Congreve, who had led me the way in translating some parts of Homer. I

must add the names of Mr. Rowe, and Dr. Parnell, though I shall take a

further opportunity of doing justice to the last, whose good nature (to

give it a great panegyric), is no less extensive than his learning. The

favour of these gentlemen is not entirely undeserved by one who bears them

so true an affection. But what can I say of the honour so many of the

great have done me; while the first names of the age appear as my

subscribers, and the most distinguished patrons and ornaments of learning

as my chief encouragers? Among these it is a particular pleasure to me to

find, that my highest obligations are to such who have done most honour to

the name of poet: that his grace the Duke of Buckingham was not displeased

I should undertake the author to whom he has given (in his excellent

Essay), so complete a praise:

Read Homer once, and you can read no more;

For all books else appear so mean, so poor,

Verse will seem prose: but still persist to read,

And Homer will be all the books you need."

That the Earl of Halifax was one of the first to favour me; of whom it is

hard to say whether the advancement of the polite arts is more owing to

his generosity or his example: that such a genius as my Lord Bolingbroke,

not more distinguished in the great scenes of business, than in all the

useful and entertaining parts of learning, has not refused to be the

critic of these sheets, and the patron of their writer: and that the noble

author of the tragedy of "Heroic Love" has continued his partiality to me,

The Iliad of Homer