ever did, for
'twould be a Miracle if one was not biass'd by self-Love, when the other
is a dis-interested Judge, who has no other Aim, than discovering the
Truth, and making it known. Mr. _Corneille_ himself may be an Example of
this. All that he would Establish in his new Discourse of _Dramatick
Poetry_, is less founded on Nature, than his own proper Interest. It
appears by his own Words, that the design he had of defending what he
had ventured on the Stage, obliged him to forsake _Aristotle's_ Rules,
and to Establish new ones, which should be more favourable to himself;
we shall see in the Remarks, whether they can bear the Test. 'Tis
therefore no ways necessary to have made Poems, to prescribe Rules for
Poesie, and yet much less to explain them. If it was so, I would say
there were none, for of all those which have given any, I knew but one
that was a Poet; _Horace_ himself never made an Epick Poem or a Tragedy,
but to prescribe Rules for Poesie, as also to explain them; it is
sufficient to know the Origine, and Scope of the Art Treated of; to have
examin'd those Poems, which are the Basis and Foundation, to have made
Reflections on what is agreeable, and disagreeable, and rightly to
discover the Causes; this is the only necessary Knowledge I have
endeavour'd to acquire, and Philosophy alone can lead me thither.

I shall add once more, that if we make a Man more Learned, by
explaining the Rules as a Philosopher, 'tis Impossible, but he must
attain a surer Knowledge, to succeed in this Art. 'Tis true, we can't
give a _Genius_, that's not done by Art, but we can shew the Path a
_Genius_ ought to Tread in, and that is the only Design of all Rules.

I have not made the Apology of Commentators, to praise my self, for
although I am no Poet, it does not follow that I cannot be a good
Philosopher; I leave it to the Publick, and time, to Judge of my Work,
for I will neither Court, nor slight their Favours.

I have spoken very freely, in what I have pass'd my Judgment on, and in
so doing, Imitated the ancient Criticks, who spared neither
_Demosthenes_, nor _Thucidides_, nor _Plato_, nor any that was Great, or
Venerable in Antiquity. A flattering Criticism would be a pleasant sort
of one, when we should seek to Applaud, and the Respect due to the Name,
should check the Censure due to the Fault. I am not so scrupulous, and
if any one be offended, I shall Answer him as _Dionysius Halicarnassaeus_
answered _Pompey_ the Great, w