The PREFACE.
Lastly, 'tis Objected, "That we want the Benefit of Machines; which the Heathen Poets made so great use of, and with which their Poems were full from one end to the other: That the Notions and Religion of our times exclude all manner of Miracles, and the extraordinary presence of the Heathen Gods from having any thing to do in the ordinary Course of humane Affairs, which we believe now to be govern'd only by one common Providence; and that upon this account it seems altogether unpracticable for any of our Modern Poets to write an Heroick Poem like to those of Homer and Virgil." This Objection is duly stated, and fully answer'd by Mr. Dryden in his Dedication before the Translation of Juvenal. There he tells us, That our Religion does indeed debar the Poet from making use of Jupiter, Juno, Minerva, Venus, or any others of the Heathen Deities: But that this is made up to the Poet another way; that 'tis not contrary to Christianity to believe that there are good and bad Spirits which have some sort of influence over humane Affairs: And that the Poet may form as just Machines out of these, as the Ancients did out of their Divinities. This is what Blackmore has done even to Admiration, and his Practice and Conduct has put it beyond all dispute, that we may very safely and regularly make use of Machines, provided they are such as are suited to the Notions and Religion of our times.
These are the principal Objections I thought fit to mention, which are not such solid Reasons as some may imagine: I shall now according to my promise propose some others, which I think to be more substantial; but withal I must reserve to my self my first Caution, namely, that I design to dictate nothing herein, but to lay down my Thoughts as plainly and as clearly as possible, and to refer all to the Verdict of better Judgments.
First then I say, that one great Reason of that general Disesteem which Epick Poetry lies under, and of itsdeclining
