Anchises was likewise to instruct him how to manage the Italian war,
and how to conclude it with his honour--that is, in other words, to
lay the foundations of that empire which Augustus was to govern.
This is the noble invention of our author, but it hath been copied
by so many sign-post daubers that now it is grown fulsome, rather by
their want of skill than by the commonness.
In the last place. I may safely grant that by reading Homer, Virgil
was taught to imitate his invention--that is to imitate like him
(which is no more than if a painter studied Raffaelle that he might
learn to design after his manner). And thus I might imitate Virgil
if I were capable of writing an heroic poem, and yet the invention
be my own; but I should endeavour to avoid a servile copying. I
would not give the same story under other names, with the same
characters, in the same order, and with the same sequel, for every
common reader to find me out at the first sight for a plagiary, and
cry, "This I read before in Virgil in a better language and in
better verse.
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