P R E

I

T has been so usual among modern authors to write prefaces, that a man is thought rude to his reader, who does not give him some account before-hand of what he is to expect in the book.

The greatest part of this collection consists of amorous verses. Those who are converfant with the writings of the ancients, will observe a great difference between what they and the moderns have published upon this subject. The occafions upon which the poems of the former are written, are such as happen to every man almost that is in love; and the thoughts such, as are natural for every man in love to think. The moderns, on the other hand, have fought out for occasions that none meet with but themselves; and fill their verses with thoughts that are furprizing 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 verses: and that I take not to be the getting fame or admiration from the world, but the obtaining the love of their mistress; 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 similies, and shining points; but by a true and lively representation of the pains and thoughts attending such a paffion.

"

Si vis me flere, dolendum eft

" Primum ipfi tibi, tunc tua me infortunia lædent."

I would as foon believe a widow in great grief for her hufband, because I saw her dance a corant about his coffin, as believe a man in love with his mistress for his writing fuch verses as some 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 forswear 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 transports of jealousy, 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 such trifles as the other. I am pleased with Tibullus, when he fays, he could live in a desart with his mistress where never any human footsteps appeared, because I doubt not but he really thinks what he says: but I confefs I can hardly forbear laughing when Petrarch tells us, he could live without any other sustenance than his mistress'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 so well as to have no need of meat and drink if he may look upon her. The first is a thought so natural for a lover, that there is no man really in love, but thinks the fame thing; the other is

not

not the thought of a man in love, but of a man who would impose upon us with a pretended love (and that indeed very grofsly too) while he had really none

at all.

It would be endless to pursue this point; and any man who will but give himself the trouble to compare what the antients and moderns have faid upon the fame occafions, will foon perceive the advantage the former have over the others. I have chosen to mention Petrarch only, as being by much the most famous of all the moderns who have written love-verses: and it is, indeed, the great reputation which he has gotten, that has given encouragement to this false fort of wit in the world: for people, seeing the great credit he had, and has indeed to this day, not only in Italy, but over all Europe, have fatisfied themselves with the imitation of him, never enquiring whether the way he took was the right or not.

There are no modern writers, perhaps, who have fucceeded better in love-verses than the English; and it is indeed just that the fairest ladies should inspire the best poets. Never was there a more copious fancy or greater reach of wit than what appears in Dr. Donne; nothing can be more gallant or genteel than the poems of Mr. Waller; nothing more gay or sprightly than those of Sir John Suckling; and nothing fuller of variety and learning than Mr. Cowley's. However, it may be observed, that among all these, that softness, tenderness, and violence of paffion, which the ancients thought most proper for love-verses, is wanting: and at the fame