Johnfon therefore entirely forgets, or paffes by, the "Theatrum Poetarum," published in 1675, on which the present compilation is founded: and of which the reader is requested to attend to the opinion of a lamented author, who on the fubject" of poetry, must be admitted by all impartial judges, to have far exceeded that able biographer, not only in tafte, but in learning. The following is the full title of Phillips's book.

"Theatrum Poetarum, or a compleat collection of the Poets, especially the most eminent of all ages, the Ancients distinguifh't from the Moderns in their several alphabets. With some observations and reflections upon many of them, particularly thofe of our own nation. Together with a prefatory discourse of the Poets and Poetry in general.

By Edward Phillips.

ο δ' ολβιος ὅντινα μεσάν

φιλεῦνται γλυκερη οἱ ἀπο ςοματος ρεει ἀνδη.

Hefiod. Theogn,

London. Printed for Charles Smith, at the Angel, near the Inner Temple-gate in

Fleet-ftreet.

Anno MDCLXXV."

A 3

The

The late poet-laureat Warton, in his edition of Milton's juvenile poems, *fays, "There is good reafon to fuppofe, that MIL"TON threw many additions and corrections " into the THEATRUM POETARUM, a book published by his nephew Edward Phillips, " in 1675. It contains criticisms far above "the taste of that period: among these is the judgment on Shakespearet, which was not “ then, I believe, the general opinion, and "which perfectly coincides both with the fen"timents and words of Milton in L'Allegro : "Or fweeteft Shakespeare, fancy's child

Warble his native wood-notes wild."

Again, in his History of English Poetry,‡ he fays, Phillips, Milton's nephew, in a "work which I think difcovers many traces of "Milton's band, calls Marlow,"§&c." Such

66

criticisms," he adds, "were not common after the national taste had been juft corrup❝ted by the falfe and capricious refinements of "the court of Charles the fecond.”||

‡ III. p. 440,

* P. 60. + See this volume, p. 240. See this volume, p. 113, 116. || After fuch praise, the cenfure of that taftelefs though useful, drudge, Anthony Wood, who calls the work a " brief, roving, and curfory account (without time) of the antient and modern poets,

need

From this book of Phillips, all that the compiler of the prefent work had occafion to select, were the English poets, which were moft awkwardly placed in the alphabetical order of their chriftian names: and of these the prefent volume comes no lower than such as flourished as early as the close of Queen Elizabeth's reign.

They are now changed into a chronological order, of which the advantage feems fufficiently obvious.

To these, which are printed at the commencement of every article between inverted commas, the Compiler has added fuch particulars as amount to a brief life of each poet, with fuch lifts and dates of their writings, and estimates of their characters and genius, as fubfequent biogra❤ phers and critics, and his own reading and obfervation have furnished him with. His great authority and luminary has been that admirable critic and hiftorian, Mr. Tho

need be little regarded: efpecially as the fame page which contains it, calls his uncle, our immortal and divine epic poet, "that villainous leading incendiary John Milton." Ath. II. p. 1117.

mas Warton, in his three quarto volumes. on English Poetry: and of this elegant writer, he has, as far as poffible, used the very words, because he knew every alteration would mar their beauty or their propriety.

The indefatigable, though tafteless Anthony Wood, has principally fupplied him with facts and dates, but the modern books of biography and criticism have not been neglected; and every writer of poetry, omitted by Phillips, with whose name the compiler's researches could furnish him, has been introduced in his proper place, though not under a feparate title; fuch diftinction having been fhewn to thofe only, whom Phillips thought worthy to be inferted in a lift of English poets,

6th May, 1799.

PREFACE

PREFACE

BY EDWARD PHILLIPS,

ΤΟ HIS

THEATRUM POETARUM.

To the most learned, vertuous, and by me most honour'd Pair of Friends Thomas Stanly,* of Cumberlo Green in Hertfordfhire, and Edward Sherburn*, Clerk of his Majefties Ordnance in the Tower of London, Efqs.

A Soft as I feriously confider with myself

moft worthy affociates in learning and vertue, and my most honoured friends, what a vaft difference there is, or at least

* Of these two poets the account will belong to the reign of Charles II. which with thofe of James I. and Charles I. is intended to form another volume. Editor.

feems