FOOTNOTES:
[1] Prælectiones Poeticæ.
[2] Merchant of Venice.
[3] De tous les Ouvrages dont l'Esprit de l'Homme est capable, le Poem Epique est sans doute le plus accompli.
[4] For so it should certainly be read; tho' both in the Folio and Octavo Editions, 'tis Aristotle.
[5] Preface to his Fables.
[6] Elogia Virgilii Cap. IV Major Homero.
[7] The Word was originally applied to Dramatic Poetry, and from thence transferred to Epic. Aristotle uses it in more Senses than one; which seem not to be rightly distinguished by his Interpreters. However we are for that Reason more at Liberty to apply it, as we think most proper.
[8] For he mentions several Episodes, which he allows to be truly such; which yet are only convenient, not necessary. And besides, he says, p. 100, and in other Places, Une Episode est une partie necessaire de l'Action: And yet, p. 102, Le premier plan de l'Action contient seulement ce qui est propre & necessaire à la Fable; & n'a aucune Episode. By which he seems at least to allow that an Episode may not be necessary.
[9] Τὸ μεν οὖν ἰδιον τοὖτο, τὰ δ' ἄλλα ἐπεισόδια. Poetic. Cap XVII.
[10] The one is ἴδιον, the other is οἰκεῖον. The former is of a more close, restrained, and peculiar Signification, than the latter: The former relating most properly to a Man's Person; the latter to his Possessions.
[11] Preface to Homer.
[12] Dedication of the Æneis.
[13] See Bossu, Chap. IX.
[14] Upon the Article of Virgil's Invention, see M. Segrais at large in his admirable Preface to his Translation of the Æneis; and from him Mr. Dryden in his Dedication of the Æneis, p. 226, &c. of the Folio Edition.
[15] Preface to Juvenal.
[16] Paradise lost, Book VII.
[17] Preface to Mr. Pope's Homer.
[18] P. 142. Second Edition.
[19] P. 158.
[20] Præl. Poet. Vol. I. Præl. 2.
[21] Verses before L. Roscommon's Essay. And Preface to his Virgil.
[22] Preface to it.
[23] Dr. Swift in his Letter to the Earl of Oxford.
[24] Preface to his Virgil.
Transcriber's Notes
Spelling: English spelling in the 18th century had many differences from present-day spelling, and most of the spelling has therefore been retained without alteration.
The following may also be correct, and have been retained: "Excrescencies" (Preface p. xiii), "it self" (Preface p. xvii), "w'on't" (Preface p. xxvii), "encountring" (Preface p. xliv, a quotation from Milton PL Book 6), "forreign" (Preface p. xlviii), "litteral" (Preface p. xv), "Scotish" (Preface p. xlviii), "grosly" (Preface p. xlix).
The spelling "Aeneid" is standard in the Introduction, and the spelling "Æneid" is standard in the Preface.
The following more obvious typos have been amended: "parishoners" to "parishioners" (Introduction p. iv) "mnch" to "much" (Preface p. xlv line 14) "Transprosers"; to "Transposers"; (Preface p. xlviii line 23)
Missing period has been inserted on the following pages in the Preface: p. xv (after "rest are Episodes"), p. xlii (after "Vertue to break it"), and p. l (after "Erroneous").
Footnotes 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13 and 15 in the Preface have been particularly difficult to decipher.
Missing period has been added at the end of footnotes 5, 11, 15 and 19.
Incorrectly placed breathings and diacritics on diphthongs in the Greek text have been correctly placed.
Inconsistent positioning of footnote numbers has been retained.