POEMS ON Several Occasions .

Written by the Honourable Sir ROBERT HOWARD .

LONDON , Printed for Francis Saunders at the Blue Anchor in the New Exchange in the Strand . 1696.

IT has been the usuall custom of Epistles , to give the Reader an account of the causes that brought those writings into publick , that were onely intended for a private Closet ; and commonly it has been at the request of friends , perhaps with mingled truth and designe , to prae-engage the judgments of many , by telling the opinion of some , so to preserve their modesty as much in the pretence , as they could have done in the concealment of their Writings .

Though I cannot pretend such a cause as this , I can yet free my self from that vanity that others would avoid , by assuring the Reader , I had not stock of confidence enough to shew these things privately to many friends , much lesse to be furnish'd with enough , to make them publick to all indifferent persons , had not the desires of the Book-seller prevail'd with me : to whose civilities I believ'd my self so far engag'd , as to deny him nothing that he thought a kindnesse , which could not be severely prejudiciall to my self : Yet I doubted not , but that I should receive the censures of many ; which , upon the granted principle of prejudice , appear'd not a reasonable argument to prevail with me to deny his request , since the same should as well perswade me not to live , for life and conversation render man in Print more than letters can do ; and is made more publick by that way , than he can be by this . His life is mingled more with his defects and passions , than probably his writings are ; and whether they are equall , or exceed others , need not trouble him that writes : He may be satisfied , the production of retir'd hours are the best of himself . I had no great reason then to deny his request , that imagin'd he ask'd his own advantage , when he desired nothing that I believed contrary to mine .

Yet I wish that it may so far give satisfaction to all , that they may as little repent the r●ading , as I did the writing ; whilst in these gentle studies I found a diversion from greater follies ; and by that comparison they received obliging natures . Perhaps , there 's few that read them , may not as well be conscious to themselves , to have spent some time not so innocently ; and for that cause forgive that , which for its own sake they cannot admire .

For the severall subjects which here make one bundle , there is not any of them that have not layn by me these many years ( two or three copies of Verses onely excepted ) ; and had been wholly perhaps laid aside , but for the reasons given , applying my self now to , more serious studies , according to the severall s●asons of ●●creasing age ; as the ●arth produces various fruits to the different seasons of the year . By this short account of time , the Reader may discern in what clowdy days my Muse spr●ad her wings , as little contributing to her flying a noble heighth , as to shew a just subject : He that most deserv'd it was most deni'd it ( as he was indeed his right in all things ) either from private fear , or publick pow●r , though I equall not the crime of faint thoughts in passive submission , to the guilt of bold prof●ssion in publick action . 'T is now to be hop'd , that the praises of our Prince , who so much merits it , may be received willingly by all , since nothing can be said of him , that has not been done by him ; and man's largest invention has been ex●●ll'd by His actions , there being nothing capable 〈◊〉 make him appear more excellent than himself ; ●nlesse it had been our want of him , when by experience we found his miseries were ours , and all that we inflicted on him returned in double measures on our selves ; l●ke ●●ones madly tost into the air , and forc'd from their proper c●nter , that fall back with encreas'd weight upon their heads that flung them . We are now presented that in him , which this world sparingly produces ; in one composure , an object for our Conf●●●nces and Interest , in whose preservation , our T●mp●rall and Eternall states have equall shares . Yet I should a little be dissatisfied with my self to appear publick in his praise , just when he was visibly restoring to power , did not the reading of the Panegyrick vindicate the writing of it , and , besides my affirmation , assure the Reader , It was written when the King deserved th● Praise as much as now , but separated farther from the Power ; which was about three years since , when I was Prisoner in Windsor-Cas●le , being the best diversion I could then find for my own condition ; to think , how great his Vertues were for whom I suffered , though in so small a measure compar'd to his own , that I rather blush at it , than believe it m●ritorious .

For the other Verses and Songs , I must prof●sse they were never directed to any particular Beauty , which may ( to the Amorous Reader at least ) be a just excuse , if they want Perfection , to remember I wanted Passion , and had onely my own warmth , unassisted by the influence of a Mistresse . Nor shall I envy him that writes better , by being much in love , if he must purchase the advantage of Wit by the losse of Freedom .

For the Translations , the Authors have already received those Characters from the world , that they need none of mine , especially Virgil , of whose works I have onely publish'd this one Book , that lay finished by me ; not judging it convenient to perfect those other Books of his Aeneid's , which I have rudely gone through , having long since laid aside all designes of that nature ; and this little of it rather grew publick from accident , than designe , the Mingle it had with my private Papers , was the greatest cause , that it received its share in the publick Impression .

For Statius , he had received commendations enough , had he been alone commended by Iuvenal in his 7 Satyr . but Alexand. ab Alex. also , lib. 6 ch. 14 relates , that he thrice received the Victor's Lawrell in the publick reading of his Verses , and was once vanquish'd ; as unjustly perhaps as * * Agelli ▪ lib. 17. 〈◊〉 . 4. Menander was j●dged to be overcome by Philemon , whose faction was greater , though his wit lesse ; insomuch that meeting him afterwards , Menander desired him to confesse ingenuously , if he did not blush when he vanquish'd him . For this piece of his , I confesse I chose it as most pleasing to me , I wish it may be so to the Reader ; though there wants not * * Nonn● & in unâ Achilleide ita surgit ut illic multò sublimius ferri videatur , quàm quò potuerit toto The●aide pervenire . Demi● . ingenious men , who preferr'd it before his other Poems . The Annotations may in some places perhaps be judged too large ; yet , had I omitted any thing , it is probable that the same persons would have censur'd me for ignorance : so that being equally sensible of these extreams , I judg'd it the testimony of the greatest modesty , By omitting little , to shew my self not at all secure in the world's opinion .

I have thus , ingenuous Reader , given you a clear and true account of my Self and Writings , not opprest with apprehension , nor rais'd by neglect ; but preserv'd by an indifferency , that destroys not my civilitie to others , nor my own content ; d●siring not to engrosse , but share satisfaction . If in any thing I justly need , or designe to ask pardon , 't is for Errors that probably the Reader may meet with ; having been reduc'd to the strait of neglecting this , or businesse . I confesse my Interest prevail'd with me though , not wholly to neglect the Reader , since I prevail'd with a worthy Friend to take so much view of my blotted Copies , as to free me from grosse Errors . Having thus set down all my designe and reasons , I leave the Reader with as little Concern to use his , as I have shewed him mine .