Theatrum poetarum anglicanorum - 1675 Author:Edward Phillips Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: EDITOR'S ABSTRACT OF THE CONTEXTS OF PHILLIPS'S PREFACE, i. Infinite difference of intellect among mankind-. 2. Arises from different capacity of cor... more »poreal organs, or, from some intervening cause. 3. When the former are excellent, they for m that Melior. Natura, spoken of by the poets. 4- The intervening cause of good capacity is Education, which is the harp of Amphion. 5. They who unite both these advantages are more than men : ///.) -lu want both, are less than men; and constitute the Vulgar, or Mob. 6. These last justly fall into oblivion, while many even of those who deserve fame. iniss it. 7. The fate of authors with regard to honours, like that of other men with regard to worldly success; uncertain. 8. This work undertaken to remedy the world's injustice as far as regards Poets. g. And to revive names dispersed here and there, even their works have perished. 1o. The work confined to Poets, because poetry is the author's favourite; and to extend it to all authors would be too voluminous. 11. Having thus chosen a topic, which requires the greatest nicety and sagacity of judgment, he dedicates it to two men (stanley and Sherruhne,) most qualified to appreciate and defend it. 12. Of the two objections most probable to be made viz. omission, and improper insertion, the first is en- titled to candour for what must in its nature be imperfect. 13. As to those, who have kept their genius to themselves, no blame can attach for not noticing them. 14. And as litth for omitting those who have chosen to be Anonymous. 15. As 1o the second objection, of superfluous insertion,it is better to admit twenty undeserving, than to neglect one deserving. 16. Line of distinction. 17. More common to overvalue, th...« less