TO
EDMUND DUNCH, Esq;
OF
Little Wittenham ,
IN
BERKSHIRE.
SIR,
I Have not presum'd to make you this Publick Address,
without reflecting, that of all Writers those who treat of Poetry ought to
be the most scrupulous in their Choice of a Patron. For, a Man to whom a Book
is Dedicated either in Law, Divinity, or Physick, may have made that Subject
his Profession, and then he is suppos'd of Course to be a proper Judge of it;
or if it treat of History, Ethicks, or Politicks; those are Subjects that fall
within the reach of Good Sense; in any of these Cases
therefore People seldom
give themselves the trouble of inquiring into the Merits
of the Patron: But the Publick are not a little inquisitive about the Person
to whom a Book of Poetry is inscrib'd, for indeed, there go so many excellent
Qualifications to the making of a good Judge of Poetry, that he that is possess'd
of them is well worth inquiring after;
few being ignorant
that such a Man must be of an elevated Mind, founded on a great Compass of
Knowledge, on a generous Education, on reading of the best Authors, and on a
Conversation with Men of the first Rank and Fortunes:
All
which must concur to give him that Readiness and Clearness of Apprehension, that
Fine and Just Taste of what is Natural and Great, that Elegance and Depth of
Thought;
in a Word, that happy Turn of Soul and Race of
Judgment, which distinguish him from the Vulgar in every thing he Speaks and Acts.
This, Sir, is the Character that you have gain'd among the most accomplish'd and
discerning Part of Mankind, and which has drawn upon you this Dedication; but would
have protected you from it; had any considerable Part of the Work, been mine. The
Share I have in it may be of some Use and Entertainment to others, tho I do not
think
it worth mentioning to you. But I perswade my Self, that
what is made up by other Hands cannot be an unwelcome Present to you. The
Minds of meaner Men are seldom in a due Situation to relish the Charm of
good Verse; the Poets therefore always chose to be read by Men in such a flow
of Happiness as you are blest with.
Non tu Corpus eras fine Pectore. Di tibi formam,
Di tibi Divitias dederunt, artemque fruendi.
Horat.
The Melange of so many different
Subjects, and such a Variety of Thoughts upon them (which, if I am not
deceiv'd, give an agreeable Goût to the Whole)
may not satisfie you so well as a Composition perfect in its kind on one intire
Subject; but possibly it may divert and amuse you better, for here is no thread
of Story, nor connexion of one Part with another, to keep the Mind intent, and
constrain you to any length of Reading; This is a Book that may be taken up and
laid down at Pleasure, and would rather choose to lye about in a With-drawing-Room,
or a Grove, than be set up in a Closet.
But that I may not trespass upon your Patience in this
Dedication; when I pretend to have consulted your Ease in the Book; I will
conclude, with professing my self,
SIR,
Your most Obedient
Humble Servant,
E. Bysshe.
