It is true, the ancients had left us models in every kind of writing, which are highly worthy of
admiration. But besides that they were written in languages, known only to the learned; besides
this, I say, the comparison is not so perfect or entire between modern wits, and those who lived
in so remote an age. Had WALLER been born in ROME, during the reign of TIBERIUS, his
first productions had been despised, when compared to the finished odes of HORACE. But in
this island the superiority of the ROMAN poet diminished nothing from the fame of the
ENGLISH. We esteemed ourselves sufficiently happy, that our climate and language could
produce but a faint copy of so excellent an original.
I.
XIV.49
It is true, the ancients had left us models in every kind of writing, which are highly worthy ofadmiration. But besides that they were written in languages, known only to the learned; besidesthis, I say, the comparison is not so perfect or entire between modern wits, and those who livedin so remote an age. Had WALLER been born in ROME, during the reign of TIBERIUS, hisfirst productions had been despised, when compared to the finished odes of HORACE. But inthis island the superiority of the ROMAN poet diminished nothing from the fame of theENGLISH. We esteemed ourselves sufficiently happy, that our climate and language couldproduce but a faint copy of so excellent an original.I.XIV.49
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