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But lefs to please the eye than arm the hand,
Still fit for ufe, and ready at command.

Thee, bold Longinus! all the Nine inspire,
And blefs their critic with a poet's fire:
An ardent judge, who, zealous in his trust,
With warmth gives fentence, yet is always just;
Whofe own example ftrengthens all his laws,
And is himself that great Sublime he draws.
Thus long fucceeding critics justly reign'd,
Licenfe reprefs'd, and ufeful laws ordain'd:
Learning and Rome alike in empire grew,
And arts ftill follow'd where her Eagles flew ;
From the fame foes at last both felt their doom,
And the fame age faw Learning fall and Rome.
With Tyranny then Superftition join'd,

As that the body, this enflav'd the mind;
Much was believ'd, but little understood,
And to be dull was conftru'd to be good:
A fecond deluge Learning thus o'er-ran,
And the Monks finifh'd what the Goths began.
At length Erafmus, that great injur'd name,
(The glory of the priesthood, and the fhame!)
Stemm'd the wild torrent of a barb'rous age,
And drove those holy Vandals off the stage.

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But fee! each Mufe in Leo's golden days Starts from her trance, and trims her wither'd bays; Rome's ancient Genius o'er its ruins fpread,

Shakes off the duft, and rears his rev'rend head. 700
Then Sculpture and her fifter arts revive;

Stones leap'd to form, and rocks began to live;
With sweeter notes each rifing temple rung;
A Raphael painted, and a Vida fung:
Immortal Vida! on whofe honour'd brow
The poet's bays and critic's ivy grow!
Cremona now thall ever boaft thy name,
As next in place to Mantua, next in fame!

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But foon by impious arms from Latium chas'd, Their ancient bounds the banifh'd Mufes pafs'd: 710 Thence arts o'er all the northern world advance, But critic learning flourish'd most in France:

The

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The rules a nation born to ferve obeys,
And Boileau still in right of Horace sways.
But we, brave Britons! foreign laws defpis'd,
And kept unconquer'd and unciviliz'd;
Fierce for the liberties of wit, and bold,
We ftill defy'd the Romans, as of old.
Yet fome there were, among the founder few
Of those who lefs prefum'd and better knew,
Who durft affert the jufter ancient cause,
And here reftor'd Wit's fundamental laws.
Such was the Mufe whofe rules and practice tell
Nature's chief masterpiece is writing well."
Such was Rofcommon, not more learn'd than good,
With manners gen'rous as his noble blood;
To him the wit of Greece and Rome was known,
And ev'ry author's merit but his own.

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Such late was Walth---the Mufe's judge and friend,
Who justly knew to blame or to commend;
To failings mild, but zealous for defert,
The clearest head, and the fincereft heart..
This humble praise, lamented Shade! receive;
This praife at least a grateful Mufe may give:

The Mufe whofe early voice you taught to fing, 735
Prefcrib'd her heights, and prun'd her tender wing,
(Her guide now loft) no more attempts to rise,
But in low numbers fhort excursions tries;

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Content if hence th' unlearn'd their wants may view,
The learn'd reflect on what before they knew:
Careless of cenfure, nor too fond of fame;
Still pleas'd to praise, yet not afraid to blame;
Averfe alike to flatter or offend;

Not free from faults, nor yet too vain to mend.

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OF the end and efficacy of Satire. The love of glory, and fear of fhame univerfal, ver. 29. This paffion, implanted in man as a spur to virtue, is generally perverted, ver. 41. and thus becomes the occafion of the greatest follies, vices, and miferies, ver. 61. It is the work of Satire to rectify this paffion, to reduce it to its proper channel, and to convert it into an incentive to wifdom and virtue, ver. 89. Hence it appears that Satire may influence those who defy all laws, human and divine, ver. 99. An objection answered, ver. 131.

PART II.

Rules for the conduct of Satire. Juftice and truth its chief and effential property, ver. 169. Prudence in the application of wit and ridicule, whofe province is not to explore unknown but to enforce known truths, ver. 191. Proper subjects of Satire are the manners of the present times, ver. 239. Decency of expreffion recommended, ver. 255. The different methods in which folly and vice ought to be chaftifed, ver. 269. The variety of style and manner which thefe two fubjects require, ver. 277. The praife of virtue may be admitted with propriety, ver. 315. Caution with regard to panegyric, er. 329. The dignity of true Satire, ver. 341.

PART III.

The hiftory of Satire. Roman Satirifts, Lucilius, Horace, Perfius, Juvenal, ver. 357, &c. Caufes of the decay of literature, particularly of Satire, ver. 389. Revival of Satire, ver. 401. Erafmus one of its principal reftorers, ver. 405. Donne, ver. 411. The abufe of Satire in England during the licentious reign of Charles II. ver. 415. Dryden, ver. 429: The true ends of Satire pursued by Boileau in France, ver. 439. and by Mr. Pope in England, ver. 445.

PART I.

FATE gave the word; the cruel arrow fped,
And Pope lies number'd with the mighty dead!
Refign'd he fell; fuperior to the dart

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That quench'd its rage in Your's and Britain's heart.
You mourn; but Britain, lull'd in rest profound,
(Unconscious Britain !) flumbers o'er her wound.
Exulting Dulnefs ey'd the fetting light,
And flapp'd her wing, impatient for the night:
Rous'd at the fignal, Guilt collects her train,
And counts the triumphs of her growing reign:
With inextinguishable rage they burn,
And fnake-hung Envy hiffes o'er his urn:
Th' envenom'd monfters fpit their deadly foam
To blaft the laurel that furrounds his tomb.
But you, O Warburton! whofe eye
refin'd
Can fee the greatness of an honeft mind;
Can fee each virtue and each grace unite,
And taste the raptures of a pure delight;
You vifit oft' his awful page with care,
And view that bright affemblage treasur'd there;
You trace the chain that links his deep defign,
And pour new luftre on the glowing line.
Yet deign to hear the efforts of a Mufe
Whofe eye, not wing, his ardent flight pursues:
Intent from this 'great archetype to draw

Satire's bright form, and fix her equal law;

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Pleas'd if from hence th' unlearn'd may comprehend,
And rev'rence his and Satire's gen'rous end.
In ev'ry breaft there burns an active flame,

The love of glory, or the dread of shame :

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The paffion one, tho' various it appear,
As brighten'd into hope, or dimm'd by fear.
The lifping infant and the hoary fire,

And youth and manhood, feel the heart-born fire:
The charms of praise the coy, the modeft, woo,
And only fly that glory may pursue:

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She,

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