Book One

of the _Ars Amoris_ is included among Fielding's books, however, and Cross suggests that Fielding "kept one eye" on it. It is surprising how much visualization there is in his imitation. Many of the incidents resemble those treated by Hogarth, with whom by 1747 Fielding was on excellent terms. There is also some resemblance in his contemporaneous materials, or modernization, to scenes in Fielding's own later plays, and in his novels.

PREFACE

_This Work was begun many Years ago, though altered in some Places by the Author, before his Death; as will appear by the modern Instances introduced in it. Many of which being so applicable to the present Time, is the Occasion of it being now published._

_As to any Exception which may be made to the Impurity of this Work, we shall transcribe what was written long ago in its Defence, from the Preface prefixed to Mr. _Dryden_'s Translation of this Poem._

'A great many People are mistaken in these Books; and tho' they were made use of as a Pretence to drive the Author from the Court of _Augustus_, and confine him to _Tomos_ on the Frontiers of the _Getae_ and _Sarmatae_, yet they were not the true Cause of his Confinement. They are very far from being so licentious as the Writings of several other Poets, both _Greek_ and _Latin_. However we must own he might have been a little more discreet, especially in some Places[A].

[Note A: He means in the other two Books.]

'That which offended the _Romans_ most in this Work, cannot touch us. It has always been more dangerous in _Italy_ to converse with Women of Honour, and frequent their Houses, than 'tis with us; where there is more Liberty, and what in that Country may be an Occasion of Debauchery, would not at all be so in ours.

'Notwithstanding all that has been said against these Books _of the Art of Love_, by some over-scrupulous Persons, whose Discretion has too much of Affectation in it: they are not only necessary for the Knowledge of the _Latin_ Tongue, and the _Roman_ History, concerning which they contain several Things very particular; but for the noble Sentiments we find in them, which the _Gravest_ and _Learnedest_ Writers have thought worthy to be quoted 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 Commentators.

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