As we account those Books best written which mix Profit with Delight, so, in my opinion, none more profitable nor delightful than those of Lives, especially them of Poets, who have laid out themselves for the publick Good; and under the Notion of Fables, delivered unto us the highest Mysteries of Learning. These are the Men who in their Heroick Poems have made mens Fames live to eternity; therefore it were pity (faith _Plutarch_) that those who write to Eternity, should not live so too. Now above all Remembrances by which men have endeavoured even in despight of Death, to give unto their Fames eternity, for Worthiness and Continuance, Books, and Writings, have ever had the Preheminence; which made _Ovid_ to give an endless Date to himself, and to his _Metamorphosis_, in these Words; _Famque Opus exegi, &c._ Thus Englished by the incomparable Mr. _Sandys_. _And now the Work is ended, which_ Jove's _Rage,_ _Nor Fire, nor Sword, shall raze, nor eating Age,_ _Come when it will, my Death's uncertain hour_ _Which only of my Body hath a power;_ _Yet shall my better Part transcend the Sky,_ _And my immortal Name shall never dy:_ _For wherefoe're the_ Roman _Eagles spread_ _Their conquering Wings, I shall of all be read._ _And if we Prophets truly can divine,_ _I in my living Fame shall ever shine_. With the same Confidence of Immortality, the Renowned Poet _Horace_ thus concludes the Third Book of his _Lyrick_ Poesie. _Exegi Monumentum aere perennius._ _Regalique situ, &c_. _A Monument than Brass more lasting, I, Than Princely Pyramids in site more high Have finished, which neither fretting Showrs, Nor blustring Winds, nor flight of Years, and Hours, Though numberless, can raze; I shall not die Wholly; nor shall my best part buried lie Within my Grave_. And _Martial_, Lib. 10. Ep. 2. thus speaks of his Writings; ----_My Books are read in every place, And when_ Licinius, _and_ Messala's _high Rich Marble Towers in ruin'd Dust shall lie, I shall be read, and Strangers every where, Shall to their farthest Homes my Verses bear_. Also _Lucan_, Lib. 9. of his own Verse, and _Caesar's_ Victory at _Pharsalia_, writeth thus; _O great and sacred Work of Poesie! Thou freest from Fate, and giv'st Eternity To mortal Wights; but_ Caesar _envy not Their living Names; if_ Roman _Muses ought May promise thee, whilst_ Homer's _honoured, By future Times shalt Thou and I be read; No Age shall us with dark Oblivion stain, But our_ Pharsalia _ever shall remain._