Liber et ingenuus; praefertim cenfus equeftrem num, Membranis intus pofitis. Delere licebit Quod non edideris: nefcit vox mifssa reverti. 390 Silveftris homines facer interprefque Deorum Caedibus et victu foedo deterruit Orpheus; Dictus ob hoc lenire tigris rabidofque leones. nours. COMMENTARY. lowances already made, might be fomething ftruck with this laft reflexion, he flings out [from 1. 391 to 408] into a fine encomium, on the dignity and excellence of the art itself, by recounting its ancient hoThis encomium, befides its great usefulness in invigorating the mind of the poet, has this further view, to recommend and revive, together with its honours, the office of ancient poefy; which was employed about the noblest and most important fubjects; the facred fource, from whence those honours were derived. From this tranfient view of the several species of poetry, terminating, as by a beautiful contrivance it is made to do, in the Ode, the order of his ideas carries him into fome reflexions on the power of genius (which fo effentially belongs to the Lyric Mufe) and to fettle thereby a point of criticisin, much controverted among the antients, and on which a very con fiderable 400 Dictus et Amphion, Thebanae conditor arcis, COMMENTARY. 405 fiderable flrefs would apparently be laid. For, if after all, fo much art and care and caution be demanded in poetry, what becomes of genius, in which alone it had been thought to confist? would the critic infinuate, that good poems can be the fole effect of art, and go fo far, in oppofition to the reigning prejudice, as to affert nature to be of no force at all? This objection, which would be apt to occur to the general scope and tenor of the epistle, as having turned principally on art and rales without infifting much on natural energy, the poet obviates at once [from 1. 408 to 419] by reconciling two things which were held, it seems, incompatible, and demanding in the poet, befides the fire of real genius, all the labour and Quaefitum eft. Ego nec ftudium fine divite vena, COMMENTARY. 420 and difcipline of art. But there is one thing ftill wanting. The poet may be excellently formed by nature, and accomplished by art: but will his own judgment be a fufficient guide, without affiftance from others? will not the partiality of an author for his own works fometimes prevail over the united force of rules and genius, unless he call in a fairer and lefs interested guide? Doubtless it will: and therefore the poet, with the utmoft propriety, adds [from 1. 419 to 450] as a neceflary part of this instructive monition to his brother poets, fome directions concerning the choice of a prudent and fincere friend, whofe unbiaffed fenfe might at all times correct the prejudices, indifcretions, and overfights, of the auVOL. I. D thor. Litibus inplicitum; mirabor, fi fciet inter Nofcere mendacem verumque beatus amicum. 425 Reges dicuntur multis urguere culullis, Et torquere mero quem perfpexiffe laborant 435 COMMENTARY. thor. And to imprefs this neceffary care, with greater force, on the poet, he closes the whole with fhewing the dreadful confequences of being impofed upon in fo nice an affair; reprefenting, in all the strength of colouring, the picture of a bad poet, infatuated, to a degree of madnefs, by a fond conceit of his own works, and expofed thereby (fo important had been the fervice of timely advice) to the contempt and fcorn of the public. And now, an unity of defign in this epiftle, and the pertinent connection of its feveral parts, being, it is prefumed, 6 Si defendere delictum, quam vertere, malles ; Nullum ultra verbum, aut operam infumebat inanem, Quin fine rivali teque et tua folus amares. quem Vefanum tetigiffe timent fugiuntque poëtam, 455 COMMENTARY. prefumed, from this method of illuftration, clearly and indifputably fhewn, what muft we think of the celebrated FRENCH interpreter of Horace, who, after a ftudied tranflation of this piece, fupported by a long, elaborate commentary, minutely condefcending to fcrutinize each part, could yet perceive fo little of its true form and character, as to give it for his fummary judgment, in conclufion; "Comme il [Horace] ne travailloit pas à cela de fuite et qu'il ne gardoit d'autre 'ordre que celui des matieres que le hazard lui donnoit à lire stà examiner, il est arrivé delà qu' IL N'Y A AUCUNE D 2 METHODE |