TO THE

RIGHT HONOURABLE

GEORGE

Lord Viscount Lanfdown.

My LORD,

HE following Papers contain an Account of Men Eminent in

different Ages, for adornA 3

ing

ing their Native Language with the Charms of Poetry, and who now appear in a Body before Your Lordship, as One who can best distinguish their feveral Claims and Merits. They come to You both as to their Patron and their Judge, as well to Protect their Names with the generous Spirit of an English Nobleman, as to Determine their Shares of that Reverfionary Fame they expected from their Writings, by one unquestiona

ble

ble Test, the Pleafing an Author of Your Taste and Genius.

ENEAS in VIRGILIS made to look with Joy on the Heroes of his Family, who were to pass into the World, and do Honour to his Name; Your Lordship, from this backward View of Your Predeceffors in Poetry, may receive a Pleafure of another kind: The Line of Rome began with Him, the Line of Drama

tick Poets is crown'd and compleated in Tou.

This alone, my Lord, will justify me to the World, in imploring Your Patronage for a Work of this Nature. For whofe Name could I fo properly prefix to this Performance, as the only Nobleman, now living, a Dramatick Poet? Your Lordship's Reputation in that Way we may now reckon Standard, fince it has receiv'd the Applauses of the

they greatest Wits of the laft Age: Thus while You enjoy the Praises of the best Dead Authors, You are above the Cenfure and Envy of the Living; for he who dares appeal from Mr. Waller and Mr. Dryden, must first Diminish their Fame before he can Injure Your Lordship's.

Your Lordship, I am fure, is as unwilling I should, as I know my felf unable to attempt your Character. This