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TESTIMONIES

OF

AUTHORS

Concerning his GRACE, and his Writings,

E. of ROSCOMMON, Effay on Transl. Verfe.

H

APPY that Author! whose correct * Essay

Repairs fo well our old HORATIAN Way.

DRYDEN, Abfal. and Achit.

Sharp-judging ADRIEL, the Muses Friend, Himself a Mufe-In Sanhedrin's Debate, True to his Prince, but not a Slave of State.

* Effay on Poetry.

A 4

DRY

DRYDEN, Verfes to Lord Rosc.

How will sweet OVID's Ghost be pleas'd to hear
His Fame augmented by an English Peer?

Now he embellifhes his HELEN'S Loves,
Outdoes his Softnefs, and his Senfe improves !

DRYDEN, Pref. to VIRGIL'S ENEIS.

"YOUR Effay of Poetry, which was publifh'd "without a Name, and of which I was not ho "nour'd with the Confidence, I read over and over, " with much Delight, and as much Inftruction: "And, without flattering you, or making myself

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more moral than I am, not without fome Envy. "I was loth to be inform'd how an Epic Poem "fhould be written, or how a Tragedy fhould be " contriv'd and manag'd, in better Verse, and with "more Judgment, than I cou'd teach others.

"I gave the unknown Author his due Commen"dation, I must confefs: But who can answer for

me, and for the reft of the Poets who heard me "read the Poem, whether we fhould not have "been better pleas'd, to have feen our own Names "at the Bottom of the Title-Page? Perhaps we !

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"commended it the more, that we might feem to "be above the Cenfure, &c.

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DRYDEN, Ibid.

"THIS is but doing Juftice to my Country; part of which Honour will reflect on your Lordfhip; whofe Thoughts are always juft, your "Numbers harmonious, your Words chofen, your Expreffions ftrong and manly, your Verfe flow❝ing, and your Turns as happy as they are cafy. If

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you would fet us more copies, your Example "would make all Precepts needless. In the mean "time, that little you have writ is own'd, and that

particularly by the Poets (who are a Nation not "over-lavifh of Praise to their Contemporaries) as a "particular Ornament of our Language: But the "sweetest Effences are always confin'd in the "fmalleft Glaffes."

DRYDEN, Ded. to AURENGEZEB.

How great and manly in your Lordship, is your Contempt of popular Applaufe; and your retir'd Virtue, which fhines only to a few; with whom you live fo cafily and freely, that you make it evident, you have a Soul which is capable of all the Tenderness of Friendship, and that you only retire yourself from thofe, who are not capable of re

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turning it. Your Kindness, where you have once plac'd it, is inviolable: And 'tis to that only I attribute my Happiness in your Love. This makes me more easily forfake an Argument, on which I could otherwise delight to dwell: I mean your Judgment in your Choice of Friends; because I have the Honour to be one. After which, I am fure you will more easily permit me to be filent, in the Care you have taken of my Fortune; which you have refcu'd, not only from the Power of others, but from my worft of Enemics, my own Modesty and Laziness. Which Favour, had it been employ'd on a more deserving Subject, had been an effect of Justice in your Nature; but as plac'd on me, is only Charity. Yet withal, 'tis conferr'd on fuch a Man, as prefers your Kindness itself, before any of its Confequences; and who values, as the greatest of your Favours, thofe of your Love, and of your Converfation. From this Conftancy to your Friends, I might reafonably affume, that your Refentments would be as ftrong and lafting, if they were not reftrain'd by a nobler Principle of Good Nature and Generofity. For certainly, 'tis the fame Compofition of Mind, the fame Refolution and Courage, which makes the greatest Friendships, and the greatest Enmities. this firmness in all your Actions (tho' you are wanting in no other Ornaments of Mind and Body, yet to this) I principally afcribe the Intereft your Merits have

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