ΠΕΡΙ ΒΑΘΟΥΣ. CHAP. I. IT hath been long (my dear countrymen) the fubject of my concern and furprize, that whereas numberlefs poets, critics, and orators have compiled and digested the art of ancient poefy, there hath not risen among us one perfon fo publick-fpirited, as to perform the like for the modern, Although it is univerfally known, that our every way industrious moderns, both in the weight of their writings, and in the velocity of their judgments, do so infinitely excel the faid ancients. Nevertheless, too true it is, that while a plain and direct road is paved to their os, or fublime; no track has been yet chalked out to arrive at our Bálos, or profund. The latins, as they came between the greeks and us, make use of the word altitudo, which implies equally heighth and depth. Wherefore confidering with no small grief, how many promifing ge nius's of this age are wandering (as I may fay) in the dark without a guide, I have undertaken this arduous but necessary task to lead them, as it were by the hand, and step by step, the gentle down-hill way to the bathos; the bottom, the end, the central point, the non plus ultra, of true modern poefy! When I confider (my dear countrymen) the extent, fertility, and populousness of our lowlands of Parnaffus, the flourishing state of our trade, and the plenty of our manufacture; there are two reflections, which adminifter great occafion of furprize; the one, that all dignities and honours should be bestowed upon the exceeding few meagre inhabitants of the top of the mountain; the other, that our own nations should have arrived to that pitch of greatnefs it now poffeffes, without any regular fyftem of laws. As to the firft, it is with great pleasure I have observed of late the gradual decay of delicacy and refinement among mankind, who are be come too reasonable to require, that we fhould labour with infinite pains to come up to the taste of these mountaineers, when when they without any may condescend to ours. But as we have now an unqueftionable majority on our fide, I doubt not, but we shall shortly be able to level the highlanders, and procure a farther vent for our own product, which is already fo much relished, encouraged, and rewarded by the nobility and gentry of Great Britain. Therefore to fupply our former defect I purpose to collect the fcattered rules of our art into regular inftitutes from the example and practice of the deep genius's of our nation; imitating herein my predeceffors, the master of Alexander, and the fecretary of the renowned Zenobia: and in this my undertaking I am the more animated, as I expect more fuccefs than has attended even those great critics; fince their laws, though they might be good, have ever been flackly executed, and their precepts however ftrict obeyed only by fits, and by a very small number. At the fame time I intend to do juftice upon our neighbours, inhabitants of the upper Parnaffus; who taking advantage of the rifing ground are perpetually throwing down rubbish, dirt, and ftones upon VOL. IV. K us, |