Mc Suisle 3-26-42 44808

ADVERTISEMENT.

UNTIL the Approbation of the Public had ftampt Jome Value on his Performance; the Tranflator of the Bafia confeffès, that no one could think more lightly of it than himself: but as he is called upon from many Quarters for a fecond Edition of this Work; it would now be as unjust to efteem it of no Worth, as it would have been prefuming to have judged too favourably of it before.

If the Age in which we live food remarkable for that Severity of Manners, which formerly dif tinguished it from other Nations; the Translator would find himself without Excufe for holding up a Picture, where it must be acknowledged that the Expreffion is too warm, and where the Colouring is evidently too high and beautiful.

But, when in Confequence of great Eafe and great Profperity, the Reins of Prudence begin to hang more remifs; when Knowledge has overleaped the Modefty of her own Bounds; and above all, when the fweet Shrine of Nature is perceived every Day to lament the Seductions of Art: under thefe Circumftances, to attempt by any Means to revive a Flame, at which Love might again light his Nuptial Torch; and to recall Senfations, of all others the finest and the beft; is, in the Opinion of the Tranflator, the Duty of a good and honeft Citizen: and he has to hope, not only that the Poem itself, fo confidered, will be thought useful; but, in his own Endeavours to make it better known, that he fhall be efteemed (a Character, of all others, which he reveres moft) the Friend, and the Promoter of Virtue.

THE

THE

TRANSLATOR's

PREF A CE

AN Attempt to transfer unblemished into the

English Language the numberlefs Beauties

with which the Bafia of Secundus abound, must be reckoned daring indeed, an Attempt in which I am not vain enough to fuppofe I have fucceeded: all I can hope to have effected by this weak Effort of my Pen, is, to have drawn a deferving Author from that Oblivion in which he has been fo long buried: and it were to be wished that what I have done might prove an Incentive to fome other Perfon, whose

A 4

whofe Abilities may render him more capable, and whofe Occupations in Life may better permit him, to do that Justice to Secundus which mine will not; by giving the World a more elegant Tranflation of this fingular and truly beautiful Part of his Works, or of fome other Part, as his Fancy may lead him.

This Tranflation throughout is confronted with the original Latin; the Prefervation of which, as every Edition of Secundus is now become extremely fcarce, is what I can alone expect will any way recommend my Book to the Public: for my Verfifica tion, I fubmit it to the Candour of the Reader; it was begun as a mere Matter of Amusement, nor had I any Intention of publishing it, till I found that I had imperceptibly finished the whole of

the Bafia; when, confidering how little this. Author was known, yet how much he merited Attention;