PREFACE. T HE greatest Part of what I have Writ having already been Published, either fingly or else 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 Honour of fome Things that did not belong to me, and has Tranfcribed others fo imperfectly, that I hardly knew them to be mine. This has obliged me, in my own Defence, to look back upon fome of those Eghter 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 Publick for Re 爵 printing fome Pieces, which as they came fingly from their firft Impreffion, have, I fancy, lain long and quietly in Mr. Tonfon's Shop; and 35 and with others which were never before Printed, and might have lain as quietly, and perhaps more fafely, in a Corner of my own Study. The Reader as he turns them over, will, I hope, make Allowance for their having been writ at very diftant Times, and on very different Occafions, and take them as they happen to come, Publick Panegyrics, Amorous Odés, Serious Reflexions, or Idle Tales, the Product of his leifure Hours, who had commonly Bufinefs enough upon his Hands, and was only a Poet by Accident. ⠀ I take this Occafion to thank my good Friend and School-fellow, Mr. Dibben, for his excellent Verfion of the Carmen Seculare, tho' my Gratitude may juftly 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 Some other Pieces of that kind, in which the Softnefs of her Sex, and the Fineness of her Genius, confpire to give her a very diftinguishing Character. THE THE N Exodus 3. 14. I am that I am. An An Epistle to Fleetwood Shephard, Efq; p. 13 To the Countess of Dorfet. Written in her Mil- To the Honourable Charles Montague, Efq; p. 31 |