what_o length_n of_o time_n they_o be_v adore_v for_o as_o to_o bacehus_n and_o hercules_n it_o be_v general_o agree_v that_o there_o be_v more_o than_o one_o or_o two_o of_o those_o name_n in_o very_o different_a time_n and_o perhaps_o country_n as_o greece_n and_o egypt_n and_o that_o the_o last_o who_o be_v son_n of_o alcmene_n and_o one_o of_o the_o argonaut_n be_v very_o modern_a in_o respect_n of_o the_o other_o more_o ancient_a who_o be_v contemporary_a with_o the_o race_n of_o jupiter_n but_o the_o story_n of_o that_o bacehus_n and_o hercules_n who_o be_v say_v to_o have_v conquer_a india_n be_v grow_v too_o obscure_a by_o the_o dark_a shade_n of_o so_o great_a antiquity_n or_o disguise_v by_o the_o mask_n of_o fable_n and_o fiction_n of_o poet_n the_o same_o divine_a honour_n be_v render_v by_o the_o egyptian_n to_o osiris_n in_o who_o temple_n be_v inscribe_v on_o a_o pillar_n that_o he_o have_v go_v through_o all_o country_n and_o every_o where_o teach_v man_n all_o that_o he_o find_v necessary_a for_o the_o common_a good_a of_o mankind_n by_o the_o assyrian_n to_o belus_n the_o founder_n of_o that_o kingdom_n and_o great_a inventor_n or_o improver_n of_o astronomy_n among_o the_o chaldaean_n by_o the_o original_a latin_n or_o hetruscan_o to_o janus_n who_o introduce_v agriculture_n into_o italy_n and_o these_o three_o be_v worship_v as_o god_n by_o those_o ancient_a and_o learned_a nation_n ninus_n and_o sesostris_n be_v renown_v for_o their_o mighty_a conquest_n and_o esteem_v the_o two_o great_a hero_n of_o assyria_n and_o of_o egypt_n the_o first_o have_v extend_v his_o victory_n to_o the_o river_n indus_n and_o the_o other_o those_o of_o the_o egyptian_n over_o asia_n as_o far_o as_o pontus_n the_o time_n of_o ninus_n be_v controvert_v among_o historian_n be_v by_o some_o place_v thirteen_o by_o other_o eight_o hundred_o year_n before_o sardanapalus_n but_o that_o of_o sesostris_n be_v in_o my_o opinion_n much_o hard_a to_o be_v affirm_v for_o i_o do_v not_o see_v how_o their_o opinion_n can_v be_v allow_v who_o make_v he_o to_o be_v sesack_n that_o take_v jerusalem_n in_o the_o time_n of_o rehoboam_n since_o no_o more_o be_v say_v in_o scripture_n of_o the_o progress_n of_o that_o expedition_n nor_o be_v the_o time_n of_o it_o mention_v in_o the_o grecian_a story_n though_o some_o record_n be_v there_o find_v of_o all_o that_o pass_v after_o the_o trojan_a war_n and_o with_o distinction_n enough_o but_o the_o most_o ancient_a among_o they_o speak_v of_o the_o reign_n of_o sesostris_n and_o his_o mighty_a conquest_n as_o very_o ancient_a then_o and_o agree_v the_o kingdom_n of_o choleos_n to_o have_v descend_v from_o a_o colony_n there_o establish_v by_o this_o famous_a king_n as_o a_o monument_n how_o far_o northward_o his_o victory_n have_v extend_v now_o this_o kingdom_n flourish_v in_o the_o time_n of_o the_o argonaut_n and_o excel_v in_o those_o art_n of_o magiek_n and_o enchantment_n which_o they_o be_v think_v to_o have_v bring_v with_o they_o out_o of_o egypt_n so_o as_o i_o think_v the_o story_n of_o this_o king_n must_v be_v reckon_v as_o almost_o cover_v with_o the_o ruin_n of_o time_n the_o two_o next_o hero_n that_o enter_v the_o scene_n be_v the_o theban_a hercules_n and_o theseus_n both_o renown_a among_o the_o greek_n for_o free_v their_o country_n from_o fierce_a wild_a beast_n or_o from_o fierce_a and_o wild_a man_n that_o infest_a they_o from_o robber_n and_o spoiler_n or_o from_o cruel_a and_o lawless_a tyrant_n theseus_n be_v beside_o honour_v as_o founder_n of_o the_o more_o civil_a state_n or_o kingdom_n of_o athens_n which_o city_n first_o begin_v to_o flourish_v and_o grow_v great_a by_o his_o institution_n though_o his_o father_n have_v be_v king_n of_o the_o scatter_a village_n or_o inhabitant_n of_o attica_n in_o the_o same_o age_n flourish_v minos_n king_n of_o crete_n repute_v to_o be_v son_n of_o jupiter_n who_o by_o the_o force_n and_o number_n of_o his_o fleet_n become_v lord_n of_o the_o aegaean_a island_n and_o most_o of_o the_o coast_n of_o greece_n and_o be_v renown_v as_o a_o hero_n for_o the_o justness_n of_o his_o law_n and_o the_o greatness_n of_o his_o reign_n for_o the_o hero_n in_o the_o time_n of_o the_o trojan_a war_n so_o much_o celebrate_v in_o those_o two_o charm_a poem_n which_o from_o they_o be_v call_v heroical_a though_o it_o be_v easy_a to_o take_v their_o character_n from_o those_o admirable_a picture_n draw_v of_o they_o by_o homer_n and_o virgil_n yet_o it_o be_v hard_a to_o find_v they_o in_o the_o relation_n of_o any_o authentic_a story_n that_o which_o may_v be_v observe_v be_v that_o all_o the_o conduct_n and_o courage_n of_o hector_n be_v employ_v in_o the_o defence_n of_o his_o country_n and_o his_o father_n against_o a_o foreign_a invasion_n the_o valour_n of_o achilles_n be_v exercise_v in_o the_o common_a cause_n wherein_o his_o whole_a nation_n be_v engage_v upon_o the_o fatal_a revenge_n of_o the_o rape_n of_o helen_n though_o he_o have_v be_v assure_v by_o certain_a prophecy_n that_o he_o shall_v die_v before_o the_o wall_n of_o troy_n and_o aeneas_n have_v employ_v his_o utmost_a prowess_n in_o defence_n of_o his_o country_n save_v his_o father_n and_o the_o trojan_a god_n gather_v up_o the_o remainder_n of_o his_o ruin_a country_n sail_v to_o italy_n and_o there_o found_v a_o kingdom_n which_o give_v rise_v to_o the_o great_a empire_n of_o the_o world_n about_o two_o hundred_o and_o fifty_o year_n after_o these_o lycurgus_n institute_v the_o spartan_a state_n upon_o law_n and_o order_n so_o different_a from_o those_o usual_a in_o those_o time_n and_o country_n that_o more_o than_o humane_a authority_n seem_v necessary_a to_o establish_v they_o and_o the_o pythian_a priestess_n tell_v he_o she_o do_v not_o know_v whether_o she_o shall_v call_v he_o a_o god_n or_o a_o man._n and_o indeed_o no_o civil_a or_o politic_a constitution_n have_v be_v more_o celebrate_v than_o he_o by_o the_o best_a author_n of_o ancient_a story_n and_o time_n the_o next_o hero_n we_o meet_v with_o upon_o record_n be_v romulus_n and_o numa_n of_o which_o the_o first_o found_v the_o roman_a city_n and_o state_n and_o the_o other_o polish_v the_o civil_a and_o religious_a order_n of_o both_o in_o such_o a_o degree_n that_o the_o original_a institution_n of_o these_o two_o lawgiver_n continue_v as_o long_o as_o that_o glorious_a state_n the_o next_o hero_n that_o come_v upon_o the_o stage_n be_v cyrus_n who_o free_v his_o country_n from_o their_o servitude_n to_o the_o mede_n erect_v the_o persian_a empire_n upon_o the_o ruin_n of_o the_o assyrian_a adorn_v it_o with_o excellent_a constitution_n and_o law_n and_o extend_v it_o westward_o by_o the_o conquest_n of_o all_o the_o lesser_a asia_n and_o lydia_n to_o the_o very_a coast_n of_o the_o aegean_a sea_n whether_o the_o picture_n of_o cyrus_n draw_v by_o xenophon_n be_v after_o the_o life_n or_o only_o imaginary_a we_o may_v find_v in_o it_o the_o true_a character_n that_o can_v be_v give_v of_o heroic_a virtue_n and_o it_o be_v certain_a his_o memory_n be_v always_o sacred_a among_o the_o persian_n though_o not_o prosecute_v by_o divine_a honour_n because_o that_o nation_n adore_v one_o supreme_a god_n without_o any_o representation_n or_o idol_n and_o in_o the_o next_o place_n the_o sun_n to_o who_o alone_o they_o offer_v sacrifice_n alexander_n be_v the_o next_o renown_v in_o story_n have_v found_v the_o grecian_a monarchy_n by_o the_o entire_a conquest_n of_o the_o persian_a and_o extend_v it_o by_o the_o addition_n of_o greece_n and_o macedon_n but_o he_o attain_v not_o the_o esteem_n or_o appellation_n of_o a_o hero_n though_o he_o affect_v and_o court_v it_o by_o his_o mother_n story_n of_o his_o birth_n and_o by_o the_o flattery_n of_o the_o priest_n and_o oracle_n of_o jupiter_n ammon_n his_o pretence_n be_v just_o exclude_v by_o his_o intemperance_n in_o wine_n in_o anger_n and_o in_o lust_n and_o more_o yet_o by_o his_o cruelty_n and_o his_o pride_n for_o true_a honour_n have_v something_o in_o it_o so_o humorous_a as_o to_o follow_v common_o those_o who_o avoid_v or_o neglect_v it_o rather_o than_o those_o who_o seek_v and_o pursue_v it_o beside_o he_o institute_v no_o order_n or_o frame_n of_o government_n in_o the_o kingdom_n either_o of_o macedon_n or_o persia_n but_o rather_o corrupt_v and_o disorder_v those_o he_o find_v and_o seem_v to_o have_v owe_v the_o success_n of_o his_o enterprise_n to_o the_o counsel_n and_o conduct_v of_o his_o father_n old_a officer_n after_o who_o disgrace_n and_o fall_v immediate_o succeed_v that_o of_o his_o fortune_n and_o his_o life_n yet_o he_o must_v be_v allow_v to_o have_v much_o contribute_v to_o his_o own_o glory_n and_o fame_n by_o a_o great_a native_a genius_n and_o unlimited_a bounty_n and_o by_o the_o great_a
empire_n consist_v of_o fifteen_o several_a kingdom_n which_o at_o least_o have_v be_v so_o of_o old_a though_o now_o govern_v as_o province_n by_o their_o several_a viceroy_n who_o yet_o live_v in_o greatness_n splendour_n and_o riches_n equal_a to_o great_a and_o sovereign_a king_n in_o the_o whole_a kingdom_n be_v one_o hundred_o and_o forty_o five_o capital_a city_n of_o mighty_a extent_n and_o magnificent_a building_n and_o one_o thousand_o three_o hundred_o twenty_o and_o one_o lesser_a city_n but_o all_o wall_a round_n the_o number_n of_o village_n be_v infinite_a and_o no_o country_n in_o the_o know_a world_n so_o full_a of_o inhabitant_n nor_o so_o improve_v by_o agriculture_n by_o infinite_a growth_n of_o numerous_a commodity_n by_o canal_n of_o incredible_a length_n conjunction_n of_o river_n convenience_n of_o way_n for_o the_o transportation_n of_o all_o sort_n of_o good_n and_o commodity_n from_o one_o province_n to_o another_o so_o as_o no_o country_n have_v so_o great_a trade_n though_o till_o very_o late_o they_o never_o have_v any_o but_o among_o themselves_o and_o what_o there_o be_v now_o foreign_a among_o they_o be_v not_o drive_v by_o the_o chinese_n go_v out_o of_o their_o country_n to_o manage_v it_o but_o only_o by_o their_o permission_n of_o the_o portuguese_n and_o dutch_a to_o come_v and_o trade_n in_o some_o skirt_n of_o their_o southern_a province_n for_o testimony_n of_o their_o greatness_n i_o shall_v only_o add_v what_o be_v agree_v of_o their_o famous_a wall_n and_o of_o their_o city_n peking_n the_o stone-wall_n which_o divide_v the_o northern_a part_n of_o china_n from_o tartary_n be_v reckon_v by_o some_o twelve_o by_o other_o nine_o hundred_o mile_n long_o run_v over_o rock_n and_o hill_n through_o marsh_n and_o desert_n and_o make_v way_n for_o river_n by_o mighty_a arch_n it_o be_v forty_o five_o foot_n high_a and_o twenty_o foot_n thick_a at_o the_o bottom_n divide_v at_o certain_a space_n by_o great_a tower_n it_o be_v build_v above_o two_o thousand_o year_n ago_o but_o with_o such_o admirable_a architecture_n that_o where_o some_o gap_n have_v not_o be_v break_v down_o by_o the_o tartar_n upon_o their_o eruption_n the_o rest_n be_v still_o as_o entire_a as_o when_o it_o be_v first_o build_v the_o king_n that_o raise_v this_o wall_n appoint_v a_o million_o of_o soldier_n who_o be_v list_v and_o pay_v for_o the_o defence_n of_o it_o against_o the_o tartar_n and_o take_v their_o turn_n by_o certain_a number_n at_o certain_a time_n for_o the_o guard_n of_o this_o frontier_n the_o imperial_a city_n of_o peking_n be_v nothing_o so_o large_a as_o several_a other_o city_n of_o china_n whereof_o nank_v be_v esteem_v the_o great_a but_o be_v a_o regular_a foursquare_a the_o wall_n of_o each_o side_n be_v six_o mile_n in_o length_n in_o each_o of_o these_o side_n be_v three_o gate_n and_o on_o each_o side_n of_o each_o gate_n be_v great_a palace_n or_o fort_n for_o the_o guard_n belong_v to_o they_o which_o be_v a_o thousand_o man_n to_o each_o gate_n the_o street_n run_v quite_o cross_a with_o a_o through_o view_n and_o passage_n from_o each_o gate_n to_o that_o which_o be_v over_o against_o it_o in_o the_o opposite_a side_n and_o these_o street_n be_v range_v full_a of_o stately_a house_n the_o palace_n of_o the_o emperor_n be_v three_o mile_n in_o compass_n consist_v of_o three_o court_n one_o within_o the_o other_o whereof_o the_o last_o where_o the_o emperor_n lodge_v be_v four_o hundred_o pace_n square_a the_o other_o two_o be_v fill_v with_o his_o domestic_n officer_n and_o guard_n to_o the_o number_n of_o sixteen_o thousand_o person_n without_o these_o court_n be_v large_a and_o delicious_a garden_n many_o artificial_a rock_n and_o hill_n stream_n of_o river_n draw_v into_o several_a canal_n face_v with_o square_a stone_n and_o the_o whole_a achieve_v with_o such_o admirable_a invention_n cost_n and_o workmanship_n that_o nothing_o ancient_a or_o modern_a seem_v to_o come_v near_o it_o and_o all_o serve_v with_o such_o magnificence_n order_n and_o splendour_n that_o the_o audience_n of_o a_o foreign_a ambassador_n at_o peking_n seem_v a_o sight_n as_o great_a and_o noble_a as_o one_o of_o the_o triumph_n at_o rome_n as_o other_o nation_n be_v usual_o distinguish_v into_o noble_a and_o plebeian_n so_o that_o of_o china_n may_v be_v distinguish_v into_o learned_a and_o illiterate_a the_o last_o make_v up_o the_o body_n or_o mass_n of_o the_o people_n who_o be_v govern_v the_o first_o comprehend_v all_o the_o magistrate_n that_o govern_v and_o those_o who_o may_v in_o time_n or_o course_n succeed_v they_o in_o the_o magistracy_n for_o no_o other_o than_o the_o learned_a be_v ever_o employ_v in_o the_o government_n nor_o any_o in_o the_o great_a charge_n that_o be_v not_o of_o those_o rank_n or_o degree_n of_o learning_n that_o make_v they_o term_v sage_n or_o philosopher_n or_o doctor_n among_o they_o but_o to_o comprehend_v what_o this_o government_n of_o china_n be_v and_o what_o the_o person_n employ_v in_o it_o there_o will_v be_v a_o necessity_n of_o know_v what_o their_o learning_n be_v and_o how_o it_o make_v they_o fit_a for_o government_n very_o contrary_a to_o what_o we_o in_o europe_n be_v observe_v to_o do_v and_o the_o reason_n of_o such_o different_a effect_n from_o the_o same_o cause_n the_o two_o great_a hero_n of_o the_o chinese_n nation_n be_v fohu_n and_o confuchu_n who_o memory_n have_v always_o continue_v among_o they_o sacred_a and_o adore_v fohu_n live_v about_o four_o thousand_o year_n ago_o and_o be_v the_o first_o founder_n of_o their_o kingdom_n the_o progress_n whereof_o have_v ever_o since_o continue_v upon_o their_o record_n so_o clear_a that_o they_o be_v esteem_v by_o the_o missionary_n jesuit_n unquestionable_a and_o infallible_a for_o after_o the_o death_n of_o every_o king_n the_o successor_n appoint_v certain_a person_n to_o write_v the_o memorable_a action_n of_o his_o predecessor_n reign_v and_o of_o these_o a_o epitome_n be_v afterward_o draw_v and_o enter_v into_o their_o register_n fohu_n first_o reduce_v they_o from_o the_o common_a original_a life_n of_o mankind_n introduce_v agriculture_n wedlock_n distinction_n of_o sex_n by_o different_a habit_n law_n and_o order_n of_o government_n he_o invent_v character_n and_o leave_v several_a short_a table_n or_o write_n of_o astronomy_n or_o observation_n of_o the_o heaven_n of_o morality_n of_o physic_n and_o political_a government_n the_o character_n he_o use_v seem_v to_o have_v be_v parley_n strait_a line_n of_o different_a length_n and_o distinguish_v by_o different_a point_n and_o partly_o hieroglyphic_n and_o these_o in_o time_n be_v follow_v by_o character_n of_o which_o each_o express_a one_o word_n in_o these_o several_a way_n be_v for_o many_o century_n compose_v many_o book_n among_o the_o chinese_n in_o many_o sort_n of_o learning_n especial_o natural_a and_o moral_a philosophy_n astronomy_n astrology_n physic_n and_o agriculture_n something_o above_o two_o thousand_o year_n ago_o live_v confuchu_n the_o most_o learned_a wise_a and_o virtuous_a of_o all_o the_o chinese_n and_o for_o who_o both_o the_o king_n and_o magistrate_n in_o his_o own_o age_n and_o all_o of_o they_o in_o the_o age_n since_o seem_v to_o have_v have_v the_o great_a deference_n that_o have_v any_o where_o be_v render_v to_o any_o mortal_a man._n he_o write_v many_o tract_n and_o in_o they_o digest_v all_o the_o learning_n of_o the_o ancient_n even_o from_o the_o first_o write_v or_o table_n of_o fohu_n at_o least_o all_o that_o he_o think_v necessary_a or_o useful_a to_o mankind_n in_o their_o personal_a civil_a or_o political_a capacity_n which_o be_v then_o receive_v and_o since_o prosecute_v with_o so_o great_a esteem_n and_o veneration_n that_o none_o have_v question_v whatever_o he_o write_v but_o admit_v it_o as_o the_o true_a and_o best_a rule_n of_o opinion_n and_o life_n so_o that_o it_o be_v enough_o in_o all_o argument_n that_o confuchu_n have_v say_v it_o some_o time_n after_o live_v a_o king_n who_o to_o raise_v a_o new_a period_n of_o time_n from_o his_o own_o name_n and_o reign_v endeavour_v to_o abolish_v the_o memory_n of_o all_o that_o have_v pass_v before_o he_o and_o cause_v all_o book_n to_o be_v burn_v except_o those_o of_o physic_n and_o agriculture_n out_o of_o this_o ruin_n to_o learning_n escape_v either_o by_o chance_n or_o some_o private_a industry_n the_o epitome_n or_o register_n of_o the_o several_a succession_n of_o their_o king_n since_o fohu_n and_o the_o work_n of_o confuchu_n or_o at_o least_o a_o part_n of_o they_o which_o have_v late_o in_o france_n be_v print_v in_o the_o latin_a tongue_n with_o a_o learned_a preface_n by_o some_o of_o the_o missionary_n jesuit_n under_o the_o title_n of_o the_o work_n of_o confutius_n after_o the_o death_n of_o this_o tyrannous_a and_o ambitious_a king_n these_o write_n come_v abroad_o and_o be_v
upon_o the_o first_o thought_n that_o a_o sort_n of_o style_n so_o regular_a and_o so_o difficult_a shall_v have_v grow_v in_o use_n before_o the_o other_o so_o easy_a and_o so_o loose_a but_o if_o we_o consider_v what_o the_o first_o end_n of_o write_v be_v it_o will_v appear_v probable_a from_o reason_n as_o well_o as_o experience_n for_o the_o true_a and_o general_n end_v be_v but_o the_o help_n of_o memory_n in_o preserve_v that_o of_o word_n and_o of_o action_n which_o will_v otherwise_o have_v be_v lose_v and_o soon_o vanish_v away_o with_o the_o transitory_a passage_n of_o human_a breath_n and_o life_n before_o the_o discourse_n and_o dispute_n of_o philospher_n begin_v to_o busy_a or_o amuse_v the_o grecian_a wit_n there_o be_v nothing_o write_v in_o prose_n but_o either_o law_n some_o short_a say_n of_o wise_a man_n or_o some_o riddle_n parable_n or_o fable_n wherein_o be_v couch_v by_o the_o ancient_n many_o strain_n of_o natural_a or_o moral_a wisdom_n and_o knowledge_n and_o beside_o these_o some_o short_a memorial_n of_o person_n action_n and_o of_o time_n now_o it_o be_v obvious_a enough_o to_o conceive_v how_o much_o easy_o all_o such_o write_n shall_v be_v learned_a and_o remember_v in_o verse_n than_o in_o prose_n not_o only_o by_o the_o pleasure_n of_o measure_n and_o of_o sound_n which_o give_v a_o great_a impression_n to_o memory_n but_o by_o the_o order_n of_o foot_n which_o make_v a_o great_a facility_n of_o trace_v one_o word_n after_o another_o by_o know_v what_o sort_n of_o foot_n or_o quantity_n must_v necessary_o have_v precede_v or_o follow_v the_o word_n we_o retain_v and_o desire_v to_o make_v up_o this_o make_a poetry_n to_o necessary_a before_o letter_n be_v invent_v and_o so_o convenient_a afterward_o and_o show_v that_o the_o great_a honour_n and_o general_a request_n wherein_o iâ—_n have_v always_o be_v have_v not_o proceed_v only_o from_o the_o pleasure_n and_o delight_n but_o likewise_o from_o the_o usefulness_n and_o profit_n of_o poetical_a write_n this_o lead_v i_o natural_o to_o the_o subject_n of_o poetry_n which_o have_v be_v general_o praise_n instruction_n story_n love_n grief_n and_o reproach_n praise_v be_v the_o subject_a of_o all_o the_o song_n and_o psalm_n mention_v in_o holy_a writ_n of_o the_o hymn_n of_o orpheus_n of_o homer_n and_o many_o other_o of_o the_o carmina_fw-la secularia_fw-la in_o rome_n compose_v all_o and_o design_v for_o the_o honour_n of_o their_o god_n of_o pindar_n stesichorus_n and_o tyrtaus_fw-la in_o the_o praise_n of_o virtue_n or_o virtuous_a men._n the_o subject_a of_o job_n be_v instruction_n concern_v the_o attribute_n of_o god_n and_o the_o work_n of_o nature_n those_o of_o simonides_n phocilides_n theognis_n and_o several_a other_o of_o the_o small_a greek_a poet_n with_o what_o pass_v for_o pythagoras_n be_v instruction_n in_o morality_n the_o first_o book_n of_o hesiod_n and_o virgil_n georgic_n in_o agriculture_n and_o lucretius_n in_o the_o deep_a natural_a philosophy_n story_n be_v the_o proper_a subject_n of_o heroic_a poem_n as_o homer_n and_o virgil_n in_o their_o inimitable_a iliad_n and_o aeneid_n and_o fable_n which_o be_v a_o sort_n of_o story_n in_o the_o metamorphosis_n of_o ovid._n the_o lyric_a poetry_n have_v be_v chief_o conversant_a about_o love_n though_o turn_v often_o upon_o praise_n too_o and_o the_o vein_n of_o pastoral_n and_o eclogue_n have_v run_v the_o same_o course_n as_o may_v be_v observe_v in_o theocritus_n virgil_n and_o horace_n who_o be_v i_o think_v the_o first_o and_o last_o of_o true_a lyric_a poet_n among_o the_o latin_n grief_n have_v be_v always_o the_o subject_a of_o elegy_n and_o reproach_n that_o of_o satyr_n the_o dramatic_a poesy_n have_v be_v compose_v of_o all_o these_o but_o the_o chief_a end_n seem_v to_o have_v be_v instruction_n and_o under_o the_o disguise_n of_o fable_n or_o the_o pleasure_n of_o story_n to_o show_v the_o beauty_n and_o the_o reward_n of_o virtue_n the_o deformitys_n and_o misfortune_n or_o punishment_n of_o vice_n by_o example_n of_o both_o to_o encourage_v one_o and_o deter_v man_n from_o the_o other_o to_o reform_v ill_a custom_n correct_v ill_a manner_n and_o moderate_a all_o violent_a passion_n these_o be_v the_o general_a subject_n of_o both_o part_n though_o comedy_n give_v we_o but_o the_o image_n of_o common_a life_n and_o tragedy_n those_o of_o the_o great_a and_o more_o extraordinary_a passion_n and_o action_n among_o men._n to_o go_v further_o upon_o this_o subject_a will_v be_v to_o tread_v so_o beat_v path_n that_o to_o travel_v in_o they_o only_o raise_v dust_n and_o be_v neither_o of_o pleasure_n nor_o of_o use._n for_o the_o change_n that_o have_v happen_v in_o poetry_n i_o shall_v observe_v one_o ancient_n and_o the_o other_o that_o be_v modern_a will_v be_v too_o remarkable_a in_o the_o decline_v or_o decay_v of_o this_o great_a empire_n of_o wit._n the_o first_o change_n of_o poetry_n be_v make_v by_o translate_n it_o into_o prose_n or_o clothing_n it_o in_o those_o loose_a robe_n or_o common_a veil_n that_o disguise_a or_o cover_v the_o true_a beauty_n of_o its_o feature_n and_o exactness_n of_o its_o shape_n this_o be_v do_v first_o by_o aesop_n in_o greek_a but_o the_o vein_n be_v much_o more_o ancient_a in_o the_o eastern_a region_n and_o much_o in_o vogue_n as_o we_o may_v observe_v in_o the_o many_o parable_n use_v in_o the_o old_a testament_n as_o well_o as_o in_o the_o new_a and_o there_o be_v a_o book_n of_o fable_n of_o the_o sort_n of_o aesop_n translate_v out_o of_o persian_a and_o pretend_v to_o have_v be_v so_o into_o that_o language_n out_o of_o the_o ancient_a indian_a but_o though_o it_o seem_v genuine_a of_o the_o eastern_a country_n yet_o i_o do_v not_o take_v it_o to_o be_v so_o old_a nor_o to_o have_v so_o much_o spirit_n as_o the_o greek_a the_o next_o succession_n of_o poetry_n in_o prose_n seem_v to_o have_v be_v in_o the_o milesian_n tales_n which_o be_v a_o sort_n of_o little_a pastoral_n romance_n and_o though_o much_o in_o request_n in_o old_a greece_n and_o rome_n yet_o we_o have_v no_o example_n that_o i_o know_v of_o they_o unless_o it_o be_v the_o longi_fw-la pastoralia_fw-la which_o give_v a_o taste_n of_o the_o great_a delicacy_n and_o pleasure_n that_o be_v find_v so_o general_o in_o those_o sort_n of_o tales_n the_o last_o kind_n of_o poetry_n in_o prose_n be_v that_o which_o in_o latter_a age_n have_v overrun_v the_o world_n under_o the_o name_n of_o romance_n which_o though_o it_o seem_v modern_a and_o a_o production_n of_o the_o gothick_n genius_n yet_o the_o write_n be_v ancient_a the_o remainder_n of_o petronius_n arbiter_n seem_v to_o be_v of_o this_o kind_n and_o that_o which_o lucian_n call_v his_o true_a history_n but_o the_o most_o ancient_a that_o pass_v by_o the_o name_n be_v heliodorus_n famous_a for_o the_o author_n be_v choose_v to_o lose_v his_o bishopric_n rather_o than_o disow_v that_o child_n of_o his_o wit._n the_o true_a spirit_n or_o vein_n of_o ancient_a poetry_n in_o this_o kind_n seem_v to_o shine_v most_o in_o sir_n philip_n sidney_n who_o i_o esteem_v both_o the_o great_a poet_n and_o the_o noble_a genius_n of_o any_o that_o have_v left_a write_n behind_o they_o and_o publish_v in_o we_o or_o any_o other_o modern_a language_n a_o person_n bear_v capable_a not_o only_o of_o form_v the_o great_a idoeae_n but_o of_o leave_v the_o noble_a example_n if_o the_o length_n of_o his_o life_n have_v be_v equal_a to_o the_o excellence_n of_o his_o wit_n and_o his_o virtue_n with_o he_o i_o leave_v the_o discourse_n of_o ancient_a poety_n and_o to_o discover_v the_o decay_v of_o this_o empire_n must_v turn_v to_o that_o of_o the_o modern_a which_o be_v introduce_v after_o the_o decay_n or_o rather_o extinction_n of_o the_o old_a as_o if_o true_a poetry_n be_v dead_a an_z apparition_z of_o it_o walk_v about_o this_o mighty_a change_n arrive_v by_o no_o small_a occasion_n nor_o more_o ignoble_a revolution_n than_o those_o which_o destroy_v the_o ancient_a empire_n and_o government_n of_o rome_n and_o erect_v so_o many_o new_a one_o upon_o their_o ruin_n by_o the_o invasion_n and_o conquest_n or_o the_o general_a inundation_n of_o the_o goth_n vandal_n and_o other_o barbarous_a or_o northern_a nation_n upon_o those_o part_n of_o europe_n that_o have_v be_v subject_a to_o the_o roman_n after_o the_o conquest_n make_v by_o caesar_n upon_o gaul_n and_o the_o near_a part_n of_o germany_n which_o be_v continue_v and_o enlarge_v in_o the_o time_n of_o augustus_n and_o tiberius_n by_o their_o lieutenant_n or_o general_n great_a number_n of_o german_n and_o gaul_n resort_v to_o the_o roman_a army_n and_o to_o the_o city_n itself_o and_o habituate_v themselves_o there_o as_o many_o spaniard_n syrian_n grecian_n have_v do_v before_o upon_o the_o conquest_n of_o those_o country_n this_o