Verbatim from BOILEAU. Un Jour dit un Auteur, etc. NCE (fays our Author, where I need no: fay) There take (fays Juice) take ye each a Shell. ANSWER to the following Question of Mrs. HowE. HAT IS PRUDERY WHAT 'Tis a Beldam, Seen with Wit and Beauty feldom. That rails at dear Lepell and You. Occafioned by fome Verses of his Grace the Duke of BUCKING HAM. M USE, 'tis enough: at length thy labour ends, mends. Let Crowds of Critics now my verse affail, This more than pays whole years of thankless pain, A PROLOGUE By Mr. POPE, To a Play for Mr. DENNIS's Benefit, in 1733, when he was old, blind, and in great Diftrefs, a little before his Death. As S when that Hero, who in each Campaign, Had brav'd the Goth, and many a Vandal Lay Fortune-ftruck, a fpectacle of Woe! 5 VER. 6. But pitied Belifarius, etc.] Nothing could be more happily imagined than this allufion, or finelier conducted. And the continued pleasantry so delicately touched, that it took no thing from the self satisfaction the Critic, who heard it, had in Kis merit, or the Audience in their charity. With fo mafterly Was there a Chief but melted at the Sight? 9 How chang'd from him who made the boxes groan, If there's a Senior, who contemns this age; And be the Critic's, Briton's, Old Man's Friend. a hand has the Poet profecuted, in this benevolent irony, that end, which he fuppofed Dennis himfelf, had he the wit to fee, would have the ingenuity to approve. This dreaded Sat'rift, Dennis zvill confefs, Foe to bis pride, but Friend to his Diftrefs. VER 7. Was there a Chief, etc.] The fine figure of the Com mander in that capital Picture of Belifarius at Chifwick, fupplied the Poet with this beautiful idea. MACER: A CHARACTER. W HEN fimple Macer, now of high renown, First fought a Poet's Fortune in the Town, "Twas all th' Ambition his high foul could feel, 10 14 So fome coarse Country Wench, almoft decay'd, Trudges to town, and firft turns Chambermaid; Aukward and fupple, each devoir to pay; She flatters her good Lady twice a day; |