ients had a particular regard to the choice of their subjects;
which were generally national and great. My subject is, in its own nature,
noble; most proper for an Englishman; never more proper than on this
occasion; and (what is strange) hitherto unsung.

If I stand not absolutely condemned by my own rules; if I have hit the
spirit of ode in general; if I cannot think with Mr. Cowley, that "Music
alone, sometimes, makes an excellent ode;"

Versus inopes rerum, nugaeque canorae;

if there is any thought, enthusiasm, and picture, which are as the body,
soul, and robe of poetry; in a word, if in any degree I have provided
rather food for men, than air for wits; I hope smaller faults will meet
indulgence for the sake of the design, which is the glory of my country
and my king.

And indeed, this may be said, in general, that great subjects are above
being nice; that dignity and spirit ever suffer from scrupulous exactness;
And that the minuter cares effeminate a composition. Great masters of
poetry, painting, and statuary, in their nobler works, have even affected
the contrary: and justly; for a truly masculine air partakes more of the
negligent, than of the neat, both in writings, and in life--

Grandis oratio haberet majestatis suae pondus.

--PETRON.

A poem, like a criminal, under too severe correction, may lose all its
spirit, and expire. We know it was Faberrimus, that was such an artist at
a hair or a nail. And we know the cause was

Quia ponere totum
Nescius.

HOR.

To close: if a piece of this nature wants an apology, I must own, that
those who have strength of mind sufficient profitably to devote the whole
of their time to the severer studies, I despair of imitating, I can only
envy and admire. The mind is relieved and strengthened by variety; and he
that sometimes is sporting with his pen, is only taking the most effectual
means of giving a general importance to it. This truth is clear from the
knowledge of human nature, and of history; from which I could cite very
celebrated instances, did I not fear that, by citing them, I should
condemn myself, who am so little qualified to follow their example in its
full extent.

Ocean. An Ode.

Let the sea make a noise, let the floods clap their hands.