It has been frequently observed that a confiderable part of the works of our English Poets will in another cer century become in a great measure unintelligible, for want of being accompanied with Notes; or at leaft that they will cease to be read with pleasure, when fo many of their allufions cease to be understood. Some our greater English Classics have... been fecured from fuch a fate, and of b are (6) are handed down to us, protected by the elucidations of men of literature. Whether all the works of the numerous Authors, who have contri buted to form the great body of English Poetry, merit so much attention may well be questioned: but it is certain that there are many of them which highly deferve, and greatly require it. Among these the most faftidious Critic will scarcely hesitate to place our English Georgic, which, at the distance of more than four Score years from its original publication, is first offered to the World illus now trated ( 7 ) trated with notes; many of which its provincial subject seemed to make necessary to render it perfectly intelligible to posterity......Some of them may appear tedious, and some trifling; particularly the very frequent citations of passages from Virgil and Milton, which are supposed to have been imitated. But, in endeavouring to make the Reader acquainted with the writings, and at the same time with the genius, of a Poet, it is a principal part of a Commentator's office to point out his Author's imitations; and, in so doing, let it be |