fix. But the ear must prefide, and direct the judgment to the choice of numbers. Without the nicety of this, the harmony of Pindaric Verfe can never be complete the cadency of one line muft be a rule to that of the next; and the found of the former muft slide gently into that which follows; without leaping from one extreme into another. It must be done like the fhadowings of a picture, which fall by degrees into a darker colour. I fhall be glad, if I have fo explained myself as to be underftood; but if I have not, quod nequeo dicere, et fentio tantum, muft be my excufe.

There remains much more to be faid on this fub ject; but, to avoid envy, I will be filent. What I have faid is the general opinion of the beft judges, and in a manner has been forced from me, by feeing a noble fort of Poetry fo happily restored by one man, and fo grossly copied by almost all the reft. A mufical ear, and a great genius, if another Mr. Cowley could arife, in another age may bring it to perfection. In the mean time,

Fungar vice cotis, acutum

Reddere quæ ferrum valet, exfors ipfa fecandi.

I hope it will not be expected from me that I should fay any thing of my fellow undertakers in this Mifcellany. Some of them are too nearly related to me, to be commended without fufpicion of partiality: others, I am fure, need it not; and the reft I have not perused.

To conclude, I am fenfible that I have written this too haftily 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 is no excufe; for it may be reasonably urged, why he did not write with more leifure, or, if he had it not (which was certainly my cafe) why did he attempt to write on fo nice a fubject? The objection is unanfwerable; but, in part of recompence, let me affure the reader, that, in hafty productions, he is fure to meet with an author's prefent fenfe, which cooler thoughts would poffibly have disguised. There is undoubtedly more of fpirit, though not of judgment, in these uncorrect Effays, and confequently, though my hazard be the greater, yet the reader's pleasure is not the lefs.

JOHN DRYDEN.

TRANSLATIONS

FROM

THEOCRITUS.

AMARYLLIS:

OR, THE

THIRD IDYLLIUM OF THEOCRITUS,

PARAPHRASED.

To Amaryllis love compels my way,
My browzing goats upon the mountains fray :
O Tityrus, tend them well, and fee them fed
In pastures fresh, and to their watering led;
And 'ware the ridgling with his budding(

head.

5

Ah, beauteous nymph! can you forget your

love,

The confcious grottos, and the shady grove; Where ftretch'd at ease your tender limbs were laid,

Your nameless beauties nakedly display'd?
Then I was call'd your darling, your defire, 10
With kiffes fuch as fet my foul on fire:
But you are chang'd, yet I am ftill the fame;
My heart maintains for both a double flame;
Griev'd, but unmov'd, and patient of your
fcorn:

So faithful I, and you so much forfworn! 15