overruled by the dictates of fenfe, that even thofe conceits which are fo unexpectedly started, and had lain undifcovered by a lefs piercing wit, are no fooner brought to light but they appear the refult of a genuine thought, and naturally arifing from his matter. Antiquity had been beforehand in furnishing him with diverting fables relating to several Plants, which he never fuffers to escape his hands; of which he is not a cold and dull reciter, but delivers them with fo new a grace, fuch an ingenious connexion and appli cation to his defign, that in every one, instead of a stale tradition, we have the pleasure of a story first told.

Having mentionedour Author's design inthisWork, we muft fpeak fomething of the economy thereof, the most important part of a poem, and from whence it properly takes its character; for without that artificial caft and drift, it can never be able to fupport itself; the boldeft efforts of wit and fancy being otherwife but extravagant excurfions. This it is that has completed the Georgicksof Virgil, where each book is concluded with a surprising and natural turn. Nor does our Author here fall fhort of him in contrivance and artificial periods: for having, in his first and second of thefe Books, taken in the fpecies of Herbs, the first is a promifcuous account, (not without poetical ftarts upon all occafions) the second is an affembly of fuch chiefly as come under the female province, and

are serviceable in generation or birth. The fcene which he has chosen for calling this council is the Physick→ Garden at Oxford: in which, having adjusted mat ters for the benefit of the teeming fex, they are not at last tumultuously diffolved, but artificially broke up by the approach of the gardener, whom our Author fancies to have entered that morning more early than usual, to gather fuch Herbs as he knew would be of affistance to his wife who was fallen in labour. The third and fourth Books treat of Flowers. In the third he ranges those that appear in the Spring; in the fourth he musters up the tribes of Summer and Autumn Flowers, which, together with the former, are affembled before Flora, to offer their respective claims for the precedency: the goddess at laft, being doubtful how to determine amongst such noble com❤ petitors, and to decline the odium of a decision, The puts them in mind of the infolence of Tarquin, the dangerous confequences of a single and arbitrary principality; that he was a Roman deity, and they themfelves were Flowers of a Roman breed: the therefore advises them to follow the model of the Roman government, and refolve themselves into a Commonwealth of Plants, where the preferments or offices be ing annual and fucceffive, there would be room left to gratify their feveral merits. Here we fee the utmost force of judgment and invention in most happy con,

junction: what more beautiful cast or turn could the Poet have given to the subject before him? or where can we fee the drama itself wind up with a more artificial clofe? In his fifth Book the competition is between the Trees of the American world and ours. Pomona, feated in one of the Fortunate Islands, between the two worlds, the convention from each is affembled before her. The Author, finding the preference to be in truth due to the Indian Plants, yet unwilling to determine for the favage climate, prevents the decifion, by a quarrel between Omelichilus the Indian Bacchus, and the European: the powers of both countries are thereupon drawn into parties, and ready to engage; when Apollo difarms the barbarous deity by the charms of his mufick; which is fo beautiful and artificial a turn, that an ordinary poet would have refted fatisfied with the discovery. Our Author purfues his advantage, and besides the conqueft of his harp, puts a fong into Apollo's mouth, and fastens upon the most noble as well as agreeable fubject that the nature could afford, of Columbus his discovery of America. The drift of his last Book, which yet feems to top upon the reft, is defcribed to our hands in the forementioned Preface, where the impartial reader may judge if Virgil himself has better defigned for the glory of Rome and Auguftus, than Cowley for his country, and the monarch of his time.

As for the Translation we have here prefented, I fear I shall be thought too much a party to speak with any great freedom: I will only prefume to say, that if the reader considers the difficulty of the talk, he will not think the version altogether unworthy of the original: he that takes the pains to compare them, will at least find a juftness to the Author's fenfe; and I hope that the performance of the reft that were en▾ gaged with me in the attempt, will not only support their parts of the undertaking, but make amends for the defects of mine. If, in the main, you meet with that diverfion I propofed, it is all that is expected by

.

Your humble fervant,

N. TATE.

CHARLES DUKE OF SOMERSET.

MY LORD,

I DARE appeal to that learned University that at prefent enjoys the honour of being under your Grace's patronage, to justify me in presenting these Remains of their ever-celebrated Cowley to your Grace's protection. I have long had the ambition of addreffing fome part of my endeavours to your Grace, that might come recommended to a following age by being devoted to a patron that was the glory and ornament of his own; but while I despaired of performing what could merit encouragement from a person of your Grace's worth and honour, I was obliged to Fortune for this opportunity of gratifying my wishes in a way that renders my application a juft homage and duty, that otherwife had been presumption. The best ducts of my invention must have proved too mean an offering for your Grace's acceptance; but coming em→ barked in Cowley's rich bottom, laden with the treafures of his divine fancy, I can with more affurance approach your altar. The Author fufficiently obliged the world with his Latin Original of this Work, and how he would have approved the translation here at tempted I must leave others to determine; but am certain that if he had liked the undertaking, he would, confequently, have allowed me in afcribing this ver

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