Methinks, I _see_ him, while I read Those Verses; I am sure I _feel_ him. How delightful must it be, to enjoy so sweet a Retirement! What a Glory, to be so inglorious! This, I say, is generally the Natural Make of learned, and ingenious Men; and _Homer_ himself, notwithstanding his Poetical Fire, was in all probability of the same Complexion. But if we consider _Virgil as a Poet_; I hope to make it appear, before I have finished This Preface, that, _as such_, he wanted neither the Sanguine, nor the Cholerick; tho' at the same time I acknowledge a Man's _natural Temper_ will _very much incline_ him to one way of Thinking, and Writing, more than to another. But tho' his _Genius_ was thus perfect; yet I take his _most distinguishing_ Character to be the incomparable _Accuracy_ of his _Judgment_; and particularly his elegant, and exquisite _Brevity_. He is never luxuriant, never says any thing in vain: _We admire Others_ (says Monsieur _Rapin_) _for what they say; but we admire_ Virgil, _for what he does not say_: And indeed his very Silence is expressive, and even his Omissions are Beauties. Yet is his Brevity neither _dry_, nor _obscure_; so far otherwise, that he is both the _fullest_, and the _clearest_ Writer in the World. He always, says enough, but never too much: And This is to be observed in him, as well when he insists upon a Thing, as when he slightly passes it over, when his Stile is long, and flowing, as when it is short, and concise; in This Sense, he is brief, even where he enlarges; and while he rolls like a Torrent, he has nothing frothy, or redundant. So that to Him, of all Mankind, are Those famous Verses of Sir _John Denham_ most particularly applicable: _Tho' deep, yet clear; tho' gentle, yet not dull; Strong, without Rage; without O'erflowing, full._ Meaning _Rage_ properly so called; not the _Poetical Fury_: For That He was very far from wanting; as will be seen in it's proper Place. His avoiding Redundancy therefore proceeded neither from Poverty, nor Parsimony; but from Elegancy, and Exactness. So correct is he in Those Parts of his Writings which are allowed to be finished; that I have often thought what a Treasure That Man would be possessed of (were such a Thing possible) who could procure the Filings of his Poems; and shew the World what _Virgil_ would _not_ shew it. The very Chippings of Those Diamonds would be more valuable than the richest Jewel of the _Indies_.