Ύμεις, ω παντα εν πᾶσι φύσει και παιδεια χρηστοι, και με Athenagora Atheniensis Legatio Imperatoribus Antonino et Commodo.- PRINTED FOR T. BECKET, 81, PALL MALL. ASTOR, LENOX AND TILDEN FOUNDATIONS. 1893 ADVERTISEMENT. In perusing the Notes to the Pursuits of Literature the Reader is requested to attend particularly to their respective dates. May 1803. Jaques and Co. Printers, Lombard Street, Fleet Street.] THE PREFACE. (α) Νυν, ω βελτιστε Κηφισοφών, οι δ' διοι ὗτοι εισιν οι της περι γελωτα εξ αυτών και μῖσος, «δεν πλεον, ωφλισκάνον, και νυν ισθι, ότι εκ άπρακτοι Euripidis Epist. ex Macedonia ad amicum suum HAVE again revised the Poem on the Pursuits of Li- terature with considerable care, as I am of opinion that no man of candour. and reflection could wish to see any mistakes, in a work so extensive, continued without cor- rection, nor the various parts of it presented to the pub- lic without such improvements, alterations, and additions. to the poetry and the notes, as circumstances have arisen (a) This Preface was first published in December 1800; from time to time; and though words are irrevocable, yet the last corrections of any author should be considered as the sense which he wishes to enforce. Impertinence and falshood I have at all times equally despised, and equally neglected. It will be seen however that by omissions and alterations I have manifested a liberal concern for my unintentional mistakes, with the spirit and breeding of a gentleman, a character which I never will forfeit nor resign deliberately, but with my life. "Of all the Boeotian Critics who have written "scurrilously against me, there is not indeed one whom a "writer of reputation would not wish to have his enemy. "To my authorship they are heartily welcome. Rome permitted her slaves to calumniate her best citizens in "the day of triumph." (6) Eh! qui veut rassembler aux grénouilles d' Homere, For as to the smarting scribblers, cumbrous black-letter pedants, and translating poetasters of the day, incidentally mentioned in the poem, with all their little bundles of answers and remarks nameless and forgotten, I would only conduct them before the statue of Marsyas, (c) to read their (¿) Warburton's Preface to Pope's Works. (c) The statue of Marsyas, (the Phrygian Satyr who challenged Apollo, and being vanquished by him suffered severely as an example) was set up at the entrance of the Forum in Rome, and Horace says, “OBEUNDUS MARSYA;" for the plain English of which see Mr. BosCAWEN'S Translation. |