thread-bare tales of Thebes and Troy half so stored with great, heroical, and fupernatural actions (fince verse will needs find or make fuch), as the wars of Joshua, of the Judges, of David, and divers others? Can all the transformations of the gods give fuch co pious hints to flourish and expatiate on, as the true miracles of Chrift, or of his prophets and apoftles? What do I inftance in these few particulars? All the books of the Bible are either already moft admirable and exalted pieces of poefy, or are the best materials in the world for it.

Yet, though they be in themselves fo proper to be made ufe of for this purpofe; none but a good artist will know how to do it: neither muft we think to cut and polish diamonds with fo little pains and skill as we do marble. For, if any man defign to compofe a facred poem, by only turning a story of the Scripture, like Mr. Quarles's, or fome other godly matter, like Mr. Heywood of angels, into rhyme; he is fo far from elevating of poefy, that he only abafes divinity. In brief, he who can write a prophane poem well, may write a divine one better; but he who can do that but ill, will do this much worse. The fame fertility of invention; the same wisdom of disposition; the fame judgment in observance of decencies; the fame luftre and vigour of elocution; the fame modesty and majesty of number; briefly, the fame kind of habit, is required to both only this latter allows better ftuff; and therefore would look more deformedly, ill dreft in it. ` I am

:

C4

I am far from affuming to myself to have fulfilled the duty of this weighty undertaking: but fure I am, there is nothing yet in our language (nor perhaps in any) that is in any degree answerable to the idea that I conceive of it. And I shall be ambitious of no other fruit from this weak and imperfect attempt of mine, but the opening of a way to the courage and induftry of fome other perfons, who may be better able to perform it thoroughly and fuccefsfully.

JUVENILE

THE

HE following Poems of Mr. Cowley being much enquired after, and very scarce (the Town hardly affording one Book, though it hath been four times printed) we thought this fifth edition could not fail of being well received by the world. We prefume one reason why they were omitted in the last collection, was, because the propriety of this copy belonged not to the fame person that published those : but the reception they had found appears by the feveral impreffions through which they had paffed. We dare not fay they are equally perfect with those written by the Author in his riper years, yet certainly they are fuch as deferve not to be buried in obfcurity. We prefume the Author's judgment of them is most reasonable to appeal

to; and you will find him (allowing grains of modesty) give them no small character. His words are in the 6th page of his Preface before his former published Poems *.

You find our excellent Author likewife mentioning and reciting part of these Poems, in his "Several Dif"courfes by way of Essays in Verse and Prose, in the "11th Difcourfe treating of himself." These we fuppofe a fufficient authority for our reviving them; and fure there is no ingenuous Reader to whom the smallest remains of Mr. Cowley will be unwelcome. His "Poems are every where the copy of his mind; so that by this fupplement to his other volume you have the picture of that fo deservedly eminent man from almost his childhood to his latest years, the bud and bloom of his Spring; the warmth of his Summer; the richness and perfection of his Autumn. But, for the Reader's further curiofity, we refer him to the Author's following Preface to them, published by himself.

See the Author's Preface above, p. 15.

ΤΟ

TO THE

Right Honourable and Right Reverend Father in God,

JO

H

N

Lord Bishop of Lincoln, and Dean of Westminster..

MY LORD,

IMIGE

MIGHT well fear, left thefe my rude and unpolifhed lines fhould offend your honourable furvey; but that I hope your Noblenefs will rather smile at the faults committed by a Child, than cenfure them. Howfoever I defire your Lordship's pardon, for presenting things fo unworthy to your view; and to accept the good-will of him, who in all duty is bound to be

Your Lordship's

moft humble fervant,

ABRAHAM COWLEY.