Page:Poems on Several Occasions - Broome (1739, 2nd edition).djvu/13

Fleuron from 'Poems on Several Occasions' by William Broome, 2nd edition published in 1739

 

THE

PREFACE.

I am very sensible that many hard Circumstances attend all Authors: If they write ill, they are sure to be used with Contempt; if well, too often with Envy. Some Men, even while they improve themselves with the Sentiments of others, rail at their Benefactors, and while they gather the Fruit, tear the Tree that bore it, I must confess, that mere Idleness induced me to write; and the hopes of entertaining a few idle Men, to publish. I am not so vain as not to think there are many Faults in the ensuing Poems; all human Works must fall short of Perfection, and therefore to acknowledge it, is no humility: However, I am not like those Authors, who, out of afalse