THIS Volume contains a complete Collection of the Poems of the late Dr. Akenfide, either reprinted from the original Editions, or faithfully published from Copies which had been prepared by himfelf for publication. That the principal Poem should appear in so disadvantageous a ftate, may require fome explanation. The first publication of it was at a very early part of the Author's life. That it wanted Revision and Correction, he was fufficiently fenfible; but fo quick was the demand for feveral fucceffive republications, that in any of the intervals to have completed the whole of his Corrections was utterly impoffible; and yet to have gone on from time to time making farther Improvements in every new Edition would (he thought) have had the appearance at least of abufing the favor of the Public. He chofe therefore to continue for fome time reprinting it without alteration, and to forbear publifning any Corrections or Improvements until he should be able at cnce to give them to the Public complete. And with this view he went on for feveral years to review and correct the Poem at his leifure; till at length he found the tafk grow fo much upon his hands, that, despairing of ever being able to execute it fufficiently to his own fatisfaction, he abandoned the purpose of correcting, and refolved to write the Poem over anew upon a fomewhat different and an enlarged Plan. And in the execution of this Design he had made a confiderable Progrefs. What reafon there may be to regret that he did not live to execute the whole of it, will beft appear from the perusal of the Plan itself, as stated in the General Argument, and of the parts which he had executed, and which are here published. For the perfon *, to whom he intrusted the Disposal of his Papers, would have thought himself wanting, as well to the Service of the Public, as to the Fame of his Friend, if he had not produced as much of the Work as appeared to have been prepared for publication. In this light he confidered the intire first and fecond Books, of which a few Copies had been printed for the use only of the Author and certain Friends: alfo a very confiderable part of the third Book, which had been transcribed in order to its being printed in the fame manner: and to these is added the Introduction to a fubfequent Book, which in the Manufcript is called the Fourth, and which appears to have been compofed at the time when the Author intended [* The Right Hon. JEREMIAH DYSON; by whom this advertisement was written.] |