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By JOHN BROWN, D. D,

O while along the stream of Time thy Name
Expanded flies, and gathers all its fame;

Say, fhall my little barque attendant fail,

Pursue the triumph, and partake the gale?

CONTENTS.

PART I.

AN

SOLE

ESSAY

AN

on SATIRE.

PART I.

ATE gave the word; the cruel arrow fped;
And POPE lies number'd with the mighty dead!

Refign'd he fell fuperior to the dart,

That quench'd its rage in YouRs and BRITAIN's heart:

You

You mourn: but BRITAIN, lull'd in rest profound,
(Unconscious Britain!) flumbers o'er her wound.
Exulting Dulness ey'd the setting 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 monsters spit 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 tafte the raptures of a pure delight;
You vifit oft his aweful page
with care,

And view that bright affemblage treafur'd there;
You trace the chain that links his deep design,
And pour new luftre on the glowing line.
Yet deign to hear the efforts of a Muse,
Whofe eye, not wing, his ardent flight pursues ;
Intent from this great archetype to draw

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

Pleas'd if from hence th' unlearn'd may comprehend,
And reverence His and SATIRE'S

5

10

15

20

25

generous

end.

In ev'ry breast there burns an active flame,
The love of glory, or the dread of shame :
The paffion ONE, tho' various it appear,
As brighten'd into hope, or dimm'd by fear.
3

30

The

The lifping infant, and the hoary fire,

And youth and manhood feel the heart-born fire;
The charms of praise the coy, the modest wooe,
And only fly, that glory may pursue :
She, pow'r refiftlefs, rules the wife and great;
Bends ev'n reluctant hermits at her feet:
Haunts the proud city, and the lowly shade,
And sways alike the scepter and the spade.

Thus heav'n in pity wakes the friendly flame,
Το urge mankind on deeds that merit fame:
But man, vain man, in folly only wife,
Rejects the manna fent him from the skies:
With rapture hears corrupted paffion's call,
Still proudly prone to mingle with the ftall.
As each deceitful fhadow tempts his view,
He for the imag'd fubftance quits the true:
Eager to catch the visionary prize,
In queft of glory plunges deep in vice;
Till madly zealous, impotently vain,
He forfeits ev'ry praise he pants to gain..

Thus ftill imperious Nature plies her part;
And still her dictates work in ev'ry heart.
Each pow'r that fov'reign Nature bids enjoy,
Man
may corrupt, but man can ne'er destroy.
Like mighty rivers, with refiftless force
The paffions rage, obftructed in their course;
Swell to new heights, forbidden paths explore,
And drown thofe virtues which they fed before.

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