English heroic of five feet, and to the French Alexandrine of six. But the ear must preside, and direct the judgment to the choice of numbers. Without the nicety of this, the harmony of Pindaric Verse can never be complete: the cadency of one line must be a rule to that of the next; and the sound of the former must slide gently into that which follows; without leaping from one extreme into another. It must be done like the shadowings of a picture, which fall by degrees into a darker colour. I shall be glad, if I have so explained myself as to be understood; but if I have not, quod nequeo dicere, et sentio tantum, must be my excuse. There remains much more to be said on this subject; but, to avoid envy, I would be silent. What I have said is the general opinion of the best judges, and in a manner has been forced from me, by seeing a noble sort of Poetry so happily restored by one man, and so grossly copied by almost all the rest. A musical ear, and a great genius, if another Mr. Cowley could arise, in another age may bring it to perfection. In the mean time, Fungar vice cotis, acutum Reddere quæ ferrum valet, exsors ipsa secandi. I hope it will not be expected from me that I should say any thing of my fellow undertakers in this Miscellany. Some of them are too nearly related to me, to be commended without suspicion of partiality: others, I am sure, need it not; and the rest I have not perused. To conclude, I am sensible that I have written this too hastily and too loosely: I fear I have been tedious, and, which is worse, it comes out from the first draught, and uncorrected. This I grant no excuse; for it may be reasonably urged, why he did not write with more leisure, or, if he had it not (which was certainly my case), why did he attempt to write on so nice a subject? The objection is unanswerable; but in part of recompense, let me assure the reader, that, in hasty productions, he is sure to meet with an author's present sense, which cooler thoughts would possibly have disguised. There is undoubtedly more of spirit, though not of judgment, in these uncorrect Essays, and consequently, though my hazard be the greater, yet, the reader's pleasure is not the less. JOHN DRYDEN. OR, THE THIRD IDYLLIUM OF THEOCRITUS, PARAPHRASED. To Amaryllis love compels my way, 10 My browzing goats upon the mountains stray: 15 20 How ruddy like your lips their streaks appear! And folded fern, that your fair forehead shade. 25 30 Taught from his tender years the taste of blood; His brother whelps and he ran wild about the wood. Ah nymph, train'd up in his tyrannic court, 40 O polish'd hardness, soften'd to the sight! I would not ask to live another day, I 45 50 55 The garland which I wove for you to wear, 60 65 I struck, and yet no lucky crack did follow; My last recourse I had to sieve and sheers; 70 A milk-white goat for you I did provide; 80 Hers they shall be, since you refuse the price: What madman would o'erstand his market twice! My right eye itches, some good luck is near, Perhaps my Amaryllis may appear; 90 I'll set up such a note as she shall hear. (What shift some men will make to get a wife!) Threw down a golden apple in her way; For all her haste she could not choose but stay. 95 Renown said, Run; the glittering bribe cried, Hold; The man might have been hang'd, but for his gold. Yet some suppose 'twas love (some few indeed) That stopp'd the fatal fury of her speed: 100 She saw, she sigh'd; her nimble feet refuse I'll find the man, if you can find the maid. |