Spence, Joseph; Tindal, Nicholas [Editor]; Dodsley, James [Oth.]: A Guide To Classical Learning: Or, Polymetis Abridged: Containing, I. By Way of Introduction, the Characters of the Latin Poets and their Work ... II. An Inquiry concerning the Agreement between the Works of the Roman Poets and the Remains of the Antient Artists ... Being a Work absolutely necessary, not only for the Right Understanding of the Classics, but also for forming in Young Minds a True Taste for the Beauties of Poetry, Sculpture, and Painting (London: Printed for J. Dodsley, 1786)

[. iii ]

LIVIUS ANDRONICUS.
Livius was the fir st Latin poet of whom there
are any remains.
The first kind of poetry that met with any
success among the Romans, was that for the
st age. They were very religious, and stage-plays
in those days made no inconsiderable part in their
public devotions. Livius’s first play (and it was-
the first written play that ever appeared at Rome*
whence Horace perhaps calls him fcriptor^ 1. ii.
ep. i. v. 61.) was a&ed in the 514th year from
the building of the city; so long was it before
poetry had made any progress among the Romans,
Livius is noted for the first, rather than for a good
poet, and was the only one for the stage till N^y
vius arose.
N&VIUS. ENNIUS.
Njevius, besides his plays, ventured upon a
historical poem on the first Carthaginian war, in
which he Is said to have served.
Ennius followed his steps in this as well as in
the dramatic Yay* He celebrated the vidlories of
Scipio Africanus (Hor. 1. iv. od. 8.) and com-
posed the annals of Rome in heroic verse, and died
at the J 2 th book in his 67th year.
B 2 Tkese