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ELEGIES,

WRITTEN ON

MANY DIFFERENT OCCASIONS.

"Tantùm inter denfas, umbrofa cacumina, fagos "Affiduè veniebat; ibi hæc incondita, folus, "Montibus et fylvis studio jactabat inani !”

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A PREFATORY ESSAY

ON

ELE G Y.

Tis obfervable, that discourses prefixed to poetry are contrived very frequently to inculcate such 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 structure 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 subjects, and the different Styles in which the writers of elegy have hitherto indulged themfelves, and endeavour to fhield the follow ing ones by the latitude of their example.

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which Ovid makes concerning it, I think we may condude 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 sustained, admits of a variety of fubjects; which, by its manner of treating them, it renders its own. It throws its melancholy Stole over pretty different objects; which, like the dresses at a funeral proceffion, gives them all a kind of folemn and uniform appearance.

It is probable that elegies were written at firfi upon the death of intimate friends and near relations ; celebrated beauties, or favourite mistresses; beneficent governors and illuftrious men one may add perhaps, of all thofe, who are placed by Virgil in the laurel-grove of his Elyfium. (See Hurd's Differtation on Horace's Epiftle.)

06 Quique fui memores alios fecere merendo."

After thefe fubjects were sufficiently exhausted, and the severity of fate difplayed in the most affecting inftances, the poets fought occafion to vary their complaints; and the next tender species of forrow that prefented itself, was the grief of absent or neglected lovers. And this indulgence might be indeed

allowed them;

They had ob

but with this they were not contented. tained a small corner in the province of love, and they took advantage, from thence, to over-run the whole

territory.

*«Heu nimis ex vero nunc tibi nomen erit."

OVID. de Morte Tibulli.

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territory. They fung its fpoils, triumphs, ovations, and rejoicings, as well as the captivity and exequies that attended it. They gave the name of elegy to their pleafantries as well as lamentations; til at last, through their abundant fondness for the myrtle, they forgot that the cypress was their peculiar garland.

In this it is probable they deviated from the original defign of elegy; and it should seem, that any kind of subjects, treated in such a manner as to diffuse a pleafing melancholy, might far better deferve the name, than the facetious mirth and libertine feftivity of the fuccefsful votaries of love.

But not to dwell too long upon an opinion which may feem perhaps introduced to favour the following performance, it may not be improper to examine into the use and end of elegy. The most important end of all poetry is to encourage virtue. Epic and tragedy chiefly recommend the public virtues; elegy is of a fpecies which illuftrates and endears the private. There is a truly virtuous pleasure connected with many penfive contemplations, which it is the province and excellency of elegy to enforce. This, by presenting fuitable ideas, has difcovered fweets in melancholy which we could not find in mirth; and has led us with fuccefs to the dusty urn, when we could draw no pleasure from the fparkling bowl; as paftoral conveys an idea of fimplicity and innocence, it is in particular the task and merit of elegy to fhew the innocence and fimpli

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

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