important and heroic action. The Ode to celebrate the exploits of great men, in order to excite a general imitation in others. TRAGEDY, to inspire us with a detestation of guilt, by painting the fatal consequences that follow it; and with a veneration for virtue, by representing the rewards and just praises that attend it. COMEDY and SATIRE, to correct whilst they divert us, and wage implacable war with vice and folly. ELEGY, to weep over the tombs of such as deserve to be lamented; and PASTORAL, to sing the inno, cence and pleasures of rural life. To promote such desirable ends, the study of Poetry has ever met with the fanction and encouragement of men the most eminent for their wisdom and virtue: and it is much to be feared that those whose imaginations are not enlivened by the charms of Poetry, must either have their affections depraved, or be naturally insensible of the exquisite pleasure resulting from the proper exercise of them. To allure those who are inattentive to the excellence of virtue, and direct their thoughts to the noblest qualifications, induced the Editor of this small volume to select such poems as have been universally esteemed the first ornaments of our language, and admired, not only for purity of sentiment, but for beauty and har, mony of numbers. HEALTH, an Eclogne. Convingham. 46 Mafon. 49 51 52 55 60 62 66 68 70 73 74 |