PREFACE. Τ IT has been fo ufual among modern authors to write prefaces, that a man is thought rude to his reader, who does not give him fome account before-hand of what he is to expect in the book. The greatest part of this collection confifts of amorous verfes. Thofe who are converfant with the writings of the ancients, will obferve a great difference between what they and the moderns have published upon this fubject. The occafions upon which the poems of the former are written, are fuch as happen to every man almost that is in love; and the thoughts fuch, as are natural for every man in love to think. The moderns, on the other hand, have fought out for occafions that none meet with but themselves; and fill their verfes with thoughts that are surprizing and glittering, but not tender, paffionate, or natural to a man in love. To judge which of these two are in the right; we ought to confider the end that people propose in writing love verfes and that I take not to be the getting fame or admiration from the world, but the obtaining the love of their mistrefs; and the best way I conceive to make her love you, is to convince her that you love her. Now this certainly is not to be done by forced conceits, far-fetched fimilies, and fhining points; but by a true and lively reprefentation of the pains and thoughts attending fuch a paffion. "Primum ipfi tibi, tunc tua me infortunia lædent.” I would as foon believe a widow in great grief for her husband, because I faw her dance a corant about his coffin, as believe a man in love with his mistress for his writing fuch verfes as fome great modern wits have done upon theirs. I am fatisfied that Catullus, Tibullus, Propertius, and Ovid, were in love with their mistresses while they upbraid them, quarrel with them, threaten them, and forfwear them; but I confefs I cannot believe Petrarch in love with his, when he writes conceits upon her name, her gloves, and the place of her birth. I know it is natural for a lover, in tranfports of jealoufy, to treat his mistress with all the violence imaginable; but I cannot think it natural for a man, who is much in love, to amuse himself with fuch trifles as the other. I am pleased with Tibullus, when he fays, he could live in a defart with his mistress where never any human footsteps appeared, because I doubt not but he really thinks what he fays: but I confefs I can hardly forbear laughing when Petrarch tells us, he could live without any other fuftenance than his miftrefs's looks. I can very eafily believe a man may love a woman fo well as to defire no company but hers; but I can never believe a man can love a woman fo well as to have no need of meat and drink if he may look upon her. The first is a thought fo natural for a lover, that there is no man really in love, but thinks the fame thing; the other is not |