PREFACE.

HE Greatest Part of what I have Written baving already been Published, either fingly or in fome of the Mifcellanies, it would be too late for Me to make any Excufe for appearing in Print. But a Collection of Poems has lately appeared under my Name, tho' without my Knowledge, in which the Publisher has given Me the Honor of fome Things that did not belong to Me; and has Transcribed others fo imperfectly, that I hardly knew them to be Mine. This has obliged Me, in my own Defence, to look back upon some of thofe lighter Studies, which I ought long fince to have quitted, and to Publish an indifferent Collection of Poems, for fear of being thought the Author of a worse.

Thus I beg Pardon of the Public for Reprinting fome Pieces, which, as they came fingly from their first Impreffion, have (I fancy) lain long and quietly in Mr. TONSON's Shop; and adding others to them, which were never before Printed, and might have lain as quietly, and perhaps more fafely, in a Corner of my own Study.

The Reader will, I hope, make Allowance for their having been written at very diftant Times, and on very different Occafions; and take them as they happen to come, Public Panegyrics, Amorous Odes, Serious Reflections, or idle Tales, the Product of his leifure Hours, who had Business enough upon his Hands, and was only a Poet by Accident.

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I take this Occafion to thank my good Friend and School-fellow Mr. DIBBEN, for his excellent Verfion of the Carmen Seculare, though my Gratitude may justly carry a little Envy with it; for I believe the most accurate Fudges will find the Tranflation exceed the Original.

I must likewife own my felf obliged to Mrs. SINGER, who has given Me Leave to Print a Paftoral of Her Writing; That Poem having produced the Verfes immediately following it. I wish She might be prevailed with to publish fome other Pieces of that Kind, in which the Softness of Her Sex, and the Fineness of Her Genius, confpire to give Her a very di Stinguishing Character.

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POSTSCRIPT.

Muft help my Preface by a Poftfcript, to tell the Reader, that there is Ten Years Distance between my writing the One and the Other; and that (whatever I thought then, and have Somewhere faid, that I would publish no more Poetry) He will find several Copies of Verfes Scattered through this Edition, which were not printed in the First. Thofe relating to the Publick ftand in the Order They did before, and according to the feveral Years, in which They were written; however the Difpofition of our National Affairs, the Actions, or the Fortunes of fome Men, and the Opinions of others may have changed. Profe, and other Human Things may take what Turn they can; but Poetry, which pretends to have fomething of Divinity in it, is to be more permanent. Odes once printed cannot well be altered, when the Author has already faid, that He expects His Works fhould Live for Ever. And it had been very foolish in my Friend HORACE, if fome Tears after His Exegi Monumentum, He should have defired to fee his Building taken down again.

The Dedication likewife is Reprinted to the Earl of DORSET, in the foregoing Leaves, without any Alteration; though I had the fairest Opportunity, and the strongest Inclination to have added a great deal to it. The blooming Hopes, which I faid the World expected from my then very Young Patron, have been confirmed by most Noble and diftinguished FirstFruits; and His Life is going on towards a plentiful Harveft

of all accumulated Virtues. He has, in Fact, exceeded whatever the Fondness of my Wishes could invent in His Favor: His equally Good and Beautiful Lady enjoys in Him an Indulgent and Obliging Husband; His Children, a Kind and Careful Father; and His Acquaintance, a Faithful, Generous, and Polite Friend. His Fellow-Peers have attended to the Perfuafion of His Eloquence; and have been convinced by the Solidity of His Reafoning. He has, long fince, deJerved and attained the Honor of the Garter. He has managed fome of the greatest Charges of the Kingdom with known Ability; and laid them down with entire Difinteressment. And as He continues the Exercises of these eminent Virtues (which that He may do to a very old Age, fhall be my perpetual Wifh) He may be One of the Greatest Men that our Age, or poffibly our Nation has bred; and leave Materials for a Panegyric, not unworthy the Pen of fome future PLINY.

From fo Noble a Subject as the Earl of DORSET, to fo mean a one as my self, is (I confefs) a very Pindaric Tranfition. Ifball only say one Word, and trouble the Reader no further. I published my Poems formerly, as Monfieur JOURDAIN fold his Silk: He would not be thought a Tradefman; but ordered fome Pieces to be measured out to his particular Friends. Now I give up my Shop, and difpofe of all my Poetical Goods at once: I must therefore defire, that the Public would please to take them in the Grofs; and that every Body would turn over what He does not like.

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SUBSCRIBERS.

Dr. John Audley, Chancellor of John Anftis, Efq; Garter Principal