P. 281. Prologue to the Comedy of The BEGGAR'S P. 283. * FAREWELL EPILOGUE, spoken at WYNN- то D.D. The Rev. JOSEPH WARTON, D. D. MASTER of WINCHESTER SCHOOL; AND TO The Rev. THOMAS WARTON, B. D. FELLOW of TRINITY COLLEGE, OXFORD, MY DEAR FRIENDS! Na converfation, fome months ago, I happened IN to mention to you the idea I had long entertained of that celebrated Epiftle of Horace, commonly diftinguished by the title of THE ART OF POETRY. I will not fay that you acceded to my opinion; but I flatter myself that I, in fome degree interested your curiofity, and engaged your attention: our difcourfe at least revived an intention I had once formed, of communicating my thoughts on the fubject to the Publick; an intention I had only dropt for want of leifure and inclination to attempt a tranflation of the Epiftle, which I thought neceflary to accompany the original, and my remarks on it. In the original, Horace affumes the air and style of an affectionate teacher, admonishing and inftructing his young friends and pupils: but the following tranflation, together with the obfervations annexed, I address to You as my Mafters, from whom I look for found information, a well-grounded confirmation of my hypothefis, or a folution of my doubts, and a correction of my errors. It is almost needless to observe, that the Epistle in queftion has very particularly exercised the critical fagacity of the literary world; yet it is remarkable that, amidst the great variety of comments and decifions on the work, it has been almost universally confidered, except by one acute and learned writer of this country, as a loose, vague, and defultory compofition; a mass of thining materials; like pearls unftrung, valuable indeed, but not displayed to advantage. Some have contended, with Scaliger at their head, that this pretended Art of Poetry is totally void of art; and that the very work, in which the beauty and excellence of Order (ORDINIS VIRTUS ET VENUS!) is ftrongly recommended, is in itself unconnected, confufed, and immethodical. The ad 2 vocates |