than for those men of learning themselves. It is certain, nevertheless, that their Parts, as well as Courages, began at that time to decay. Greatness of soul was converted to circumspect Conduct, and sound Discourse to polite Conversation: and if we consider what remains of Mecenas, I know not whether he had not something effeminate, which was made to pase for delicate. Mecenas was Augustus's great Favourite; the man that pleas'd, and whom all the polite and sprightly wits endeavour'd to please: now is it not likely that his Judgment over-rul'd the rest, that they affected his manner, and aped, as much as they cou'd, his character?
Augustus himself leaves us no great idea of his Latinity. What we see of Terence; what was reported at Rome of the politeness of Scipio and Lelius; the remains of Cesar; and what we have of Tully, with the complaint of this last for the loss of what he calls sales, lepores, venustates, urbanitas, amoenitas, festivitas, jucunditas; all these together, I say, make me believe, upon better consideration, that we must pitch on some other time than that of Augustus, to find the sound and agreeable Wit of the Romans, as well as the pure and natural graces of their tongue.
It maybe said, that Horace had a very nice palate in all these matters; which persuades me that the rest of his Cotemporaries had not. For the nicety of his relish consisted chiefly in finding the ridicule of others. Were it not for the impertinencies, false manners, and affectations which he laugh'd at, his sense wou'd not at this very day appear so very just.
