The plague of Athens, which hapned [sic] in the second year of the Peloponnesian war / First described in Greek by Thucydides; then in Latine by Lucretius. Now attempted in English by Tho. Sprat.

  • Sprat, Thomas, 1635-1713.
Date:
1683
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The plague of Athens, which hapned [sic] in the second year of the Peloponnesian war / First described in Greek by Thucydides; then in Latine by Lucretius. Now attempted in English by Tho. Sprat. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    fhapes of the mifery ftill remaining on his mind, which muft needs make a great impreffion on his Pen afid Fancy. Whereas the Poet was forced to allow his foot-{teps, and onely work on that mat- ter he allowed him. | This I {peak, .becaufe it may in fome meafure too excufe my own defects: For being fofar removeddrom the place whereon the difeafe acted his Tragedy ; and. time having de- nied us many of the Circumftances, Cuftoms of the Country, and other fmall things which would be of great ufe to any one who did intend to be perfect on the Subject; befides, onely writing by an Idea of that which I never yet faw, nor care to feel, ( being not of the humour of the Pain- ter in Sir Philip Sidney, who-thruft himfelf into the midft of a Fight, that he might the better de- lineate it.') Having, I-fay, all thefe difadvantages, and many ‘more, for which [ muft onely blame my felf, 1t cannot be expected that I fhould come '. hear equalling him, in whom. none of the contrary advantages were wanting. ‘Thus then, Sir, by emboldning me to this*rath attempt, you have given opportunity to the Greek and Latine to tri- umph over our Mother Tongue. Yet 1 would not have the honour of the Countries or Languages engaged in the comparifon, but that the inequa- lity dhould reach no farther than the Authours. tion of that excellent perfon, (the prefent Or- nament and Honour of our Nation) whofe way of Spec ee