fion of incurring blame from any one, for preferving these valuable remains: they will discover to every reader, the author's fentiments on several important fubjects. And there can be very few, to whom they will not impart many thoughts, which they would never perhaps have been able to draw from the fource of their own reflections.

But I believe little need be faid to recommend the writings of this gentleman to public attention. His character is already fufficiently established. And if he be not injured by the inability of his editor, there is no doubt but he will ever maintain an eminent station among the best of our English writers.

R. DODSLEY.

Α

PREFATORY ESSAY

Ο Ν

ELE GY.

'T is obfervable, that discourses prefixed to poetry are contrived very frequently to inculcate fuch tenets as may exhibit the performance to the greatest advantage. The fabric is very commonly raised in the first place, and the measures, by which we are to judge of its merit, are afterwards adjusted.

There have been few rules given us by the critics concerning the ftructure of elegiac poetry; and far be it from the author of the following trifles, to dignify his own opinions with that denomination. He would only intimate the great variety of fubjects, and the different ftyles in which *This effay was written near twenty years ago.

*

the

the writers of elegy have hitherto indulged themfelves, and endeavour to fhield the following ones by the latitude of their example.

If we confider the etymology of the word, the epithet which + HORACE gives it, or the confef fion which OVID makes concerning it, I think we may conclude thus much however; that elegy, in its true and genuine acceptation, includes a tender and querulous idea: that it looks upon this as its peculiar characteristic, and so long as this is thoroughly fuftained, admits of a variety of fubjects; which by its manner of treating them, it renders its own. It throws its melancholy ftole over pretty different objects; which, like the dreffes at a funeral proceffion, gives them all a kind of folemn and uniform appearance.

It is probable that elegies were written at first upon the death of intimate friends and near relations; celebrated beauties, or favourite mif

* -λeye, e-particulam dolendi.

+ Miferabiles elegos.

Heu nimis ex vero nunc tibi nomen erit.

HOR.

OVID. de Morte Tibulli.

treffes;

treffes; beneficent governors and illuftrious men one may add perhaps, of all thofe, who are placed by VIRGIL in the laurel-grove of his Elyfium, (Vide HURD's Differtation on HORACE's Epiftle)

Quique fui memores alios fecere merendo.

After thefe fubjects were fufficiently exhausted, and the feverity of fate displayed in the most affecting inftances, the poets fought occafion to vary their complaints; and the next tender fpecies of forros that prefented itself, was the grief of abfent or neglected lovers. And this indulgence might be indeed allowed them; but with this they were not contented. They had obtained a small corner in the province of love, and they took advantage, from thence, to over-run the whole territory. They fung its fpoils, triumphs, ovations, and rejoicings as well as the captivity and exequics that attended it. They gave the name of elegy to their pleasantries as well as lamentations; 'till at laft, through their abundant fondness for the

*

* Dicite Io Pæan, & Io bis dicite Pæan. OVID.

VOL. I.

B

myrtle,