Upon the Subject of _Speeches_, Mr. _Pope_ tells us, "That in _Virgil_ they often consist of general Reflections, or Thoughts, which might be equally just in any Person's Mouth upon the same Occasion. As many of his Persons have no apparent Characters; so many of his Speeches escape being applied, and judged by the Rule of Propriety. We oftner think of the Author himself, when we read _Virgil_, than when we are engaged in _Homer_. All which are the Effects of _a colder Invention_, that interests us less in the Action described: _Homer_ makes us Hearers, and _Virgil_ leaves us Readers." I have the Misfortune to be of a quite different Sentiment. If _Virgil_ outshines _Homer_ in any thing, it is especially in his _Speeches_. Which are all, so far as it is necessary, adapted to the Manners of the Speakers, and diversified by their several Characters. Nor do I know of any one Beauty by which _Virgil_ is more peculiarly distinguished, than That of his Speeches: Considering the Sweetness and Softness of some, the Cunning and Artifice of others; the Majesty and Gravity of a third sort; the Fire and Fury of a fourth: In which two last Kinds especially we have the united Eloquence of Oratory, and Poetry; and read _Tully_ involved in _Virgil_. That the Characters of the Heroes are more particularly marked and distinguished in the _Greek_, than in the _Latin_, I readily acknowledge. In That the _Iliad_ excels the _Æneis_; and, I think, in nothing else. And the Controversy between these two great Poets Should, in my Opinion, be thus determined: "That _Virgil_ is very much obliged to _Homer_; and _Homer_'s Poems, upon the whole, very much exceeded by _Virgil_'s." But I am sensible, that by arguing for _Virgil_ I have all this while been arguing against my self. For the more excellent the Author, the more presumptuous the Translator. I have however thus much to plead in my Excuse, That this Work was very far _advanced_, before it was _undertaken_; having been for many Years the Diversion of my leisure Hours at the University, and growing upon me by insensible Degrees; so that a great _Part_ of the _Æneis_ was _actually translated_, before I had _any Design_ of _attempting the Whole_. But with regard to the _Publick Office in Poetry_, with which the University of _Oxford_ was afterwards pleased to honour me, (an Honour which I Now enjoy, and which I shall Forever gratefully acknowledge) I thought it might not be improper for me to review, and finish this Work; which otherwise had certainly been as much neglected by Me, as perhaps it will now be by Every body else. It is to That renowned Seat of Learning and Virtue, (the Pride and Glory of our Island!) _----cujus amor mihi crescit in horas,_