uoted for _Authorities_.

'In a Word, there's nothing in them that comes near the _Licence_ of
some _Epigrams_ of _Catullus_, _Martial_, and _Ausonius_, of some
_Satires_ of _Horace_ and _Juvenal_, and several other Pieces of
_Ancient_ and _Modern_ Authors, which are read and commented upon; and
about which even celebrated _Jesuits_ and other religious Persons, as
eminent for their Piety as their Erudition, have employed their
Studies. Yet who has condemn'd or complain'd of them? We must confess,
such Things should be managed with Address; and those of them who have
meddled with any of the Authors I have named, have shewn that it may
be done so, by their succeeding so happily in it.

'As for this Treatise of the _Art of Love_, for which the Author has
also prescrib'd a _Remedy_, as it is liable to be ill interpreted by
those whose Pens poison every Thing they touch; so it may bear a good
Construction, by such as know how to turn every Thing to Advantage.

'I will yet say, this _Art_ may be apply'd to those that intend to
marry. There is nothing sure against Decency in all that. I agree, if
you will have it so, that it extends so far as to direct one to the
Means to gain a Mistress. If this was not lawful heretofore in
_Italy_, on account of the jealous Humour of the _Italians_, we
cannot, for the same Reason only, say it ought to be forbidden in our
Country, any more than in several others, provided we could be sure
the Ladies Modesty would not be offended, before whom Youth should be
always careful not to exceed the Bounds of the Respect that's due to
them.'

_To this I may add, that if the Objection of Impurity lies against any
Part of this Work, it is only against the two latter Books, for in
that which we have here paraphrased, there is nothing capable of
offending the nicest Ear._

_With regard to the Merit of this Paraphrase, which is entirely a new
Undertaking, and might perhaps, if properly encouraged, be carried on
with other Latin Poets, we shall only observe, that the utmost Care
hath been taken to preserve the Spirit and true Sense of the Author,
and where we have been obliged to deviate, we have given the literal
Translation in the Notes._

_Upon the whole, we cannot suppress, what one of the most learned Men
of this Age, said upon persuing the Paraphrase_, viz. That he thought
it would serve better to explain the Meaning of _Ovid_ to a Learner,
than any other Translation, or all his numerous Comment