In artless numbers paint th' ambitious Peer 285 290 Not fo when Virtue by her Guards betray'd, Spurn'd from her Throne, implores the Mufe's aid: When crimes, which erst in kindred darkness lay, Rife frontlefs, and infult the eye of day; Indignant Hymen veils his hallow'd fires, 296 Hot from Cocytus rears her baleful head': 300 When private Faith and publick Truft are fold, When fell Corruption dark and deep, like fate, 305 On mountain'd falfe-hoods to invade the Skies: Then warmer numbers glow thro' SATIRE's page, And all her fmiles are darken'd into rage: On eagle-wing the gains Parnaffus' height, Then keener indignation fires her eye; 310 Then flash her lightnings, and her thunders fly; Wide and more wide her flaming bolts are hurl'd, Till all her wrath involves the guilty World. 315 320 Yet SATIRE oft affumes a gentler mien, And beams on Virtue's friends a fmile ferene: She wounds reluctant; pours her balm with joy; Glad to commend where Worth attracts her eye. But chief, when Virtue, Learning, Arts decline, She joys to fee unconquer'd Merit shine; Where bursting glorious, with departing ray, True Genius gilds the clofe of Britain's Day: With joy fhe fees the ftream of Roman art From MURRAY's tongue flow purer to the heart: Sees YORKE to Fame, e'er yet to Manhood known, And just to ev'ry virtue, but his own: 326 Hears unftain'd CAM with generous pride proclaim A SAGE'S, CRITIC's, and a POET's name: Beholds, where WIDCOMBE's happy hills afcend, Each orphan'd Art and Virtue find a friend: To HAGLEY's honour'd Shade directs her view; And culls each flow'r, to form a Wreath for You. 330 But tread with cautious ftep this dang❜rous ground, Befet with faithlefs precipices round : Truth be your guide: difdain Ambition's call; 335 And if you fall with Truth, you greatly fall. And who unmov'd with laughter can behold 340 Nor think the Mufe by SATIRE's Law confin'd: And paint the purple ev'ning in the line: 346 350 Now with a touch more facred and refin'd, 355 Call forth aCHESTERFIELD's orLONSDALE's mind. Here sweet or strong may ev'ry Colour flow: Here let the pencil warm, the canvass glow : Of light and shade provoke the noble strife, 360 T HRO' Ages thus hath SATIRE keenly fhin'd, The Friend to Truth, to Virtue, and Mankind: Yet the bright flame from Virtue ne'er had fprung, And Man was guilty ere the Poet sung. This Mufe in filence joy'd each better Age, 365 Till glowing crimes had wak'd her into rage. 370 Truth faw her honeft fpleen with new delight, NOTES. HOR. a Archilocum proprio rabies armavit Iambo. b Enfe velut ftricto quoties Lucilius ardens Infremuit, rubet auditor cui frigida mens eft Criminibus, tacita fudant præcordia culpa. Juv. S. i. Then fportive HORACE caught the gen'rous fire; For SATIRE's bow refign'd the founding lyre: 376 Each arrow polifh'd în his hand was feen, And, as it grew more polish'd, grew more keen. Politely fly, cajol'd the foes of fense: He feem'd to sport and trifle with the dart, 380 In graver ftrains majestick PERSIUS wrote, Big with a ripe exuberance of thought: Greatly fedate, contemn'd a Tyrant's reign, 385 And lafh'd corruption with a calm difdain. More ardent eloquence, and boundless rage, NOTES. e Omne vafer vitium ridenti Flaccus amico Tangit, et admiffus circum præcordia ludit, Callidus excuffo populum fufpendere nafo. PERS. S. i. |