Every old poem is sacred.
I have to submit to much in order to pacify the touchy tribe of poets.
That I make poetry and give pleasure - if I give pleasure - are because of you.
Not gods, nor men, nor even booksellers have put up with poets' being second-rate.
No poems can please for long or live that are written by water drinkers.
Mediocrity in poets has never been tolerated by either men, or gods, or booksellers.
Verses devoid of substance, melodious trifles. [Lat., Versus inopes rerum, nugaeque canorae.]
A comic matter cannot be expressed in tragic verse. [Lat., Versibus exponi tragicis res comica non vult.]
Let your poem be kept nine years.
Where there are many beauties in a poem I shall not cavil at a few faults proceeding either from negligence or from the imperfection of our nature.
It is not enough that poetry is agreeable, it should also be interesting.
And take back ill-polished stanzas to the anvil.