i 4 4 APPENDIX. 



the Italians. And of thefe latter alib, we are not unfurnimed 

 with fome pieces of Raphael, Titian, Correggio, Michael 

 Angelo, and others. But to return to my own undertaking 

 of this tranilation ; I freely own that I thought myfelf un- 

 capable of performing it, either to their fatisfa&ion, or my 

 own credit. Not but that I underftood the original Latin, 

 and the French Author perhaps as well as moft Englimmen ; 

 but I was not fufficiently verfed in the terms of art : And 

 therefore thought that many of thofe perfons, who put this 

 honourable tafk on me, were more able to perform it them- 

 .felves, as undoubtedly they were. But they afTuring me of 

 their affiftance in correcting my faults, where I fpoke impro- 

 perly, I was encouraged to attempt it, that I might not be 

 wanting in what I could, to fatisfy the defires of fo many 

 Gentlemen who were willing to give the world this ufeful 

 work. They have effectually performed their promife to me, 

 and I have been as careful on my fide to take their advice in all 

 things; fo that the reader may afiure himfelf of a tolerable tranf- 

 lation ; not elegant, for I propofed not that to myfelf, but fa- 

 miliar, clear, and inftru.ctive : in any of which parts, if I have 

 failed, the fault lies wholly at my door. In this one particular 

 only, I muft beg the reader's pardon : The Profe Tranilation of 

 the Poem is not free from poetical expreflions, and I dare not 

 promife that fome of them are not fuftian, or at leafl highly 

 metaphorical; but this being a fault in the firft digeftion, 

 (that is, the original Latin) was not to be remedied in the fe- 

 cond, viz. the Translation ; and I may confidently fay, that 

 whoever had attempted it, muft have fallen into the fame in- 

 convenience, or a much greater, that of a falfe veriion. When 

 I undertook this work, I was already engaged in the tranflation 

 of Virgil, from whom I have borrowed only two months, and 

 am now returning to that which I ought to underfland better. 



In 



