Be niggards of advice on no pretence; For the worst avarice is that of sense. With mean complacence, ne'er betray your trust, 580 Nor be fo civil as to prove unjust. Fear not the anger of the wife to raise; Those best can bear reproof, who merit praise. 585 Whose right it is, uncenfur'd, to be dull! Such, without wit, are Poets when they please, 599 As without learning they can take degrees. And flattery to fulfome dedicators, Whom, when they praife, the world believes no more Than when they promife to give fcribbling o'er. "Tis best sometimes your cenfure to restrain, And charitably let the dull be vain : NOTE. 595 Your Ver. 586. And ftares, tremendous, &c.] This picture was taken to himself by John Dennis, a furious old critic by profeffion, who, upon no other provoca tion, wrote against this Effay, and its author, in a manner perfectly lunatic: For, as to the mention made of him in ver. 270. he took it as a compliment, and faid it was treacherously meant to caufe him to overlook this Abufe of his Perfon. VARIATION. Ver. 597. And charitably let dull fools be vain. Your filence there is better than your spite, For who can rail fo long as they can write? Still humming on, their drowzy course they keep, 600 Ev'n to the dregs and fqueezings of the brain, 605 Such shameless Bards we have: and yet 'tis true, 610' With loads of learned lumber in his head, 615 Name Ver. 600. VARIATION. Still humming on, their old dull course they keep. NOTE. Ver. 619. Garth did not write, &c.] A common flander at that time in prejudice of that deferving author. Our Poet did him this juftice, when that flander moft prevailed; and it is now (perhaps the fooner for this very verfe) dead and forgotten. 620 Name a new Play, and he's the Poet's friend, dead; 625 Nor is Paul's church more fafe than Paul's church-yard: But where's the man, who counsel can bestow, Not dully prepoffefs'd, nor blindly right; } 630 Though learn'd, well-bred; and though well-bred, fincere ; Modeftly bold, and humanly severe : Who to a friend his faults can freely show, And gladly praise the merit of a foe? Bleft with a taste exact, yet unconfin'd; A knowledge both of books and human kind; 635 640 Generous VARIATIONS. Ver. 623. Between this and ver. 624. In vain you shrug and fweat, and strive to fly : Ver. 624. Nay run to Altars, &c. Ver. 634. Not dully prepoffefs'd, or blindly right. Generous converfe; a foul exempt from pride; Such once were Critics; fuch the happy few, The mighty Stagyrite firft left the shore, Spread all his fails, and durst the deeps explore; Receiv'd his laws; and stood convinc'd 'twas fit, The trueft notions in the easiest way. VARIATIONS. 645 650 655 He, Between ver. 646 and 649, I found the following lines, fince fuppreffed by the Author: That bold Columbus of the realms of wit, A boundless empire, and that own'd no fway. After ver. 648. the first edition reads, Not only Nature did his laws obey, But Fancy's boundless empire own'd his sway. Ver. 655. Does, like a friend, &c. Ver. 655, 656. These lines are not in ed. 1. He, who fupreme in judgment, as in wit, Yet judg'd with coolness, though he fung with fire; They judge with fury, but they write with phlegm: every line! Fancy and art in gay Petronius please, The scholar's learning, with the courtier's ease. Thee, bold Longinus! all the Nine inspire, VARIATIONS. 660 665 670 675 Whofe Ver. 668. The fcholar's learning, and the courtier's ease. Ver. 673, &c. Nor thus alone the curious eye to please, But to be found, when need requires, with eafe. The Mufes fure Longinus did infpire, And blefs'd their Critic with a Poet's fire. An ardent Judge, that zealous, &c. |