Then sportive HORACE caught the gen'rous fire; He seem'd to sport and trifle with the dart, In graver ftrains majestick PERSIUS wrote, Big with a ripe exuberance of thought: Greatly fedate, contemn'd a Tyrant's reign, And lash'd corruption with a calm disdain. More ardent eloquence, and boundless rage, Inflame bold JUVENAL's exalted page, 375 380 His mighty numbers aw'd corrupted Rome, 385 NOTES. Omne vafer vitium ridenti Flaccus amico Tangit, et admiffus circum præcordia ludit, Callidus excuffo populum fufpendere nafo. PERS. S. i. 390 But lo! the fatal Victor of Mankind, Swoln Luxury!-pale Ruin stalks behind! As countless Infects from the north-east pour, To blaft the Spring, and ravage ev'ry flow'r : So barb'rous Millions spread contagious death: The fick❜ning Laurel wither'd at their breath. Deep Superftition's night the skies o'erhung, 395 Beneath whose baleful dews the Poppy sprung. No longer Genius woo'd the Nine to love, But Dulness nodded in the Mufe's grove: Wit, Spirit, Freedom, were the fole offence, Nor aught was held so dangerous as Sense. 400 At length, again fair Science shot her ray, Dawn'd in the fkies, and spoke returning day. Now, SATIRE, triumph o'er thy flying foe, Now load thy quiver, ftring thy flacken'd bow! "Tis done-See, great ERASMUS breaks the spell, And wounds triumphant Folly in her Cell! 406 (In vain the folemn Cowl surrounds her face, Vain all her bigot cant, her four grimace) With shame compell'd her leaden throne to quit, And own the force of Reason urg'd by Wit. 410 "Twas then plain DONNE in honeft vengeance rofe, His Wit harmonious, tho' his Rhyme was profe: He 'midst an Age of Puns and Pedants wrote With genuine sense, and Roman ftrength of thought. Yet fcarce had SATIRE well relum'd her flame, (With grief the Muse records her Country's shame) Ere Britain faw the foul revolt commence, And treach'rous Wit began her war with Senfe. Then rose a shameless mercenary train, Whom latest Time shall view with just disdain: A race fantastick, in whofe gaudy line 421 Untutor❜d thought, and tinsel beauty shine Ill-fated DRYDEN! who unmov'd can fee 429 Th' extremes of wit and meanness join'd in Thee! Flames that could mount, and gain their kindred skies, Low-creeping in the putrid fink of vice: A Muse whom Wisdom woo'd, but woo'd in vain, The Pimp of Pow'r, the Prostitute to Gain: 434 Wreaths, that should deck fair Virtue's form alone, To Strumpets, Traitors, Tyrants, vilely thrown: 440 More happy France: immortal BOILEAU there Supported Genius with a Sage's care: Him with her love propitious SATIRE bleft, And breath'd her airs divine into his breast: Fancy and Senfe to form his line conspire, And faultlefs Judgment guides the purest Fire. But fee, at length, the British Genius smile, 445 Gay fmiles, collected strength, and manly rage. Despairing Guilt and Dulness loath the fight, 451 In this clear Mirror with delight we view Here Vice, drag'd forth by Truth's fupreme decree, 456 While felf-feen Virtue in the faithful line With modeft joy furveys her form divine. But oh, what thoughts, what numbers shall I find, 460 But faintly to express the Poet's mind♣ : 471 |