A POE M, IN HEROICK VERSE; WITH HISTORICAL REMARKS AND ILLUSTRATIONS: BY ROBERT JEPHSON, Esq. ΤΗΝ ΜΕΝ ΟΥΝ ΥΠΟΘΕΣΙΝ ΟΤΙ ΚΑΛΗΝ ΕΙΛΗΦΑ, ΚΑΙ ΜΕΓΑΛΟΠΡΕΠΗ, ΚΑΙ ΠΟΛΛΟΙΣ ΩΦΕΛΙΜΟΝ, ΟΥ ΜΑ SEMPER AD EVENTUM FESTINAT, ET IN MEDIAS RES, LONDON: PRINTED BY HENRY BALDWIN, FOR G. G. AND J. ROBINSON, IN PATER-NOSTER Row. M DCC XCIV. то EDMOND MALONE, Esq. MY DEAR SIR, HIS short address to you is not intended as a TH formal Dedication; but having long wished for some fair opportunity of doing myself credit by publickly subscribing myself your friend, none seems likely to occur more favourable than the present. From our school-days to this hour, we have lived in a state of uninterrupted intimacy and kindness: natives of the same country, educated under the same masters, and pursuing similar studies, though we have not taken exactly the same path, both have been zealous in the cause of letters. Your labours have furnished instruction to the readers, and mine perhaps in a small degree may con▾ tribute to their entertainment; nor can I be insensible to the honour you have done me, when I reflect, that the best commentator on our greatest poet has condescended more than once to be my editor. Without your kind care and encouragement the following Work would not probably have been made publick; to your protection therefore it is inscribed, with every assurance of esteem and cordiality, by. Your obliged and faithful friend, DUBLIN CASTLE, May 26, 1794. ROBERT JEPHSON. PRE FAC E. Y various accidental causes, particularly the BY residence of the author and editor in different kingdoms, the appearance of this work has been delayed much longer than was at first intended; but as time always affords opportunity for correction and improvement, I find upon the whole no reason to regret that the expedition of the press did not keep pace with my wish to see the task which I had undertaken more speedily completed. By this delay I had also the advantage of several judicious observations suggested by the vigilant sagacity of my editor; which produced at least considerable additions to the matter contained in the text and annotations. His patience, indeed, I have always found unwearied, like his friendship; and it gives me sincere pleasure to think, that, being now disengaged from any further kind attention to my fame, he will have more uninterrupted leisure to |