DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.61893#0033
PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE. 7
times borrowed from them. Every body is
acquainted with the beautiful compliment
which the British poet pays to Vida, and
through him indirectly to his fellow bards,
whose united rays lighted up the glories of
the second Augustan age ; and every reader
not blinded by prejudice must admit the
propriety of this poetical tribute, and ac-
knowledge, that not Vida only, but several
of his contemporaries tread in the footsteps
of their illustrious countrymen Virgil and
Horace ; not unfrequently catch a spark of
their inspiration, and often speak their lan-
guage with the grace and the facility which
distinguish native Romans. Upon the
present occasion I mean to recommend, in
particular, only such passages in their works
as have an immediate Connexion with Italy,
and are calculated to give an additional
interest to any part of its history, scenery,
or antiquities. In these passages, where
the subject calls forth their energies, they
times borrowed from them. Every body is
acquainted with the beautiful compliment
which the British poet pays to Vida, and
through him indirectly to his fellow bards,
whose united rays lighted up the glories of
the second Augustan age ; and every reader
not blinded by prejudice must admit the
propriety of this poetical tribute, and ac-
knowledge, that not Vida only, but several
of his contemporaries tread in the footsteps
of their illustrious countrymen Virgil and
Horace ; not unfrequently catch a spark of
their inspiration, and often speak their lan-
guage with the grace and the facility which
distinguish native Romans. Upon the
present occasion I mean to recommend, in
particular, only such passages in their works
as have an immediate Connexion with Italy,
and are calculated to give an additional
interest to any part of its history, scenery,
or antiquities. In these passages, where
the subject calls forth their energies, they