The plague of Ahtens [sic], which hapened [sic] in the second year of the Peloponnesian war / First described in Greek by Thucydides; then in Latine by Lucretius. Since attempted in English. By the Right Reverend Father in God, Thomas Lord Bishop of Rochester.

  • Sprat, Thomas, 1635-1713.
Date:
1709
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The plague of Ahtens [sic], which hapened [sic] in the second year of the Peloponnesian war / First described in Greek by Thucydides; then in Latine by Lucretius. Since attempted in English. By the Right Reverend Father in God, Thomas Lord Bishop of Rochester. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    To my Worthy and Learned Friend, Dr. Walter Pope, Late ProBour cf the Unrueofty of Oxford, SIR* I Know not what pleafure you could take in bellowing ycur Comfftands fo unprofitably, unlefs it be that for which Nature fometiraes cherifhes and allows Monfters, The Love of Variety. This only delight you will receive by turning over this rude and unpolifh’d Copy, and compa¬ ring it with my excellent Patterns, the Greek and Latin. By this you will fee how much a noble Subjed is changed and disfigured by an ill Hand, and what reafon Alexander had to forbid his Pidure to be drawn but by fome celebrated Pencil. In Greek Thucydides fo well and fo lively exprefles it, that I know not which is more a Poem, his defcription, or that of Lucretius. Tho’ it mull be Paid, that the Hiftorian had a vaft advantage over the Poet; He having been prefent on the place, and af- faulted by the difeafe himfelf, had the Horrour familiar to his Eyes, and all the fliapes of the mifery ftill remaining on his mind, which irmftneeds make a great Imprcffion on his Pen and Fancy, Whereas the Poet was forced to allow his foot-fteps, and only work on that matter he allow’d him. This I fpeak, becaufe it may in fome meafure too excufe my own defeds: For being fo far removed from the place whereon the Difeafead- ed his Tragedy ; and time haying denied us many of the Circumftances, Cuftoms of the Country, and other fmali things which would be of great ufe to any one who did intend to be perfed on the Subjed j befides, on¬ ly writing by an Idea of that which I never yet faw, nor care to fed, (be¬ ing not cf the humour of the Painter in Sir Philip Sidney, who thruil liimfelf into the midit of a Fight, that he might the better delieneate it.) Having, I fay, all fhefe Difadvantages, and many more, for which I muff only blame my felf, it cannot be exppeded thatl fiiould come near equalling him, in whom none of the contrary Advantages were wanting* Thus then, Sir, by emboldening me to this rafli Attempt, you have gi¬ ven opportunity to the Greek and Latin to triumph over cur Mother- Tongue« Yet I would not have the Honour of the Countries or Langua¬ ges engaged in the Comparifon, but that the inequality ihould reach no farther than the Authors. But I have much reaionto fear the juii In¬ dignation of that excellent Perfon, (the prefent Ornament and Honour of cur Nation ( whole way of writing I imitate : For he may think himfelf as much injured by my following him, as were the Heavens by that bold Man’s counterfeiting the facred an unimitable noife of Thunder by the found of Brafs and Horfes Hoofs, I (hall only fay for my felf that I took Ciceroe's Advice, who bids us in Imitation, propofe the nobleft pattern to our Thoughts ; for fowe may befure to beraifed above the common le¬ vel, though we come infinitely fliort of what we aim at· Yet I hope that renowned Poet will have none of my Crimes any way refled on him¬ felf ; for it was not any fault in the excellent Muflcian, that the weak Bird, endeavouring by /training its Throat, to follow his Notes, deflroy’d her felf in the Attempt. Well, Sir, by this, that I have choien rather to txpofe my felf than to be difobedienr, you may guefs with what zeal and hazard I itrive to approve my felf. SI R, Tour τηοβ humble and Affectionate Servant, THO, SPRAT· _