Narration in Epic Poetry: But then I beg Leave once for all to make a Remark upon this Subject, which may be applied to some others; That _Aristotle_'s Precepts are formed upon _Homer_'s Practice; no _other_ Heroic Poet having _then_ appeared in the World. But since the Case is now quite altered, to give _Homer_ the Preference to _Virgil_ upon Rules entirely drawn from his own Practice, would be _begging the Question_ even in the Judgment of _Aristotle_ as a Logician, whatever might be his Opinion as a Critick. Not but that, after all, a far greater Part even of _Virgil_'s Poem is employed in Speeches, than one would imagine without a _very close Attention_: If I may judge of others by my self, we are deceived by him in this Particular, (so exquisite is his Art) and even after frequent Readings do not ordinarily take notice that there are so many Speeches in his _Æneis_ as there really are: An infallible Sign that they are excellent in themselves, and most skilfully introduced and connected. I agree that in an Epic Poem they ought to be _very numerous_; tho' I do not ground that Opinion upon the Reason which _Aristotle_ assigns; _viz._ That otherwise a Poet would not be an _Imitator_. For is there no _Imitation_ but in _Speeches_? What are _Descriptions_? By more Incidents then I do not mean (as I said) more Men killed, more Battles fought, more Speeches spoke; but more memorable and surprizing Events. Take these Poems therefore purely as Romances; and consider them only with regard to the History, and Facts contained in them, the Plots, the Actions, Turns, and Events; That of _Virgil_ is more copious, full, various, and surprizing, and every way more entertaining, than Those of _Homer_. Then is there any Comparison between the Subjects of the Poems? Between the Anger of _Achilles_, (if That be the Subject of the _Iliad_) and the Return of _Ulysses_ in Those of the Greek Poet; and the Founding of _Rome_, and the Glory of the _Romans_ in That of the Latin one?