I have given it to some of my friends in conversation, and they have
allowed the criticism to be just. But since the evil of false
quantities is difficult to be cured in any modern language; since
the French and the Italians, as well as we, are yet ignorant what
feet are to be used in heroic poetry; since I have not strictly
observed those rules myself which I can teach others; since I
pretend to no dictatorship among my fellow-poets; since, if I should
instruct some of them to make well-running verses, they want genius
to give them strength as well as sweetness; and, above all, since
your lordship has advised me not to publish that little which I
know, I look on your counsel as your command, which I shall observe
inviolably till you shall please to revoke it and leave me at
liberty to make my thoughts public. In the meantime, that I may
arrogate nothing to myself, I must acknowledge that Virgil in Latin
and Spenser in English have been my masters. Spenser has also given
me the boldness to make use sometimes of his Alexandrine line, which
we call, though improperly, the Pindaric, because Mr.
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