ADVERTISEMENT. TH HE occafion of publishing these Imitations was the clamour raised on some of my Epiftles. An answer from Horace was both more full, and of more dignity, than any I could have made in my own perfon; and the example of much greater freedom in fo eminent a divine as Dr. Donne, feemed a proof with what indignation and contempt a chriftian may treat vice or folly, in ever fo low, or ever fo high a ftation. Both these authors were acceptable to the Princes and Minifters under whom they lived. The Satires of Dr. Donne I verfified, at the defire of the earl of Oxford, while he was lord treasurer, and of the duke of Shrewsbury, who had been fecretary of ftate: neither of whom looked upon a Satire on vicious courts as any reflection on those they served in. And indeed there is not in the world a greater erTor, than that which fools are fo apt to fall into, and knaves with good reafon to encourage, the mistaking a Satirift for a Libeller; whereas to a true Satirift nothing is fo ódious as a Libeller, for the fame reason as to a man truly virtuous nothing is so hateful as a Hypocrite. ni æquus Virtuti atque ejus Amicis. WHOEVER expects a Paraphrase of Horace, or a faithful copy of his genius, or manner of writing, in thefe IMITATIONS, will be much difappointed, Our author uses the Roman poet for little more than his canvas; and if the old defign or colouring chance to fuit his purpose, it is well; if not, he employs his own, without fcruple or ceremony. Hence it is, he is fo frequently serious where Horace is in jeft; and at ease where Horace is disturbed, In a word, he regulates his movements no further on his original, than was neceffary for his concurrence, in promoting their common plan of Reformation of manners. Had it been his purpose merely to paraphrafe an ancient fatirift, he had hardly made choice of Horace; with whom, as a poet, he held little in common, be~ fides a comprehenfive knowledge of life and manners, and a certain curious felicity of expreffion, which confifts in ufing the fimpleft language with dignity, and the moft ornamented with ease. For the reft, his harmony and ftrength of numbers, his force and fplendor of colouring, his gravity and fublimity of fentiment, would have raVOL. II, D ther ther led him to another model. Nor was his temper lefs unlike that of Horace, than his talents. What Horace would only fmile at, Mr. Pope would treat with the grave feverity of Perfius: and what Mr. Pope would ftrike with the cauftic lightning of Juvenal, Horace would content himself in turning into ridicule. If it be asked then, why he took any body at all to imitate, he has informed us in his Advertisement : to which we may add, that this fort of Imitations, which are of the nature of Parodies, adds reflected grace and fplendor on original wit. Befides, he deemed it more modeft to give the name of Imitations to his Satires, than, like Defpreaux, to give the name of Satires to Imitations, TI SATIRE I. P.THERE are (I fcarce can think it, but am told) There are, to whom my Satire feems too bold; Scarce to wife Peter complaifant enough, And something faid of Chartres *much too rough. I come to council learned in the law: You'll give me, like a friend both fage and free, F. I'd write no more. P. Not write? but then I think, 10 And for my foul I cannot fleep a wink. I nod in company, I wake at night, Fools rush into my head, and fo I write. F. You could not do a worfe thing for your life. 15 Why, if the nights feem tedious-take a wife : Hartshorn, or fomething that fhall clofe your eyes. 20 It has been commonly obferved of the English, that a rogue never goes to the gallows without the pity of the fpe&ators, and their parting curses on the rigour of the laws that brought them thither: and this has been as commonly afcribed to the good nature of the p ople. But it is a mistake. The true cause is their hatred and envy of power. Their compaffion for dunces and scoundrels (when exposed by great writers to public contempt, either in justice to the age, or in vindication of their own characters) has the fame fource. They cover their envy to a fuperior genius, in lamenting the feve. rity of his pen. D 2 Or, 20 Or, if you needs muft write, write CÆSAR's praise, P. What? like Sir Richard *, rumbling, rough, and With ARMS and GEORGE and BRUNSWICK crowd the verfe, Rend with tremendous found your ears afunder, With gun, drum, trumpet, blunderbufs and thunder? P. Alas! few verfes touch their nicer ear; It is to History he trufts for praise. F. Better be Cibber, I'll maintain it ftill, 25 30 35 40 P. What should ail them ? F. A hundred fmart in Timon and in Balaam : The fewer ftill you name, you wound the more ; Bond is but one, but Harpax is a score. * Mr. Molyneux, a great mathematician and philofopher, had a high "All our English poets, opinion of Sir Richard Blackmore's poetic vein. "except Milton (fays he, in a letter to Mr. Locke) have been mere ballad"makers in comparison of him." And Mr. Locke, in answer to this obfer. vation, replies, "I find with pleasure, a strange harmony throughout, be"tween your thoughts and mine." Just so a Roman lawyer, and a Greek hiftorian thought of the poetry of Cicero. But thefe being judgments made by men out of their own profeffion, are little regarded. And Pope and Juvenal will make Blackmore and Tully pafs for poetafters to the world's end. The horse on which his majesty charged at the battle of Oudenard ; when the Pretender, and the princes of the blood of France, fied before him. P. Each |