customs of antiquity: Perhaps too he ought to include the whole in a fhorter compafs, than has hitherto been done. by any tranflator, who has tolerably preferved ei

ther the fenfe or poetry. What I would further recommend to him, is to study his author rather from his own text, than from any commentators, how learned foever, or whatever figure they may make in the estimation of the world; to confider him attentively in comparifon with Virgil above all the ancients, and with Milton above all the moderns. Next these, the Archbishop of Cambray's Telemachus may give him the trueft idea of the fpirit and turn of our author, and Boffu's admirable treatise of the Epic poem the justest notion of his defign and conduct. But after all, with whatever judgment and study a man may proceed, or with whatever happiness he may perform such a work, he must hope to please but a few; those only who have at once a taste of poetry, and competent learning. For to fatisfy fuch as want either, is not in the nature of this undertaking; fince a mere modern wit can like nothing that is not modern, and a pedant nothing that is not Greek.

What I have done is fubmitted to the publick, from whofe opinions I am prepared to learn; tho' I fear no judges fo little as our beft poets, who are moft fenfible of the weight of this task. As for the worit, whatever they fhall please to say, they may give me fome concern as they are unhappy men, but none as they are malignant writers. was guided in this tranflation by judgments very different from theirs, and by perfons for whom they can have no kindness, if an old obfervation

I

be true, that the strongest antipathy in the world is that of fools to men of wit. Mr. Addison was the first whofe advice determined me to undertake this task, who was pleased to write to me upon that occafion in fuch terms, as I cannot repeat without vanity. I was obliged to Sir Richard Steele for a very early recommendation of my undertaking to the publick. Dr. Swift promoted my interest with that warmth with which he always ferves his friend. The humanity and frankness of Sir Samuel Garth are what I never knew wanting on any occafion. I muft alfo acknowledge with infinite pleasure, the many friendly offices, as well as fincere criticisms of Mr. Congreve, who had led me the way in translating some parts of Homer. I muft add the names of Mr. Rowe and Dr. Parnell, though I shall take a further opportunity of doing justice to the laft, whofe good-nature (to give it a great panegyrick) is no lefs extenfive than his learning. The favour of these gentlemen is not entirely undeserved by one who bears them so true an affection. But what can I fay of the honour fo many of the Great have done me, while the first names of the age appear as my fubfcribers, and the most distinguished patrons and ornaments of learning as my chief encouragers. Among these it is a particular pleasure to me to find, that my highest obligations are to fuch who have done moft honour to the name of Poet: That his Grace the Duke of Buckingham was not difpleafed I

fhould undertake the author to whom he has given (in his excellent Efay) fo complete a

Praise.

Read Homer once, and you can read no more; For all Books elfe appear fo mean, so poor, Verfe will feem Profe: but ftill perfift to read, And Homer will be all the Books you need. That the Earl of Hallifax was one of the first to favour me, of whom it is hard to say whether the advancement of the polite arts is more owing to his generofity or his example. That' fuch a Genius as my Lord Bolingbroke, not more diftinguished in the great fcenes of business, than in all the ufeful and entertaining parts of learning, has not refused to be the critick of thefe fheets, and the patron of their writer. And that the noble author of the Tragedy of Heroic Love, has continued his partiality to me, from my writing Paftorals, to my attempting the Iliad. I cannot deny myself the pride of confeffing, that I have had the advantage not only of their advice for the conduct in general, but their correction of several particulars of this tranflation.

I could fay a great deal of the pleasure of being diftinguished by the Earl of Carnarvon, but it is almoft abfurd to particularize any one generous action in a perfon whofe whole life is a continued feries of them. Mr. Stanhope, the prefent Secretary of State, will pardon my defire of hav

ing it known that he was pleased te promote this affair. The particular zeal of Mr. Harcourt (the fon of the late Lord Chancellor) gave me a proof how much I am honoured in a share of his friendship. I must attribute to the fame motive that of feveral others of my friends, to whom all acknowledgments are rendered unneceffary by the privileges of a familiar correfpondence: And I am fatisfy'd I can no way better oblige men of their turn, than by my filence.

In short, I have found more patrons than ever Homer wanted. He would have thought himself happy to have met the fame favour at Athens, that has been fhewn me by its learned rival, the Univerfity of Oxford. And I can hardly envy him those pompous honours he received after death, when I reflect on the enjoyment of so many agreeable obligations, and easy friendships, which make the fatisfaction of life. This diftinction is the more to be acknowledged, as it is fhewn to one whose pen has never gratified the prejudices of particular parties, or the vanities of particular men. Whatever the fuccefs may prove, I fhall never repent of undertaking in which I have experienced the candour and friendship of fo many perfons of merit; and in which I hope to pafs fome of those years of youth that are generally loft in a circle of follies, after a manner neither wholly unuseful to others, nor difagreeable to myself.