THE LIBRARY 
 
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 WORKS 
 
 O F 
 
 Alexander Pope Efq- 
 
 In Nine Volumes Complete. 
 
 WITH HIS LAST 
 
 CORRECTIONS, ADDITIONS, 
 
 A N T D 
 
 IMPROVEMENTS. 
 
 Publifhed by 
 
 Mr. WARBURTON. 
 
 OCCASIONAL 
 
 LONDON, 
 
 Printed for J. and P. KN APTON, H. LINTOT, 
 J. and R. T o N s o N, and S. D R A p E R. 
 
 M DCC LI
 
 
 sb (A 
 
 Alte fpeclare fi voles, neque fermonibus VULGI 
 dederis te, nee in Przmiis humanis fpem pofu- 
 eris rerum tuarum ; fnis te illecebris oportet ipfa 
 Virtus trahat ad verum decus. QUID DE TE 
 
 ALII LOqUANTUR IPSI VIDEANT, SED IO- 
 
 QUENTUR TAM1N. 6W,
 
 THE 
 
 WORKS 
 
 O F 
 
 Alexander Pope Efq, 
 
 VOLUME I. 
 
 CONTAINING HIS 
 
 JUVENILE POEMS. 
 
 LONDON 
 
 Printed for H. LINTOT, J. and R. TCNSOK, 
 and S. DRAPER. 
 
 M DCC LI,
 
 ADVERTISEMENT 
 
 T O T H E 
 
 Large OCTAVO EDITION. 
 
 MR, POPE, in his laft illnefs, amufed 
 himfelf, amidft the care of his 
 higher concerns, in preparing a corrected 
 and complete Edition of his Writings * ; 
 and, with his ufual delicacy, was even fo- 
 licitous to prevent any mare of the offence 
 they might occafion, from falling on the 
 Friend whom he had engaged to give 
 them to the Public -(-. 
 
 * I own the late encroachments upon my 
 " conftitution make me willing to fee the end of all 
 <c further care about me or my works. I would reft 
 " for the one in a full refignation of my Being to be 
 " difpofed of by the Father of all Mercy; and for 
 " the other (though indeed a trifle, yet a trifle may 
 " be fome example) I would commit them to the 
 " candour of a fenfible and reflecting judge, rather 
 " than to the malice of every fhort-fighted and 
 " malevolent critic, or inadvertent and cenforious 
 " Reader. And no hand can fet them in fo good a 
 " light, &c." Let. cxx. to Mr. If. 
 
 f " I alfo give and bequeath to the faid Mr. 
 Warburton, the property of all fuch of my Works 
 already printed as he hath written or mail write 
 Commentaries or notes upon, and which I have 
 not otherwife difpofed of or alienated ; and as he 
 fhall publifh WITHOUT FUTURE ALTERA-. 
 TJONS." His laft IVlll andTeJlament. 
 
 In
 
 iv ADVERTISEMENT. 
 
 In discharge of this truft, the Public has 
 here a complete Edition of his Works j 
 executed in fuch a manner, as, I am per- 
 fuaded, would have been to his fatisf action. 
 
 The Editor hath not, for the fake of 
 profit, furTered the Author's Name to be 
 made cheap by a Sitbjcription ; nor his 
 Works to be defrauded of their due Ho- 
 nours by a vulgar or inelegant Impreffion ; 
 nor his memory to be difgraced by any 
 pieces unworthy of his talents or virtue. 
 On the contrary, he ha^h, at a very great 
 expence, ornamented this Edition with all 
 the advantages which the beft Artifts in 
 Paper, Printing, and Sculpture could be- 
 llow upon it. 
 
 If the Public hath waited longer than 
 the deference flue to it fhould have fuf- 
 fered, it was owrfig to a reafon which the 
 Editor need not make a fecret. It was his 
 regard to the family-interefts of his de- 
 ceafed Friend. Mr. Pope, at his death, 
 left large impreffions of feveral parts of 
 his Works, unfold -, the property of which 
 was adjudged to belong to his Executors ; 
 and the Editor was willing they fhould 
 have time to difpofe of them to the beft 
 advantage, before the publication of this 
 Edition (which hath been long prepared) 
 iLoukl put a flop to the fale. 
 
 But
 
 
 ADVERTISEMENT. v 
 
 But it may be proper to be a little more 
 particular concerning the fuperiority of 
 this Edition above all the preceding $ fo 
 far as Mr. Pope himfelf was concerned. 
 What the Editor hath done, the Reader 
 muft collect for himfelf. 
 
 The FIRST Volume, and the original 
 poems in the SECOND, are here printed 
 from a copy corrected throughout by the 
 Author himfelf, even to the very preface : 
 Which, with feveral additional notes in 
 his own hand, he delivered to the Editor 
 a little before his death. The Juvenile 
 tranilations, in the other part of the SE- 
 COND Volume, it was never his inten- 
 tion to bring into this Edition of his 
 Works, on account of the levity of fome, 
 the freedom of others, *< ji the little im- 
 portance of any. But tkele being the pro- 
 perty of other men, the Editor had it not in 
 his power to follow the Author's intention. 
 
 The THIRD Volume, all but the Effay 
 on Man (which together with the Effay 
 on Criticifm, the Author, a little before 
 his death, had corrected and publifhed in 
 Quarto, as a fpecimen of his projected Edi- 
 tion) was printed by him in his laft ill- 
 nefs (but never published) in the manner 
 it is now given. The difpofition of the Epi- 
 Jlle on the Character s\of^Men is quite al- 
 A " tered ;
 
 VI ADVERTISEMENT. 
 
 tered ; that on the Characters of Women, 
 much enlarged ; and the Epiftles on Riches 
 and Tafte corrected and improved. To 
 thefe advantages of the THIRD Volume, 
 muft be added a great numher of fine 
 verfes taken from the Author's Manufcript- 
 copies of thefe poems, communicated by 
 him for this purpofe to the Editor. Thefe, 
 when hefirftpublimedthe poems to which 
 they belong, he thought proper, for va- 
 rious reafons, to omit. Some from theMa- 
 nufcript-copy of the EJJay on Man, which 
 tended to difcredit fate t and to recom- 
 mend the moral government of God, had, 
 by the Editor's advice, been reftored to 
 their places in the lad Edition of that 
 Poem. The reft, together with others of 
 the like fort from his Manufcript-copy of 
 the other Ethic Epiftks, are here inferted 
 at the bottom of the page, under the title 
 of Variations* 
 
 The FOURTH Volume contains the Sa- 
 tires ; with their Prologue, the Epiftle to 
 Dr. Arbuthnot -, and Epilogue, the two 
 poems intitled MDCCXXXVIII. The Pro- 
 fagueand Epilogie are here given with 
 the like advantages as the Ethic Epiftles 
 in the foregoing Volume, that is to fay, 
 with the Pariaticns, or additional verfes 
 from the Author's Manuicripts. The Epir 
 
 logue
 
 ADVERTISEMENT, vii 
 
 kgue to the Satires is likewife inriched 
 \vith many and large notes now firft 
 printed from theAuthor's own Manufcript. 
 The FIFTH Volume contains a correfter 
 and completer Edition of the Dunriad 
 than hath been hitherto published j of 
 which, at prefcnt I have only this further 
 to add, That it was at my requeft he laid 
 the plan of a fourth Book. I often told 
 him, It was pity fo fine a poem fhould re- 
 main difgraced by the meannefs of its fub- 
 iecl, the moil inflgnifcant of all Dunces, 
 bad Rymers and malevolent Cavillers: 
 That he ought to raife and enoble it by 
 pointing his Satire againft the moft per- 
 nicious of all, Minute-philofophers and 
 Free-thinkers. I imagined, too, it was 
 for the interefts of Religion to have it 
 known, that fo great a Genius had a 
 due abhorrence of thefe pefts of Virtue 
 and Society. He came readily into my 
 opinion ; but, at the fame time, told 
 me it would create him many enemies. 
 He was not miftaken. For tho' the terror 
 of his pen kept them for fome time in re- 
 fpeft, yet on his death they rofe with un- 
 reftrained fury in numerous Coffee-houfe 
 tales, and Grub-ftreet libels. The plan of 
 this admirable Satire was artfully contrived 
 to mew, that the follies and defccls of a 
 
 fa (h ion-
 
 vlii ADVERTISEMENT. 
 
 famionable EDUCATION naturally led to, 
 and neceffarily ended in, FREE-THINK- 
 JNG j with defign to point out the only 
 remedy adequate to fo fatal an evil. It 
 was to advance the fame ends of virtue 
 and religion, that the Editor prevailed on 
 him to alter every thing in his moral 
 writings that might be fufpe^ted of hav- 
 ing the leaft glance towards Fate or NA- 
 TURALISM ; and to add what was proper 
 to convince the world, that he was warm- 
 ly on the iide of moral Government and a 
 revealed Will* And it would be injuftice 
 to his memory not to declare that he em- 
 braced thefe occasions with the moil un- 
 feigned pleafure. 
 
 The SIXTH Volume confifts of Mr. 
 Pope's mifcellaneous pieces in verfe and 
 profe. Amongft the Verfe feveral fine 
 poems make now their firfl appearance 
 in his Works. And of the Profe, all that is 
 good, and nothing but what is exquiiitely 
 &>, will be found in this Edition. 
 
 The SEVENTH, EIGHTH, and NINTH 
 
 Volumes confift entirely of his Letters* 
 The more valuable, as they are the only 
 true models which we, or perhaps any of 
 our neighbours have, of familiar Epijiles. 
 This collection is now made more com- 
 plete by the addition of feveral new pieces. 
 
 Yet
 
 ADVERTISEMENT, ix 
 
 Yet, excepting a (hort explanatory letter 
 to Col. M. and the Letters to Mr. A. and 
 Mr. W. (the latter of which are given to 
 mew the Editor's inducements, and the 
 engagements he was under, to intend the 
 care of this Edition) excepting thcfe, I 
 fay, the reft are all here publifhed from 
 the Author's own printed tho' not pub- 
 Hfhed, copies delivered to the Editor. 
 
 On the whole, the Advantages of this 
 Edition, above the preceding, are thefe, 
 That it is the firft complete collection 
 which has ever been made of his ori^ 
 ginal Writings ; That all his principal 
 poems, of early or later date, are here 
 given to the public with his laft correc- 
 tions and improvements ; That a great 
 number of his verfes are here firft printed 
 from the Manufcript copies of his princi- 
 pal poems of later date ; That many new 
 notes of the Author's are here added to 
 his Poems ; and, laftly, that feveral pieces, 
 both in profe and verfe, make now their 
 jfirft appearance before the Public. 
 
 The Author's life defer ves a juft Vo- 
 lume } and die Editor intends to give it* 
 For to have been one of the firft Poets in 
 the world is but his fecond praife. He 
 was in a higher Clafs. He was one cf 
 the noblefl 'works of Cod. He was an hc-
 
 x ADVERTISEMENT. 
 
 neft Man *. A Man, who alone poflelTed 
 more real virtue than, in very corrupt 
 times, needing a Satirifl like him, will 
 fbmetimes fall to the mare of multitudes. 
 In this hiftory of his life -f , will be con- 
 tained a large account of his writings ; 
 a critique on the nature, force, and ex- 
 tent of his gent us, exemplified from thefe 
 writings ; and a vindication of his moral 
 character exemplified by his more diftin- 
 guifhed virtues ; his filial piety, his dif- 
 interefted friendships, his reverence for 
 the conftitution of his country, his love 
 and admiration of VIRTUE, and (what 
 was the neceflary effect) his hatred and 
 contempt of VICE, his extenfive charity 
 to the indigent, his warm benevolence to 
 mankind, his fupreme veneration of the 
 Deity, and, above all, his fincere belief 
 of Revelation. Nor (hall his faults be 
 concealed. It is not for the interefts of 
 his Virtues that they mould. Nor indeed 
 could they be concealed if we were fo 
 minted, for they Jhine thro' his Virtues; 
 no man being more a dupe to the fpecious 
 appearances of Virtue in others. In a 
 
 * " A wit's a feather, and a chief's a rod, 
 " An honcft Man's the nobleft work of God. 
 
 f It will be printed in the fame form with this and 
 every future edition of his works, fo as to make a 
 part of them. 
 
 word
 
 ADVERTISEMENT, xi 
 
 word I mean not to be his Panegyrift, 
 but his Hiftorian. And may I, when. 
 Envy and Calumny take the fame advan- 
 tage of my abfence (for, while I live, I 
 will freely truft it to my Life to confute 
 them) may I find a Friend as careful of 
 my honeft fame as I have been of His ! 
 Together with his Works, he hath be- 
 queathed me his DUNCES. So that as the 
 property is transferred, I could wifh they 
 would now let his memory alone. The 
 veil which Death draws over the Good is 
 fo facred, that to throw dirt upon the 
 Shrine fcandalizes even Barbarians. And 
 though Rome permitted her Slaves to ca- 
 lumniate her befl Citizens on the day of 
 Triumph, yet the fame petulancy at their 
 Funeral would have been rewarded with 
 execration and a gibbet. 
 
 N. B. This Edition of Mr. Popes Works 
 is printed verbatim from the large Oc- 
 tavo -, with all bis Notes, and a fdeft 
 number of the Editor's..
 
 Contents of the Firft Volume. 
 
 Page 
 
 PREFACE, i 
 
 Recofmr.cn datory Poems, ix 
 
 A Difcourfe on Pajloral Poetry ^ 3 
 
 Spring, the fir ft Pa/1 or at, 9 
 
 Summer, the fecord Paflora /, 1 8 
 
 Autumn, the third Pajloral, 24 
 
 Winter, the fourth Pa floral, 2$ 
 Meffiah, a Sacred Eclogue in Imitation ofVirg'iTs \ 
 
 IVindfir-Foreft, 45 
 
 Ode en St. Cecilia's Day, 69 
 
 Tuii Chorus's to the Tragedy of Brutus, 77 
 
 Ode on Solitude, % I 
 
 The dying Chrijlian to bis Soul, an Ode. 82 
 
 Ejjay on Criticifm, 85 
 
 The Rape tf the Lock, 127 
 
 Elegy to the Memory of an Unfortunate Lady^ 168 
 
 Prologue to Mr. dddljon's Tragedy, ijz 
 
 ERRATA. 
 
 38. In the quotation from Virgil, 1. r. for mank-> 
 
 fcnla, r. tn*ttujc.:<la. 
 
 51. L) the, imitation, forcdJoris, r.cclon'n. 
 91. 1.43. for geoeratioxs, r. generations. 
 no. No'e, 1. 6. fomodern, r. noderm. 
 
 137. Note, 1.3. for <irferve t r.deferves. 
 
 138. Note, I. 3. kr particularly, V.patiiculari-z! 
 168. Note, l.j, r: flf -r 206. axld, >varto Edition,
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 I AM inclined to think that both the writers of 
 books, and the readers of them, are generally 
 not a little unreafonabte in their expectations. The 
 firft feem to fancy that the world muft approve what- 
 ever they produce, and the latter to imagine that 
 authors are obliged to pleafe them at any rate. Me- 
 thinks, as on the one hand, no fingle man is born 
 with a right of controlling the opinions of all the 
 reft ; fo on the other, the world has no title to de- 
 mand, that the whole care and time of any parti- 
 cular perfort fhould be facrificed to its entertainment. 
 Therefore I cannot hut believe that writers and 
 readers are under equal obligations, for as much 
 fame, or pleafure, as each affords the other. 
 
 Every one acknowledges, it would be a wild no- 
 tion to expect perfection in any work of man : and 
 yet one would think the contrary was taken for 
 granted, by the judgment commonly paft upon 
 Poems. A Critic fuppofes he has done his part, if he 
 proves a writer to have failed in an expreflion, or 
 erred in any particular point : and can it then be won- 
 dered at, if the Poets in general feem rcfolved not to 
 own themfelves in any error ? For as long as one fide 
 will make no allowances, the other will be brought 
 to no acknowledgments *. 
 
 * In the former editions it was thus For as Lr<r nj 
 one Jit/i' d(J~ (fas a 11- ell mfftnt tnJe&vmr t the other ~' 
 be jatisjied ivitb a moderate approbation.' But the 
 author altered if, as thefe words were rather a con Se- 
 quence from the conclufion he would draw, th >n tiiC 
 CQflclufion ufelf, which h? h?.s now infertcd. 
 
 I am
 
 ii PREFACE. 
 
 I am afraid this extreme zeal on both fides is ill- 
 placed ; Poetry and Criticifm being by no means the 
 universal concern of the world, but only the affair 
 of idle men who write in their clofets, and of idle 
 men who read there. 
 
 Yet fure upon the whole, a bad Author deferves 
 better ufage than a bad Critic : for a Writer's en- 
 deavour, for the moft part, is to pleafe his Readers* 
 and he fails merely through the misfortune of an ill 
 judgment j but fuch a Critic's is to put them out of 
 humor ; a defign he could never go upon without 
 both that and an ill temper. 
 
 I think a good deal may be faid to extenuate the 
 fault of bad poets. What we call a Genius, is hard 
 to be diftinguifhed by a man himfelf, from a ftrong 
 inclination : and if his genius be ever fo great, he 
 cannot at firft difcover it any other way, than by 
 giving way to that prevalent propenfity which ren- 
 ders him the more liable to be miftaken. The only 
 method he has, is to make the experiment by writ- 
 ing, and appealing to the judgment of others : now 
 if he happens to write ill (which is certainly no fin 
 initfelf) he is immediately made an object of ridi- 
 cule. I wifh we had the humanity to reflect that 
 even the worft authors might, in their endeavour to 
 pleafe us, deferve fomething at our hands. We 
 have no caufe to quarrel with them but for their ob- 
 ftinacy in perfifting to write; and this too may ad- 
 mit of alleviating circumftances. Their particular 
 friends may be either ignorant, or infmcere ; and 
 the reft of the world in general is too well bred to 
 Jhock them with a truth, which generally their Book- 
 fellers are the firft that inform them of. This hap- 
 pens not till they have fpent too much of their time, 
 to apply to any profefiion which might better fit 
 their talents ; and till fuch talents as they have are 
 fo far difcretiited as to be but of fmall fervice to 
 them. For (what is the hardeft cafe imaginable) 
 
 the
 
 PREFACE, iii 
 
 the reputation of a man generally depends upon the 
 firfl fteps he makes in the world, and people will 
 efrablifh their opinion of us, from what we do at 
 that feafon when we have leaft judgment to direct us. 
 On the other hand, a good Poet no fooner com- 
 municates his works with the fame defire of infor- 
 mation, but it is imagined he is a vain young crea* 
 ture given up to the ambition of fame j when per- 
 haps the poor man is all the while trembling with 
 the fear of i eing ridiculous. If he is made to hope 
 he may pleafe the world, he falls under very un- 
 lucky circumftances : for, from the moment he 
 prints, he muft expel to hear no more truth, than, 
 if he were a Prince, or a Beauty. If he has not 
 very good fecfe (and indeed there are twenty men 
 of wit, for one man of fenfe) his living thus in a 
 courfe of flattery may put him in no fmall danger of 
 becoming a Coxcomb : if he has, he will confe- 
 quently have fomuch diffidence as not to reap any 
 great fatisfaction from his praife ; fince, if it be given 
 to his face, it can fcarce be diftingiumed from flat- 
 tery, and if in his abfence, it is hard to be certain 
 of it. Were he furc to be commended by the bell 
 and moft knowing, he is as fure of being envied by 
 the worft and mod ignorant, which are the majo- 
 rity j for it is with a fine Genius as with a fine fa- 
 fhion, all thjfeare difpleafed at it who are not able 
 to follow it : and it is to be feared that efteem will 
 feldom do any man fo much good, as ill-will does 
 him harm. Then there is a third clafs of people 
 who make the largcft part of mankind, thofe of or- 
 dinary or indifferent capacities} and thefe (to a man) 
 will hate, or fufpQCl hiai : a hundred honeft Gentle- 
 men will dread him as a Wit, and a hundred inno- 
 cent Women as a Satirift. In a word, whatever be 
 his fate in Poetry, it is ten to one but he muft give 
 up all the reafon ible aims of life for U. There are 
 i indeed fomc advantages accruing from a Genius to 
 a Poetry?
 
 iv PREFACE. 
 
 Poetry, and they are all I can think of : the agree- 
 able power of felf-amufement when a man is idle or 
 alone ; the privilege of being admitted into the beft 
 company ; and the freedom of faying as many care- 
 lefs things as other people, without being fo fevercly 
 remarked upon. 
 
 I believe, if any one, early in his life, fhould 
 contemplate the dangerous fate of authors, he would 
 fcarce be of their number on any confideration. 
 The life of a \Vit is a warfare upon earth ; and the 
 prefent fpirit of the learned world is fuch, that to 
 attempt to ferve it (any way) one muft have the 
 eonftancy of a martyr, and a refolution to fuffer for 
 its fake. I could wifh people would believe what I 
 am pretty certain they will not, that I have been 
 much lefs concerned about Fame than I durft declare 
 till this occafion. when methinks I fhould find more 
 credit than I could heretofore: fince my writings have 
 had their fate already, and it is too late to think of 
 prepofTefling the reader in their favour. I would 
 plead it as fome merit in me, that the world has ne- 
 ver been prepared for thefe Trifles by Prefaces, by- 
 afted by recommendations, dazled with the names 
 of great patrons, wheedled with fine reafons and 
 pretences, or troubled with excufes. I confefs it 
 was want of confideration that made me an author; 
 I writ becattfc it amufed me ; I corrected becaufe it 
 was as pleafan't to me to correct as to write ; and I 
 publimed becaufe I was told I might pleafe fuch as it 
 was a credit to pleafe. To what degree I have done 
 this I am really ignorant; I had too much fondnefs 
 for my productions to judge of them at firft, and too 
 much judgment to be pleafed with them at laft. But 
 I have reafon to think they can have no reputation 
 which will continue long, or which deferves to do 
 fo : for they have always fallen Ihort not only of 
 v, h.-: ! read cf others, but even of my own Ideas of 
 Poetry. 
 
 If
 
 PREFACE. v 
 
 If any one fhould imagine I am not in earneft, I 
 defire him to reflect, that the Ancients (to fay the 
 leaft of them) had as much Genius as we : and that 
 to take more pains, and employ more time, cannot 
 fail to produce more compleat pieces. They con,- 
 ftantly apply'd themfelves not only to that art, but 
 to thatfingle branch of an art, to which their talent 
 was moft powerfully bent; and it was the bufinefs 
 of their lives to correct and finifh their works for 
 pofterity. If we can pretend to haveufed the fame 
 induflry, let us expect the fame immortality : Tho* 
 if we took the fame care, we fliould ftill lie under a 
 farther misfortune : they writ in languages that be- 
 came univerfal and everlafting, while ours are ex- 
 tremely limited both in extent and in duration. A 
 mighty foundation for our pride ! when the utmofi 
 we can hope, is but to be read in one Ifland, and to 
 be thrown afide at the end of one Age. 
 
 All that is left us is to recommend our productions 
 by the imitation of the Ancients: and it will be 
 found true, that, in every age, the higheft character 
 for fenfe and learning has been obtained by thofe 
 who have been moil:. indebted to them. For, to fay 
 truth, whatever is very good fenfe, muft have been 
 common fenfe in all times ; and what we call Learnr . 
 ing, is but the knowledge of the fenfe of our pre- 
 face/Tors. Therefore they who fay our thoughts ar$ 
 not our ov/n, bccaufe they refemble the Ancients, 
 may as well fay our faces are not our own, becaufe 
 they are like our Fathers : And indeed it is very un- 
 reafonable, that people fliould expect us to be Scho-r 
 lars, and yet be angry to find us fo. 
 
 I fairly confefs that I have ferved myfelf all I could 
 by reading ; thnt I made ufe of the judgment of 
 authors dead and living ; that I omitted no means in 
 my power to be informed of my errors, both by my 
 friends and enemies : But the true ri-afon thefe pieces 
 are not more correct, is owing to the confideration 
 a 2 how
 
 vi PREFACE. 
 
 how fhort a time they, and I, have to live : One 
 may be afhamed to confume half one's days in 
 bringing fenfe and rhyme together ; and what Critic 
 can be fo unreafonable, as not to leave a man time 
 enough for any more ferious employment, or more 
 agreeable amufement ? 
 
 T he only plea I fhall ufe for the favour of the 
 public, is, that I have as great a refpeft for it, as 
 moft authors have for themfelves ; and that I have 
 facriflced much of my own fdf-love for its fake, in 
 preventing not only many mean things from feeing 
 the light," but many. which 1 thought tolerable. 
 I would not be like thofe Authors, who forgive 
 themfelves fome particular lines for the fake of a 
 whole Poem, and vice verfa a whole Poem for the 
 fake of fome particular lines. I believe no one 
 qualification is fo likely to make a gcod writer, as 
 the power of rejecting his own thoughts ; and it 
 muft be this (if any thing) that can give me a chance 
 to be one. For what I have publifhed, I can only 
 hope to be'pardoned ; but for what I have burned, 
 I deferve to be praifed. On this account the world 
 Is under fome obligation to me, and owes me the 
 juftice in return, to look upon no verfes as mine that 
 are not inferted in this collection. And perhaps 
 nothing could make it worth my while to own what 
 are really fo, but to avoid the imputation of fo ma- 
 ny dull and immoral things, as partly by malice, 
 and partly by ignorance, have been afcribed to me. 
 I muft farther acquit myfelf of the prefumption of 
 having lent my name to recommend any Mifcella- 
 nies, or Works of other men ; a thing I never 
 thought becoming a perfon who has hardly credit 
 enough to anfwer for his own. 
 
 In this office of collecting my pieces, I am alto- 
 gether uncertain, whether to look upon myfelf as a 
 man building a monument, or burying the dead.
 
 PREFACE. vii 
 
 If Time {hall make it the former, may thefe 
 Poems (as long as they laft) remain as ateftimony, 
 that their Author never made his talents fubfervient 
 to the mean and unworthy ends of Party or Self- 
 intereft; the gratification of public prejudices, or 
 private palfions ; the flattery of the undeferving, or 
 the infuh of the unfortunate. If I have written 
 well, let it be confulered that 'tis what no man can 
 do without good fenfe, a qualitv that not only ren- 
 ders one capable of being a good writer, but a good 
 man. And if I have made any acquifiticn in the 
 opinion of any one under tbe notion of the former, 
 let it be continued to me under no other title than 
 that of the latter. 
 
 But if this publication be only a more folemn fu- 
 neral of my Remains, I defire it may be known that 
 I die in charity, and in my fcnfes ; without any 
 murmurs againft the juftice of this age; or any mad 
 appeals to pofterity. I declare I mall think the 
 world in the right, and quietly fubmit to every 
 truth which time fhall difcover to the prejudice of 
 thefe writings ; not fo much as wiftiing fo irrational 
 a thing, as that every body mould be deceived merely 
 for my credit. However, I defire it may then be 
 confider'd, That there are very few things in this 
 collection which were not written under the age of 
 five and twenty : fo that my youth may be made (as 
 it never fails to be in Executions) a cafe of com- 
 pailion. That I was never fo concerned about my 
 works as to vindicate them in print, believing if any 
 thing was good it would defend itfelf, and what was 
 bad could never be defended. That I ufed no arti- 
 fice to raife or continue a reputation, depreciated no 
 dead author I was obliged to, brib'd no living one 
 with unjuft praife, infulted no adverfary with ill 
 language ; or when I could not attack a Rival's 
 works, encouraged reports againft his Monils. T;> 
 conclude, if this volume pcrifli, let it ftrvc as a 
 a 3 warn-
 
 viii PREFACE. 
 
 warning to the Critics, not to take too much pains 
 for the future to deftroy fuch things as will die of 
 themfelves j and a Memento jnori to fome of my vain 
 cotemporaries the Poets, to teach them that, when 
 real merit is wanting, it avails nothing to have been 
 encouraged hy the great, commended by the emi- 
 nent, and favour'd by the public in general. 
 
 Nov. ;o, 1716. 
 
 On
 
 PREFACE. * ix 
 
 Variations in the Author's Manu- 
 fcript Preface. 
 
 A FTE R p. \v. I. 6. it followed thus For my 
 _/A part, I confefs, had I feen things in this view 
 at nrift, the public had never been troubled either 
 with my writings, or with this apology for them. 
 I am fenfibie how difficult it is to fpeak of ones felf 
 with decency : but when a man muft fyeak of him- 
 felf, the beft way is to fpeak truth of himfelf, or, 
 he may depend upon it, others will do it for him. 
 I'll therefore make this Preface a general confeflion 
 of all my thoughts of my own Poetry, refolving 
 with the fame freedom to expofe myfelf, as it is in 
 the power of any other to expofe them. In the 
 firft place 1 thank God and nature, that I was born 
 with a love to poetry ; for nothing more conduces 
 to fill up all the intervals of our time, or, if rightly 
 ufed, to make the whole courfe of life entertaining : 
 Cantantes licet tifque (?ninus via ladtt.} 'Tis a vaft 
 happinefs to poflefs the pleafures of the head, the 
 only pleafures in which a man is fufficient to him- 
 felf, and the only part of him which, to his fatis- 
 fa&ion, he can employ all day long. The Mufes are 
 anucte omnium horarum ; and, like our gay acquaint- 
 ance, the beft company in the world as long as one 
 expects no re.al fervice from them. I confefs there 
 was a time when I was in love with myfelf, and 
 my firft productions were the children of felf love 
 upon innocence. I had made an Epic Poem, and 
 Panegyrics on all the Princes in Europe, and thought 
 myfelf the greateft genius that ever was. I can't 
 but regret thofe delightful vifions of my childhood, 
 which, like the fine colours we fee when our eyes 
 are (hut, are vanifhed forever. Many tryals and 
 fad experience have fo undeceived me by degrees, 
 VoL.1. Pref. (a 4) that
 
 , x PREFACE. 
 
 that I am utterly at a lofs at what rate to value my- 
 felf. As for fame I fhall be glad of any I can get, 
 and not repine at any I mifs ; and as for vanity, 1 
 have enough to keep me from hanging myfelf, or 
 even from wifhing thofe hanged who would take it 
 away. It was this that made me write. The fenfe 
 of my faults made me correct : befides that it was as 
 pleafant to me to corredl as to write. 
 
 At p. v. /. 32. In the firft place I own that I 
 have ufed my beft endeavours to the finiming thefe 
 pieces. That \ made what advantage I could of 
 the judgment of authors dead and living ; and that 
 I omitted no means in my power to be informed of 
 my errors by my friends and by my enemies. And 
 that I expect no favour on account of my -youth, 
 buiinefs, want of health, <r any fuch idle excufes. 
 But the true reafon they are not yet more correct is 
 owing to the confideration how fliort a time they 
 and I have to live. A man that can expedl but 
 fixty years may be afhamed to employ thirty in mea- 
 furing fyllables and bringing fenfe and rhime to- 
 gether. We fpend our youth in purfuit of riches 
 or fame, in hopes to enjoy them when we are old j 
 and when we are old, we find it is too late to en- 
 joy any thing. I therefore hope the Wits will 
 pardon me, if I referve fome of my time to fave 
 my foul 5 and that fome wife men will be of my 
 ^pinion, even if I fhould think a part of it better 
 fpent in the enjoyments ef life than in pleafina th* 
 critics. 
 
 O N
 
 (ix) 
 
 On Mr. P O P E and his Poems, 
 
 By His G R A c 2 
 
 JOHN SHEFFIELD, 
 
 Duke of BUCKINGHAM. 
 
 WITH Age decay 'd, with Courts and bus'nefs 
 tir'd, 
 
 Caring for nothing but what Eafe requir'd j 
 Too dully fcrious for the Mufe's fport, 
 And from the Critics fafe arriv'd in Port ; 
 I little thought of launching forth agen, 5 
 
 Amidft advent' rous Rovers of he Pen ; 
 And after fo much undeferv'd fuccefs, 
 Thus hazarding at laft to make itl Is. 
 
 Encomiums fuit not this cenforious time, 
 Itfelf a fubject for fatiric rhyme ; 10 
 
 Ignorance honour'd, Wit and Worth deum'd, 
 Folly triumphant, and ev'n Homer blam'd ! 
 
 But to this Genius, join'd with fo much Art, 
 Such various Learning mix'd in ev'ry part, 
 Poets are bound a loud applaufe to pay ; 15 
 
 Apollo bids it, and they muft obey. 
 
 And yet fo wonderful, fublime a thing, 
 As the great ILIAD, fcarce could make mefing; 
 Except I jultly could at once commend 
 A good Companion, and as firm a Friend. 20 
 a 4 One
 
 ( *} 
 
 One moral, or a mere well-natur'd deed 
 Can all defert in Sciences exceed. 
 
 'Tis great delight to laugh at fome mens ways, 
 But a much greater to give Merit praife. 
 
 To Mr. POPE, on his Pajlorals. 
 
 IN thefe more dull, as more cenforious days, 
 When few dare give, and fewer merit praife, 
 A Mufe fmcere, that never Flatt'ry knew, 
 Pays what to friendfhip and defert is due. 
 Young, yet judicious ; in your verfe are found 5 
 Art ftrength'ning Nature, Senfe improv'd by Sound. 
 Unlike thofe Wits, whofe numbers glide .along 
 Sofmooth, no thought e'er interrupts the fong : 
 Laborioufly enervate they appear, 
 And write not to the head, but to the ear : I 
 
 Our minds unmov'd and unconcern'd they lull, 
 And are at beft moft mufically dull ; 
 So purling ftreams with even murmurs creep, 
 And hum the heavy hearers into deep. 
 As fmootheft fpeech is moft deceitful found, 15 
 The fmootheft numbers oft are empty found. 
 But Wit and Judgment join at once in you, 
 Sprightly as Youth, as Age confummate too : 
 Your ftrains are regularly bold, and pleafe -\ 
 
 With unforc'd care, and unaffected eafe, 20 
 W ith proper thoughts, and lively images : 3 
 
 Such as by Nature to the Ancients mown, 
 Fancy improves, and judgment makes your own : 
 
 For
 
 (xi ) 
 
 For great metis fafhions to be followed are, 
 Altho' difgraceful 'tis their clothes to wear. 25 
 
 Some in a polifh'd ftyle write Paftoral, 
 jfrcadia fpeaks the language of the Mall^ 
 Like fome fair Shepherdefs, the Sylvan Mufe, 
 Should wear thofc flow'rs her native fields produce ; 
 And the true meafure of the fhepherd's wit 30 
 Should, like his garb, be for the Country fit : 
 Yet muft his pure and unaffected thought 
 More nicely than the common fwain's be wrought. 
 So, with becoming art, the Players drefs 
 In filks the ftiepherd, and the fhepherdefs ; 35 
 
 Yet ftill unchang'd the form and mode remain, 
 Shap'd like the homely ruflct of the fwain. 
 Your rural Mufe appears to juftify 
 The long loft graces of Simplicity : 
 So rural beauties captivate our fenfe 40 
 
 With virgin charms, and native excellence. 
 Yet long her A^odefty thofe charms conceal 'd, 
 'Till hymens Envy to the world reveal 'd ; 
 For Wits induftrious to their trouble feem, 
 And needs will envy what they muft efteem. 45 
 Live and enjoy their fpite ! nor mourn that fate 9 
 Which would, \lVirgil liv'd, on Vitgil wait ; 
 Whofe Mufe did once, like thine, in'plains delight j 
 Thine fhall, like his, foon take a higher flight j 
 So Larks, which firft from lowly fields arife, 50 
 Mount by degrees, and reach at laft the fkics. 
 
 W. WYCHERLEY. 
 
 To
 
 (xii ) 
 
 To Mr. P O P E, on his Windfor-ForeJt. 
 
 HA I L, facred Bard ! a Mufe unknown before 
 Salutes thce from the bleak Atlantic fhore. 
 To our dark world thy {tuning page is fhown, 
 And Windfors gay retreat becomes our own: 
 TKe Eaftern pomp had juft befpoke our care, 5 
 And India pour'd her gaudy treafures here : 
 A various fpoil adorn'd our naked land, > 
 
 The pride of Perfia glitter'd on our flrand, C 
 
 And China's Earth was caft on common fand : J 
 Tofc'd up and down the glofiy fragments lay, 10 
 And drefs'd the rocky fhelves, and pav'd the paint- 
 ed bay, 
 
 Thy treafures next arriv'd, and now we boaft 
 A nobler cargo on our barren coaft : 
 From thy luxuriant Foreft we receive 
 More lafting glories than the Eaft can give, 15 
 
 Where-e'er we dip in thy delightful page, 
 What pompous fcenes our bufy thoughts engage ! 
 The pompous fcenes in all their pride appear, 
 Freih in the page, as in the grove they were. 
 Nor half fo true the fair Lcd^na fhows 20 
 
 The fylvan ftate that on her border grows, 
 While me the wond'ring fhepherd entertains 
 With a new Windfor in her wat'ry plains ; 
 Thy jufter lays the lucid wave furpafs, 
 The living fcene is in the Mufe's glafs. 25 
 
 Nor fweeter notes the echoing Forefts chear, 
 When Philomela fits and warbles there, 
 
 f Than
 
 Than when you fing the greens and op'ning glades, 
 And give us Harmony as well as Shades : 
 A Titian's hand might draw the grove, but you 
 Can paint the grove, and add the Mufic too. 31 
 
 With vaft variety thy pages (hine ; 
 A new creation (tarts in ev'ry line. 
 How fudden trees rife to the reader's fight, 
 And make a doubtful fcene of fhade and light, 
 And give at once the day, at once the night ! 
 And here again what fweet confufion reigns, 
 In dreary deferts mix'd with painted plains ! 
 And fee ! the deferts caft a pleafing gloom, 
 And fhrubby heaths rejoice in purple bloom : 40 
 Whilft fruitful crops rife by their barren fide, 
 And bearded groves difplay their annual pride: 
 
 Happy the man, who firings his tuneful lyre, 
 Where woods, and brooks, and breathing fields in- 
 
 fpire ! 
 
 Thrice happy you ! and worthy beft to dwell 45 
 Amidft the rural joys you fing fo well. 
 I in a cold, and in a barren clime, -\ 
 
 Cold as my thought, and barren as my rhyme, > 
 Here on the Weftern beach attempt to chime. 3 
 O joylcfs flood ! O rough tempeftuous main ! 50 
 Border'd with weeds, and folitudes obfcene ! 
 
 Snatch me, ye Gods ! from thefe Atlantic fliores, 
 And (belter me in Wmdfor's fragrant bow'rs j 
 Or to my much lov'd //&' walks convey, 
 And on her flow'ry banks for ever lay. 55 
 
 Thence let me view the venerable fc^ne, 
 1"he awful dome, the groves eternal gresn : 
 
 Where
 
 (xiv ) 
 
 Where facrcd Hough long found his fam'd retreat, 
 And brought the Mufes to the fylvan feat, 
 Reform'd the wits, unlock'd the Claflic ftore, 60 
 And made that Mufic which was noife before. 
 There with illuftrious Bards I fpent my days, 
 Nor free from cenfure, nor unknown to praife, 
 Enjoy'd thebleffings that his reign beftow'd. 
 Nor envy'd Windjor in the foft abode. 6$ 
 
 The golden minutes fmoothly danc'd away, 
 And tuneful Bards beguil'd the tedious day : 
 They fung, nor fung in vain, with numbers fir'd 
 That Maro taught, or Addifon infpir'd. 
 Even I eflay'd to touch the trembling firing : 70 
 Who could hear them, and not attempt to fmg ? 
 
 Rouz'd from thefe dreams by thy commanding 
 
 ftrain, 
 
 I rife, and wander thro' the field or plain ; 
 Led by the Mufe from fport to fport I run, 
 Mark the ftretch'd line, or hear the thund'ring gun. 
 Ah ! how I melt with pity, when I fpy 76 
 
 On the cold earth the flutt'ring Pheafant lie j 
 His gaudy robes in dazling lines appear, 
 And every feather fhines and varies there. 
 
 Nor can I pafs the gen'rous courfer by, 80 
 But while the prancing fteed allures my eye, 
 He ftarts, he's gone ! and now I fee him fly 
 O'er hills and dales, and now I lofe the courfe, 
 Nor can the rapid fight purfue the flying horfe. 
 Oh cou'd thy Virgil from his orb look down, 85 
 He'd view a courfer that might match his own ! 
 Fir'd with the fport, and eager for the chace, 
 Lena's murmurs flop me in the race. 
 
 Who
 
 Who can refufe Lodona's melting tale ? 
 The foft complaint (hall over time prevail j go 
 T he tale be told, when fhades forfake her more, 
 The Nymph be fung, when fhe can flow no more. 
 Nor mall thy fong, old 32ooK!/ forbear to fhinc, 
 At once thefubjecT: and the fong divine. 
 Peace, fung by thee, fhall pleafe ev'n Britons more 
 Than all their fhouts for Victory before. 96 
 
 Oh ! could Britannia imitate thy ftream', 
 The world mould tremble at her awful name : 
 From various fprings divided waters glide, 
 In different colours roll a different tyde, 100 
 
 Murmur along their crooked banks awhile, 
 At once they murmur and enrich the Ifle, 
 A while diftincl thro' many channels run, 
 But meet at laft, and fweetly flow in one; 
 There joy to lofe their long-diftinguifh'd names, 105 
 Aad make one glorious and immortal Thames. 
 
 FR. KNAPP. 
 
 To Mr. POPE, 
 
 In Imitation of a Greek Epigram on Ho M E R. 
 
 WHEN PhxbuS) and the nine harmonious 
 maids, 
 
 Of old aflembled in the Thefpian fhades ; 
 What theme, they cry'd, what high immortal air, 
 Befit thefc harps to found, and thee to hear ? 
 Reply'd the God ; " Your loftieft notes employ, 5 
 " To fmg young Peleus, and the fall of Troy" 
 
 The
 
 (xvi) 
 
 The wond'rous fong with rapture they rehearfe i 
 
 Then afk who wrought that miracle of verfe ? 
 
 He anfwer'd with a frown j " I now reveal 
 
 " A truth, that Envy bids me not conceal : 10 
 
 <e Retiring frequent to this Laureat vale, 
 
 " I w..rbled to the Lyre that fav'rite tale, 
 
 " Which, unobferv'd, a wand'ring Greek and blind, 
 
 " Heard me repeat, and treafur'd in his mind ; 
 
 " And fir'd with thirft of more than mortal praife, 
 
 " From me, the God of Wit, ufurp'd the bays. 
 
 " But let vain Greece indulge her growing fame, 
 " Proud with ceieftiai fpoils to grace her name ; 
 " Yet when my Arts mail triumph in the Weft, 
 " And the, white lue with female pow'r is bleft ; 
 <c Fame, I forefee, will makereprifals there, 21 
 " And the Tranflator's Palm to me transfer. 
 " With kfs regret my claim I now decline, 
 " The World will think his Englijh Iliad mine." 
 
 E. FEN TON. 
 
 To Mr. POPE. 
 
 TO praife, and ftill with juft refpecl: to praife 
 A Bard triumphant in immortal bays, 
 The Learn'd to mow, the Senfible commend, 
 Yet ftill preferve the province of the Friend ; 
 What life, what vigour muft the lines require ? 5 
 What Mufic tune them, what Affection fire ? 
 
 O might thy Genius in my bofom fhine ; 
 Thou flwuld'ft not fail of numbers worthy thine ; 
 
 The
 
 ( xvii ) 
 
 The brighteft Ancients might at once agree 
 
 To fing within my lays, and fing of thee. i O 
 
 Horace himfelf would own thou doft excell 
 In candid arts to play the Critic well. 
 Ovid himfelf might wifli to fing the Dame 
 Whom Windfor Foreft fees a gliding, ftream : 
 On filver feet, with annual Ofier crown'd, 15 
 
 She runs for ever thro' Poetic ground. 
 
 How flame the glories of Belinda's Hair, 
 Made by thy Mufe the Envy of the Fair ? 
 Lefs fhone the trefles Egypt's Princefs wore, 
 Which fweet Callimachus fo fung before. 2O 
 
 Here courtly trifles fet the world at odds ; 
 Belles war with Beaux, and Whims defcend for Gods* 
 The new Machines, In names of ridicule, 
 Mock the grave phrenzy of the Chemic fool. 
 But know, ye Fair, a point conceal 'd with art, 
 The Sylphs and Gnomes are but a Woman's heart* 
 The Graces ftand in fight ; a Satire-train 
 Peeps o'er their head, and laughs behind thefcene. 
 
 In Fame's fair Temple, o'er the boldeft wits 
 Infhrin'd on high the facred Virgil fits ; 3 a 
 
 And fits in meafures fuch as Virgil's Mufe 
 To place thee near him, might be fond to chufe. 
 How might he tune th' alternate reed with thee, 
 Perhaps a Strephon thou, a Daphnis he ; 
 While fome old Damon, o'er the vulgar wife, 35 
 Thinks he defences', and thou deferv'ft the Prize. 
 Rapt with the thought, my fancy feeks the plains, 
 And turns me fhepherd while I hear the ftrains. 
 Indulgent nurfeof ev'ry tender gaJe, 
 Parent of flowrets, old Aro-adia, hail ! 40 
 
 Here
 
 ( xviii ) 
 
 Here in the cool my limbs at eafe I fpread, 
 Here let thy poplars Avhifper o'er my head : 
 Still flide thy waters, foft among the trees, 
 Thy afpins quiver in a breathing breeze ! 
 Smile, all ye valleys, in eternal Spring, 45 
 
 Be huih'd, ye winds, while Pope and Virgil fing. 
 
 In Engiifh lays, and all fublimely great, 
 Thy Homer warms with all his ancient heat ; 
 He mines in Council, thunders in the Fight, 
 And flames with ev'ry fenfeof great delight. 50 
 Long has that Poet reign'd, and long unknown, 
 Like Monarchs fparkling on a diltant throne j 
 In all the Majefty of Greek retir'd, 
 Himfelf unknown, his mighty name admir'd ; 
 His language failing, wrapt him round with night; 
 Thine, rais'd by thee, recalls the work to light. 
 So wealthy Mines, that agts long before 
 Fed the large realms around with golden Ore, 
 When choak'd by finking banks, no more appear, 
 And fhepherds only fay, The mines were he> e : 60 
 Should feme rich youth (if nature warm his heart, 
 And all his projeis (land inform'd with art) 
 Here clear the caves, there ope the leading vein ; 
 The mines detected flame with gold again 
 
 How vaft, how copious, are thy new defigns ! 
 How ev'ry Mufic varies in thy lines ! 
 Still, as I read, 1 feel my bofom beat, 
 And rife in raptures by another's heat. 
 Thus in the wood, when fummer djrefs'd the days, 
 While Windfor lent us tuneful hours of eafe, 70 
 Our ears' the lark, the thrufh, the turtle bled, 
 And Philomela fweeteft o'er the reft : 
 
 The
 
 (xix) 
 
 The fhades refound with fong O foftly tread, 
 While a whole feafon warbles round my head. 
 
 This to my Friend and when a friend infpires, 
 My filentharp its mafter'shand requires, 
 Shakes off the duft, and makes thcfe rocks refoundj 
 For fortune plac'd me in unfertile ground : 
 Far from the joys that with my foul agree, 
 From wit, from learning very far from thec. 80 
 Here mofs grown trees expand the fmalleft leaf j 
 Here half an acre's corn is half a fheaf ; 
 Here hills with naked heads the tempeftmeet, 
 Rocks at their fides, and torrents at their feet } 
 Or lazy lakes uuconfcious of a flood, $$ 
 
 Whofe dull brown Naiads ever fleep in mud. 
 Yet here Content can dwell, and learned Eafe, 
 A Friend delight n-,e, and an Author pleafe; 
 Ev ? n herelfmg, when POPE fuppliesthe theme, 
 Shew my own love, tho' not increafe his fame. 90 
 
 T. PARNELL. 
 
 To Mr. P O P E. 
 
 LE T vulgar fouls triumphal arches raife, 
 Or fpeaking marbles, to record their praife ; 
 And picture (to the voice of Fame unknown) 
 The mimic Feature on the breathing ftone ; 
 Mere mortals; fubjecl to death's total fway, 5 
 
 Reptiles of earth, and beings of a day ! 
 
 VOL. I. b ? Tis
 
 f xx) 
 
 *Tfs thine, on ev'ry heart to grave thy praife,- 
 A monument which Worth alone can raifej 
 Sure to fu'rvive, when time fhall whelm in duft 
 The arch, the marble, and the mimic buft : lo 
 Nor 'till the volumes of th' expanded fky 
 Blaze in one flame, (halt thou and Homer die : 
 Then link together in the world's laft fires, 
 What hcav'n created, and what hcav'n infpires. 
 
 If aught on earth, when once this breath is fled, 
 V-'hh human tranfport touch the mighty dead, 
 Shakefpear, rejoice ! hij hand thy page refines j 
 Now evVy fcene wii'li nat've brightnefsfhines; 
 Jiiit to thy Fame, he gives thy genuine thought; 
 So Telly publiftrd what Lucretius wrote ; 2 
 
 Prun'd by his care, thy laurels loftier grow, 
 And bloom afreih on thy immortal brow. 
 
 Thus when thy draughts, O Raphael ! time in- 
 vades, 
 
 And the bold figure from the canvafs fades, 
 A rival hand recalls from ev'ry part 25 
 
 Some latent grace, and equals art with art ; 
 Tranlported we fnrvey the dubious ftrife, 
 tVhite each fair image flarts again to life. 
 
 How long, untun'd, had Homer's facred lyre 
 Jarr'd grating drfcord, all extincl his fire ? 3^ 
 
 This you beheld ; and taught by heav'n to fing, 
 Cali'd the loud mufic from the founding ftring. 
 Now wak'd from (lumbers of three thoufand years, 
 Once more Achilles in dread pomp appears, 
 Tow'rs o'er the field of death; as fierce he turns, 
 Keen flafli his arms, and all the Hero burns ; 36 
 
 With
 
 (xxi ) 
 
 With martial ftalk, and more than mortal might, 
 He ftrides along, and meets the Gods in fiorht : 
 Then the pale Titans, chain'd on burning floors, 
 Start at the din that rends th' infernal mores, <j Q 
 Tremble the tow'rs of Heuv'n, earth rocks her coafls 
 And gloomy Pluto makes with all his ghofts. 
 To ev'ry theme refponds thy various lay ; 
 Here rolls a torrent, there Meanders play ; 
 Sonorous as the ftorm thy numbers rife, '^.j 
 
 Tofs the wild waves, and thunder in the flcies ; 
 Or fofter tiian a yielding virgin's figh, 
 The gentle breezes breathe away and die. 
 Thus, like the radiant God who fheds the day, 
 You paint the vale, or gild the azure way ; 50 
 And while with ev'xy theme the verfe complies, 
 Sink without groveling, without rafhnefs rife. 
 
 Proceed, greatBard ! awake th' harmonious firing, 
 Be ours all Homer ! ftill Ulyfles fing. 
 How long * that Hero, by unfkilful hands, 55 
 
 Strip'd of his robes, a Beggar trod our lands ? 
 Such as he wander'd o'er his native coaft, 
 Shrunk by the wand, and all the warrior loft : 
 O'er his finooth fkin a bark of wrinkles fpread j 
 Old age difgrac'd the honours of his head ; 60 
 
 Nor longer in his heavy eye-ball min'd 
 The glance divine, forth-beaming from the mind. 
 But you, like Pallas, ev'ry limb infold 
 With royal robes, and bid him mine in gold ; 
 Touch'd by your hand, his manly frame improves 
 With grace divine, and like a Cod he moves. 
 
 , lib. xvi. 
 
 b i Ev'a
 
 ( xxii ) 
 
 Ev'n I, the meaneft of the Mufe's train, 
 Inflam'd by thee, attempt a nobler ftrain ; 
 Advent' rous waken the Maeonian lyre, 
 Tun'd by your hand, and fing as you infpire : 70 
 So arm'd by great Achilles for the fight, 
 Patroclus conquer'd in Achilles' right : 
 Like theirs, our Friendship ! and I boaft my name 
 To thine united for thy Friendship's Fame. 
 
 This labour part, of heav'nly fubjeh fing, 7 5 
 While hov'ring angels liften on the wing, 
 To hear from earth fuch heart-felt raptures rife, 
 As, when they fmg, fufpended hold the flues : 
 Or nobly rifing in fair Virtue's caufe, 
 From thy own life tranfcribe th' unerring laws : 8c 
 Teach a bad world beneath her fway to bend ; 
 To verfe like thine fierce favages attend, 
 And men more fierce : when Orpheus tunes the lay, 
 Ev'n fiends relenting hear their rage away. 
 
 W. BROOME. 
 
 To Mr. POPE, 
 
 <v x 
 
 On the publifhing his WORKS. 
 
 HE comes, he comes ! bid ev'ry Bard prepare 
 Thefongof triumph, and attend his Car. 
 Great Sheffield's Mufe the long proceffion heads, 
 And throws a luftre o'er the pomp me leads, 
 Firft gives the Palm {he fir'd him to obtain, 5 
 
 Crowns his gay brow, and {hews him how to reign. 
 6 ' Thus
 
 ( xxiii ) 
 
 Thus young Alcides, by old Chiron taught, 
 Was form'd for all the miracles he wrought : 
 Thus Chiron did the youth he taught applaud, 
 Pleas'd to behold the earneft of a God. 10 
 
 But hark what fhouts, what gath'ring crouds 
 
 rejoice ! 
 
 'TJnftain'd their praife by any venal voice, 
 Such as th'Ambitious vainly think their due, 
 When Proftitutes, or needy Flatt'rers fue. 
 And fee the Chief ! before him laurels born j 15 
 Trophies from undeferving temples torn j 
 Here Rage enchain'd reluctant raves, and there 
 Pale Envy dumb, and fick'ning with defpair, 
 Prone to the earth me bends her loathing eye, 
 Weak to fupport the blaze of majefty. 20 
 
 But what arc they that turn the facred page ? 
 Three lovely Virgins, and of equal age ; 
 Intent they read, and all enamour'd feem, 
 As he that met his likenefs in the flream : 
 The GRACES thefe ; and fee how they contend, 
 Who moft mail praife, who befl fhall recommend, 
 
 The Chariot now the painful fteep afcends, 
 The Paeans ceafc; thy glorious labour ends. 
 Here fix'd, the bright eternal temple ftands, 
 Its profpect an unbounded view commands : 30 
 Say, wond'rous youth, whatColumn wiltthou chufe, 
 What laurell'd Arch for thy triumphant Mufe ? 
 Tho' each great Ancient court thee to his fhrine, 
 Though ev'ry Laurel thro' the dome be thine, 
 (From the proud Epic, down to thofe that fhade 
 The gentler brow of the foft Lefbian maid) 36 
 
 Go
 
 ( xxlv ) 
 
 Go to the Good andjuft, an awful train, 
 Thy foul's delight, and glory of the Fane : 
 While thro' the earth thy dear remembrance fii-es, 
 " Sweet to the World, and grateful to the flues." 
 
 SIMON HARCQURT, 
 
 To Mr. P O P E. 
 
 From Rome, 1730^ 
 
 IMmortal Bard I'for whom each Mufe has wove 
 The faireft garlands of th'Aonian Grove j 
 Preferv'd, our drooping Genius toreftore, 
 When Addifon and Congreve are no more; 
 After fo many ftars extincl in night, 5 
 
 The darken'd Age's laft remaining light ! 
 To thee from Latian realms this verfe is writ, 
 Infpir'd by memory of ancient Wit ; 
 For now no more thefe climes their influence boaft, 
 Fall'n is their Glory, and their Virtue loft ; ic 
 From Tyrants, and from Priefts, the Mufes fly ? 
 Daughters of Reafon and of Liberty. 
 Kor Baise now, nor Umbria's plain they love, 
 Nor on the banks of Nar, or Mincio rove ; 
 To Thames's flow'ry borders they rftire, 15 
 
 And kindle in thy breaft the Roman fire. 
 So in the (hades, where chear'd with fummer rays 
 Melodious h'smcts warbled fprightly lays, 
 Soon as the faded, falling leaves complain 
 Of gloomy winter's unaufp-cious reign, 20 
 
 No
 
 ( XXV J 
 
 No tuneful voice is heard of joy or love, 
 But mournful filence faddens all the grove. 
 
 Unhappy Italy ! whofe alter'd ftate 
 Has felt the worft feverity of Fate : 
 Not that Barbarian hands her Fafces broke, 25 
 And bow'd her haughty neck beneath their yoke ; 
 Nor that her palaces to earth are thrown, 
 Her cities defart, and her fiel 's unfown ; 
 But that her ancient Spirit is decay'd, 
 That fucred Wifdom from her bounds is fled, ?o 
 That there the fource of Science flows no more, 
 Whence its rich ftreams fupply'd the world before- 
 
 Illuftrious Names ! that once in Latiumfhin'd, 
 Born to inltrucl, and to command Mankind ; 
 Chiefs, by whofe Virtue mighty Rome was rais'd, 
 And Poets, who thofe chiefs fublimely prais'd \ 
 Oft I the traces you have left explore, 
 Your ames vifit, and your urns adore j 
 Oft kifs, with lips devout, fomc mould'ring {tone-, 
 With ivy's venerable (hade o'ergrown j 40 
 
 Thofe hallow'd ruins better pleas'd to fee 
 Than all the pomp of modern Luxury. 
 
 As late on Virgil's tomb frefli flow'rs I ftrow'd, 
 While with th' infpiring Mufe my bofom glow'd, 
 Crown'd with eternal bays my ravifh'd eyes 45 
 Beheld the Poet's awful Form arife : 
 Stranger, he faid, whofe pious hand has paid 
 Thefe grateful rites to my attentive fliade, 
 When thou (halt breathe thy happy native air, 
 To Pope this meflage from his Matter bear : 50 
 
 Great Bard, whofe numbers I myfclf infpire, 
 To whom I gave my own harmonious 1} re, 
 
 If
 
 ( xxvi ) 
 
 If high exalted on the Throne of Wit, 
 
 Near Me and Homer thou afpire to fit, 
 
 No more let meaner Satire dim the rays 55 
 
 That flow majeftic from thy nobler Bays; 
 
 In all the flow'ry paths of Pindus ftray, 
 
 But fhun that thorny, that unpleafmg way ; 
 
 Nor, when each foft engaging Mufe is thine, 
 
 Addrefs the leaft attractive of the Nine. 6.} 
 
 Of thee more worthy were the tafk, to raife 
 A lading Column to thy Country's Praife, 
 To fing the Land, which yet alone can boaft 
 That Liberty corrupted Rome has loft ; 
 Where Science in the arms of Peace is laid, 65 
 And plants her Palm beneath the Olive's {hade. 
 Such was the Theme for which my lyre I ftrung, 
 Such was the People whofe exploits I fung ; 
 Brave, yet refin'd, for Arms and Arts renown'd, 
 With diff'rent bays by Mars and Phcebus crown'd, 
 Dauntlefs oppofers of Tyrannic Sway, 
 Butpleas'd, a mild AUGUSTUS to obey. 
 
 If thefe commands fubmiflive thou receive, 
 Immortal and.unblam'd thy name fhall live ; 
 Envy to black Cocytus fhall retire, 75 
 
 And howl with Furies in tormenting fire ; 
 Approving Time fhall confecrate thy Lays, 
 And join the Patriot's to the Poet's Praife. 
 
 GEORGE LYTTELTON.
 
 PASTORALS, 
 
 WITH A 
 
 Difcourfe on PASTORAL. 
 Written in the Year M DCC iv. 
 
 Rura mihi etrigui placeant in vallibus amnes, 
 Flumina amem, fylvafque, inglorius ! VIRG 
 
 VOL. I.
 
 (3) 
 A 
 
 DISCOURSE 
 
 O N 
 
 PASTORAL POETRY*. 
 
 THERE are not, I believe, a greater num- 
 ber of any fort of verfes than of thofe which 
 are called Paftorals ; nor a fmaller, than of 
 thofe which are truly fo. It therefore f.-ems necef- 
 fary to give fome account of this kind of Poem, and 
 it is my defign to comprize in this fhort paper the 
 fubftance of thofe numerous diflertations the Critics 
 have made on the fubjecl:, without omitting any of 
 their rules in my own favour. You will aJfo find 
 fome points reconciled, about which they feem to 
 differ, and a few remarks, which, I think, have 
 cfcaped their obfervation. 
 
 The original of Poetry is afcribed to that Age 
 which fucceeded the creation of the world : and as 
 the keeping of flocks feems to have been the firft 
 employment of mankind, the moft ancient fort of 
 poetry was probably pqflsral^. It is natural to ima-r 
 gine, that the leifure of thofe aneient fhepherds ad- 
 mitting and inviting fome diverfion, none was fo 
 proper to thatfolitary and fedentary life as Tinging; 
 and that in their fongs they took occafion to celebrate 
 their qwn felicity. From hence a Poem was in.r 
 
 * Written at fixtetn years of n%t. P. 
 f Fontetullti 'Di/c. on Pajlormli. P. 
 
 B 2 ventej,
 
 4 A DISCOURSE- 
 
 vented, and afterwards improved to a perfect: image 
 of that happy time ; which by giving us an efteem 
 for the virtues of a former age, might recommend 
 them to the prefent. And fmce the life of fhepherds 
 was attended with more tranquillity than any other 
 rural employment, the Poets chofe to introduce their 
 Ferfons, from whom it received the name of Pa- 
 ftoral. 
 
 A Paftoral is an imitation of the action of a {hep- 
 herd, or one confidered under that character. The 
 form pf this imitation is dramatic, or narrative, or 
 mixed of both * ; the fable fimple, the manners not 
 too polite nor too ruftic : the thoughts are plain, yet 
 admit a little quicknefs and pafiion, but that fhort 
 and flowing : the exprefTion humble, yet as pure as 
 the language will afford ; neat, but not florid j eafy, 
 and yet lively. In fhort, the fable, manners, 
 thoughts, and expreflions are full of the greateft 
 Simplicity in nature. 
 
 The complete character of this poem confirrs in 
 {implicit} t, brevity, and delicacy; the twofirft of 
 which render an eclogue natural, and the laft de- 
 lightful. 
 
 If we would copy Nature, it may be ufeful to takft 
 this Idea along with us, that Paftoral is an image of 
 what they call the golden age. So that we are not 
 to defcribe our fhepherds as fhepherds at this day 
 really are, but as they may be conceived then to 
 have been j when the beft of men followed the em- 
 ployment To carry this refemblance yet farther, 
 it would not be amifs to give thefe fhepherds fome 
 fkill in aftronomy, as far as it may be ufeful to that 
 fort of life. And an air of piety to the Gods fhould 
 ihine through the Poem, which fo vifibly appears in 
 all the works of antiquity : and it ought to preferve 
 
 * E'inftm iaTbtier. P. 
 
 -j- Rtipin de Ci.rm. Pa ft. f. 2. P. 
 
 fome
 
 ON PASTORAL POETRY. 5 
 
 fome relifh of the old way of writing; the connec- 
 tion mould be loofe, the narrations and defcriptions 
 fhort *, and the periods concife. Yet it is not fuf- 
 ficient, that the leniences only be brief, the whole 
 Eclogue fliould be fo too. For we cannot fuppofe 
 Poetry in thofe days to have been the bufmefV of 
 men, but their recreation at vacant hours. 
 
 But with a refpect to the prefent age, nothing 
 more conduces to make thefe compofures natural, 
 than when fome Knowledge in rural affairs is difco- 
 vered f . This may be made to appear rather done 
 by chance than on defign,and fometimes is beftfhewa 
 by inference ; left by too much ftudy to feem na- 
 tural, we deftroy that eafy firhplicity from whence 
 arifes the delight. For what is inviting in this fort 
 of poetry proceeds not fo much from the Idea of 
 that bufmefs, as of the tranquillity of a country 
 life. 
 
 We muft therefore ufe fome illufion to render a 
 Paftoral delightful ; and this confifts in expofing the 
 beft fide only of a (hepherd's life, and in concealing 
 its miferies J. Nor is it enough to introduce {hep- 
 herds difcourfing together in a natural way ; but a 
 regard muft be had to the fubjeft ; that it contain 
 fome particular beauty in itfelf, and that it be diffe- 
 rent in every Eclogue. Befides, in each of them a 
 defigned fcene or profpe<5t is to be prefented to our 
 view, which mould likewife have its variety ||. This 
 variety is obtain'd in a great degree by frequent com- 
 parifons, drawn from the moft agreeable objects of 
 the country; by interrogations to things inanimate; 
 by beautiful digreflions, but thofe mort ; fometimes 
 by inftfting a little on circumftances ; and laftly, by 
 
 * Rapin, Reflex, fur f Art Poet. tTArijl. p. a, Rtfl t 
 xxvii. P. 
 
 f Pref. to Vir%. Paft. in Dryd. J r ,rg. P. 
 % FontenellS t >//?. of Pa/l oral,. P. 
 H See the forementioned Preface, P. 
 
 B 3 elegant
 
 6 A D I S C O U R S E 
 
 elegant turns on the woids, which render the num- 
 bers extremely fvveet and pleafing-. As for the num- 
 bers themfelves, though they are properly of the 
 heroic meafure, they Ihould be the fmootheft, the 
 moil eafy and flowing imaginable. 
 
 It is by rules like thefe that we ought to judge of 
 Paftoral. And fmce the inftructions given for any 
 art arc to be delivered as that art is in perfection, 
 they muft of neceflity be derived from thofe in whom 
 it is acknowledged fo to be. It is therefore from the 
 practice of Theocritus and Virgil (the only undif- 
 puted authors of Pafloral) that the Critics have 
 drawn the f regoing notions concerning it. 
 
 Theocritus excels all others in nature and fimpli- 
 city. The fubjc<5ts of his Idyllia are purely pafto- 
 ral ; but he is not fo exact in his perfons, having 
 introduced reapers * and fifhermen as well as (hep- 
 herds. He is apt to be too long in his dcfcriptions, 
 of which that of the Cup in the firft paftoral is a re- 
 markable inftance. In the manners he feems a little 
 defective, for his fwains are fometimes abufive and 
 immodcft, and perhaps too much inclining to rufti- 
 city ; for inftunce, in his fourth and fifth Idyllia. 
 But 'tis enough that all others learnt their excellen- 
 cies from him, and that his Dialect alone has a fc- 
 cret charm in it, which no other could ever attain. 
 
 Virgil, who copies Theocritus, refines upon his 
 original : and in all points where judgment is prin- 
 cipally concerned, he is much fuperior to his mafter. 
 Though fome of his fubjects are not paftoral in 
 themfelves, but only feem to be fuch ; they have a 
 wondeiful variety in them, which the Greek was a 
 flrangir to f. He exceeds him in regularity and bre- 
 vity, and falls fhort of him in nothing but fimplicity 
 
 * 0EPISTAI //v/. x. WAv\IElZ/4/. XXJ. P. 
 
 f- Rujiiu Refl. on Anft. pjrt ii. rtjl. xxvii. Pief. to the 
 
 Eel. in Dry den's Virg. P. 
 
 2 and
 
 ON PASTORAL POETR 7 
 
 ahd propriety of ftyle ; the firft of which perhaps 
 was the fault of his age, and the laft of his lan- 
 guage. 
 
 Among the moderns, their fuccefs has been great- 
 eft who have moft endeavour'd to make theie ancients 
 their pattern. The moft confiderable Genius ap- 
 pears in the famous Taflb, and our Spenfer. Tailp 
 in his Aminta has as far excelled all the Paftoral 
 writers, as in his Gierufalemme he has out-done the 
 Epic poets of his country. But as this piece feems 
 to have been the original of a new fort of poem, 
 the Paftoral Comedy, in Italy, it cannot fo well be 
 confidered as a copy of the ancients. Spenfer's Ca- 
 lendar, in Mr. Dryden's opinion, is the moft com- 
 plete work of this kind which any nation has pro- 
 duced everfince the time of Virgil *. Not but that 
 }ie may be thought imperfect in fome few points. 
 His Eclogues are fomewhat too long, if we compare 
 them with the ancients. ' He is fometimes too alle- 
 gorical, and treats of matters of religion in a pafto- 
 ral ftyle, as Mantuan had done before him. He has 
 cmploy'd the Lyric meafure, which is contrary to 
 the practice of the old Poets. His Stanza is not ftill 
 the fame, nor always well chofen. This laft may 
 be thereafon his expreflion is fometimes not concife 
 enough : for the Tetraftic has obliged him to extend 
 his fenfe to the length of four lines, which would 
 have been more clofely confined in the Couplet. 
 
 In the manners, thoughts, and characters, he 
 comes near to Theocritus himfelf; tho', notwith- 
 ftanding all the care he has taken, he is certainly in- 
 ferior in his Dialect : For the Doric had its beauty 
 And propriety in the time of Theocritus ; it was u/ed 
 in part of Greece, and frequent in the mouths of 
 many of the greatcft perfons : whereas the old Eng- 
 Jifh and country phrafes of Spenfer were either en- 
 
 * Dedication ta Virg. Ed. P. 
 
 B 4 fjre
 
 8 A D I S C O U R S E, &c. 
 
 tirely obfolete, or fpoken only by people of the 
 loweft condition. As there is a difference betwixt 
 fimplicity and rufticity, fo the expreflion of fimple 
 thoughts mould be plain, but not clownifh. The 
 addition he has made of a Calendar to his Eclogues, 
 is very beautiful ; fmce by this, befides the general 
 moral of innocence and fimplicity, which is common 
 toother authors of Paftoral, he has one peculiar to 
 himfelf ; he compares human Life to the feveral Sea- 
 fons, and at once expofes to his readers a view of 
 the great and little worlds, in their various changes 
 and afpecls. Yet the fcrupulous divifion of his Pa- 
 ftorals into Months, has obliged him either to re- 
 peat the fame defcription, in other words, for three 
 months together ; or, when it was exhaufted before, 
 entirely to omit it : whence it comes to pafs that 
 fome of his Eclogues (as the fixth, eighth, and tenth 
 for example) have nothing but their Titles to dif- 
 tinguifh them. The reafon is evident, becaufe the 
 year has not that variety in it to furnifh every month 
 with a particular defcription, as it may every feafon, 
 
 Of the following Eclogues I fhall only fay, that 
 thefe four comprehend all the fubjecls which the 
 Critics upon Theocritus and Virgil will allow to be 
 fit for paftoral : That they have as much variety of 
 cefcription, in refpel of the feveral feafons, as Spen- 
 fer's : that in order to add to this variety, the feve- 
 ral times of the day are obferv'd, the rural employ- 
 ments in each feafon or time of day, and the rural 
 Scenes or places proper to fuch employments j not 
 without fome regard to the feveral ages of man, and 
 the different paflions pioper to each age. 
 
 But after all, if they have any merit, it rs to be 
 attributed to fome good old Authors, whofe works 
 as I had leifure to ftudy, fo I hope I have not want- 
 ed care to imitate. 
 
 SPRING.
 
 (9) 
 
 SPRING. 
 
 THE 
 
 FIRST PASTORAL, 
 
 O R, 
 
 DAMON. 
 
 To Sir WILLIAM TRUMBAL. 
 
 THIRST in thefe fields T try the fylvan ftrains, 
 JC Nor blufh to fport on Windfor's blifsful plains; 
 Fair Thames, flow gently from thy facred fpring, 
 While on thy banks Sicilian Mufts fxng j 
 
 Let 
 
 Tliefe Paftorals were written at the age of fixteen, and 
 then paft thro' the hands of Mr. Waljb, Mr. Wyckerley, 
 G. Granville afterwards Lord Lanfjonvn; Sir William 
 7mmbal, Dr. Garth, Lord Hallifax, Lord Somers, Mr. 
 Mainwaring, and others. All thefe gave our author the 
 greatel encouragement, and particularlyMr. Waljk (whom 
 Mr. Dryden, in his Poftfcript to Virgil, calls the beft critic 
 of his age.) " The Author (fays he) feems to have a 
 " particular genius for this kind of Poetry, and a judg- 
 " ment that much exceeds his years. He has taken very 
 " freely from the Ancients. But what he has mixed of 
 " his own with theirs is no way inferior to what he has 
 " taken from them. It is not flattery at all to fry that 
 
 " Virgil
 
 ,0 PASTORALS. 
 
 Let vernal airs thro' trembling ofiers play, $ 
 
 And Albion's cliffs refound the rural lay. 
 
 You, that too wife for pride, too good for pow'fj 
 Enjoy the glory to be great no more, 
 
 And 
 
 " Virgil had written nothing fo good at his Age. His 
 *' Preface is very judicious and learned." Lttttr to Mr. 
 Wyckerley, 4f, 1705. The Lord Lanfdown about the 
 lame time, mentioning the youth of our Poet, fays (in a 
 printed Letter of the Lharafter of Mr. VVycherley) " that 
 " if he e;oes on as he has begun in the Paftoral way, as 
 " Virjil firft tried his ftrenqtii, we may hope to feeEng- 
 " lifh Poetry vie with the Roman, 11 etc. Notwithftand 
 inj, the early time of their production, the Author eiteerrt- 
 edthefe as the moft correct in the verification, and mu- 
 fical in the r.un.bers, of all his works. The reafon f_r 
 hi labouring them into fomuch ibftnels, was, dou'btlefs, 
 tli.it this lort of poetry derives almoft its whole beauty 
 from a natural eu'.e of thought and fmoothnefs of verfe ; 
 whereas that of moil other kinds confifts in the flrength 
 and fdr.ef; of both. In u letter of his to Mr. U'alJJj 
 about this time we find an enumeration of feveral Nicet.es 
 in Verfifiration, which perhaps have never been ftriclly 
 obferved in any Englifh poem, except in thcfe Pailorals, 
 They \veie not printed till 170.;. P. 
 
 Sir William "Fhtmbal] Our Author's friendfliip with 
 this gentleman commenced at very unequal years; he 
 \vas under fixteen, but Sir William above fixty, and had 
 lately refign'd his employment of Secretary of State to 
 King William. P. 
 
 IMITATION?. 
 VE R. 1. rrima ?_yracojlo <ti^n <ta efl huiet'C verfu, 
 
 Nojlra nee erubuit fj!<uas balitare fbulia. 
 This is the general exordium and opening of the Piifto- 
 r/tls, in imitation of the fixth of f''i''gl', vvhich fo'me have 
 therefore not improbably thought to have been the firft 
 originally. In the beginnings of the other three i-aito- 
 r'aU, he imitates expreily thofe which now ftand tin! of 
 the three chief Poets in this kind, Spencer, I'irgil, Iliocritus.-
 
 PASTORALS. ii 
 
 And carrying with you all the world can boaft, 
 To all the world illuftrioufly are loft I IO 
 
 O let my Mufe her {lender reed infpire^ 
 Till in your native fliades you tune the lyre : 
 So when the Nightingale to reft removes, 
 The Thrufh may chant to the forfaken groves, 
 But, cbarm'd to filencc, liftens while {he fmgs, 1 5 
 And all th' aerial audience clap their wings. 
 
 Soon as theflocksfhook off the nightly dews, 
 Two Swains, whom Love kept wakeful, and the 
 
 Mufe, 
 
 Potir'd o'er the whitening vale their fleecy care, 
 Frcfli as the morn, and as the feafon fair : zo 
 
 The dawn now blufhing on the mountain's fide, 
 Thus Daphnis fpoke, and Strephon thus reply 'd. 
 
 D A- 
 
 VER. 12. injvur native /hade s\ Sir W. Trumbal was 
 born in W'incHbr-foreft, to which he retreated, after he 
 had refigned the noil of Secretary of State to King Wil- 
 liam 111. P. 
 
 VER. 17, etc. The Scene of this Pafloral a Valley, 
 the time the Morning. It Hood originally thus, 
 Daphnis and Screphon to the Shades retir'd, 
 Both warm'd by Love, and by the Mufe infpir'd, 
 Frc'h as the morn, and as the feafon fair, 
 In ficrw'ry vales they fed their fleecy caie ; 
 And while Aurora gilds the mountain's fide, 
 Thus Daphnis fpoke, and Strephonthus reply 'd. 
 
 I M I T A T I O M S. 
 
 jl SbrphertCt Boy ( he feeks no better name)* 
 Brtieath tbejfjadt a fprtading Beach dijt>le;yi t 
 Thyrfis, the Mt fee of that murmuring fyring,- 
 arc manifcftly imitations of 
 
 j4Shepbtr<fs Bay (no better do him call) 
 
 Tityre, tu fatiilae recubunsfub tegrr.fae fagi. 
 
 Av T TO rJ/iS-KT^ct ^ n 7,-irvf, eirJ/.i, ',->'>*. P.
 
 OF PAS TO R A L S. 
 
 D A P H N I S. 
 
 . Hear how the birds, on ev'ry bloomy fpray, 
 With joyous mufic wake the dawning day ! 
 Why fit we mute when early linnets fing, 2 
 
 When warbling Philomel falutes the fpring ? 
 Why fit we fad when Phofphor fhines fo clear, 
 And lavifh Nature paints the purple year ? 
 
 STREPHON. 
 
 Sing then, and Damon fhall attend the flrain, 
 While yon' flow oxen turn the furrow'd plain. 
 Here the bright crocus and blue vi'let glow ; 
 Here weftern winds on breathing rofes blow. 
 I'll ftake yon' lamb, that near the fountain plays, 
 And from the brink his dancing fhade furveys. 
 
 D A P H N I S. 
 
 And I this bowl, where wanton ivy twines, 35 
 And fwelling clufters bend the curling vines : 
 
 Four 
 
 VER. 28. purple year ?~\ Pnrple here ufed in the Latin 
 fenfe of the brighteft molt vivid colouring in general, 
 not of that peculiar tint fo called. 
 
 YE R . 34. The firft reading was, 
 
 And his own image from the bank furveys. 
 
 V A R I A T I O N S. 
 
 VER. 36. And clulters lurk beneath the curling vines. P, 
 IMITATIONS. 
 
 VR. 35.56. 
 
 Lenta quibus torno faciji fuperadiltt.i v'ttls, 
 
 Dijfufoi edera vefiit pallente cor) mhj. t Virg. P, 
 
 1
 
 PASTORALS. 13 
 
 Four figures rifing from the work appear, 
 The various feafons of the rowling year ;. 
 And what is that, which binds the radiant fky, 
 Where twelve fair figns in beauteous order lie ? 43 
 
 DAMON. 
 
 Then fmg by turns, by turns the Mufes fing, 
 Now hawthorns bloflbm, now the daifies fpring, 
 Now leaves the trees, and flow'rs adorn the ground} 
 Begin, the vales fhall ev'ry note rebound. 
 
 STREPHON. 
 
 Infpire me, Phoebus, in my Delia's praife, 45 
 With Waller's ftrains, or Granville's moving lays ! 
 A milk-white bull fhall at your altars ftand, 
 That threats a fight, and fpurns the rifing fand. 
 
 D A. 
 
 VER. 46. Gmn'ville'\ George Granville, afterwards 
 Lord Lantdown, known for his Poems, moil of which 
 he compos'd very young, and propos'd Waller as his mo- 
 del. P- 
 
 IMITATIONS. 
 
 VER. 41. 7benjing by turns."] Literally from Virgi?, 
 Alttrnis diceti\, am ant alterna Camante : 
 Et nunc omnif ager t nunc omnis parturit arbot, 
 Nuncfrondent Jyl-v<e, nunc form ojij/imui annus. P. 
 
 VER. 38. The various feafoni\ The Subjeft of thefe 
 Paftoral* engraven on the bowl is not without its pro- 
 priety. The Shepherd's hefuation at the name oi the 
 odiac, imitates that in Virgil, 
 
 Et quisfuit alter, 
 Defcripfit radio totum qui gentibus orlem ? P. 
 
 VER. 47. A milk-<wbite Bull.] Virg.Pa/cite taurum, 
 >ui (ornu petal, et fedibusjamjpargat artaatn* P.
 
 ?4 PASTORALS. 
 
 D A P H N I S. 
 
 O Love ! for Sylvia let me gain the prize, 
 A.nd make my tongue victorious as her eyes ; 50 
 No lambs or flieep for victims I'll impart, 
 Thy vidim, Love, {hall be the {hepherd's heart. 
 
 STREPHON. 
 
 JVTe gentle Delia beckons from the plain, 
 Then hid in fhades, eludes her eager fwain ; 
 But feigns a laugh, to fee me fearch around, 55 
 And by that laugh the willing fair is found. 
 
 D A P H N I S. 
 
 The fprtghtly Sylvia trips along the green, 
 She runs, but hopes flie does not run unfeen ; 
 While a kind glance at her purfuer flies, 
 How much at variance are her feet and eyes ! 60 
 
 STREPHON. 
 O'er golden fa::ds let rich Pad"t.olus flow, 
 And trees weep amber on the banks of Po ; ~ 
 
 Bleft 
 
 V A R I A T IONS. 
 
 *VER. 49. Originally thus in the MS. 
 
 Pan, let my numbers equal Strephon's lays, 
 Of Parian llone thy ftatue will J raife ; 
 Bui if J conquer and augment my fold, 
 Thy Parian itatue lhall be chang'd to Gold. 
 
 VE R . 6 1 . It Hood thus at firft, 
 Let rich Iberia golden fleeces boaft, 
 Her purple wool the proud AiTyjian coaft, 
 Eleft I'hames's mores, &c. P. 
 
 VE i . 61. Originally thus in the MS. 
 
 Go, flow'ry wreath, and let my Sylvia know, 
 Compared to thine how bright her Beauties fliovv : 
 
 Then
 
 PASTORALS. 15 
 
 Bleft Thames's fhores the brighteft beauties yicld ? 
 Feed here my Jambs, I'll feek no diftant field. 
 
 D A P H N I S. 
 
 Celeftial Venus haunts Idalia's groves ; 65 
 
 Diana Cynthus, Ceres Hybla loves ; 
 If Windfor-fLades delight the matchlefs maid ? 
 CyrKhus and Hybla yield to Windfor-fhade. 
 
 STREPHON. 
 
 All nature mourns, the fides relent in fhow'rs, 
 Hufh'd are the birds, and clos'd the drooping flow'rs ; 
 If Delia fmile, the flow'rs begin to fpring, 7 I 
 
 The fides to brighten, and the birds to fmg. 
 
 DA- 
 
 VARIATIONS. 
 
 Then die ; and dying teach the lovely Maid 
 How foon the brightest beauties are decay d. 
 
 D A P H N I S. 
 
 :Go, tuneful bir^, that pleas VI the woods fo long, ; 
 uf Amaryllis learn a fweeter ibng j 
 To Heav'n arifing then her notes convey, 
 For Heav'n alone is worthy fuch a lay. 
 
 VE R. 69. etc. Thefe verfes were thus at firft : 
 /jll nature mourns, the birds their fongs den}', 
 Nor wafted brooks the thirfty flow'rs fupply ; 
 If Delia fmile, the flow'rs begin to fpring. 
 The brooks to murmur, and the birds to fmg. P 
 
 IMITATIONS. 
 
 VER. <;8. She runs, but hopei] ImitatioB of Virgil, 
 M.ilo me Galatea petit^ lafcwa puel/a, 
 Et fugit ad Jalices, fed jt cufif ante v;cteri. P, 
 
 V E R . 69. All nature mourns, ] 
 Virg. Artt ager, vitlo morifnsfitit aerii btrla, ete\. 
 
 rkyUidii advcnlu nojira nemus cmnt virtbit, P. 
 
 -
 
 16 PASTORALS; 
 
 D A P H N I S. 
 
 All nature laughs, the groves are frefh and fair, 
 The Sun's mild luflre warms the vital air ; 
 If Sylvia fmiles, new glories gild the fliore, 75 
 And vanquifh'd nature feems to charm no more. 
 
 S T R E P H O N. 
 
 In fpnng the fields, in autumn hills I love, 
 At morn the plains, at noon the fhady grove, 
 But Delia always ; abfent from her fight, 
 Nor plains at morn, nor groves at noon delight. 8<J 
 
 D A P H N I S. 
 
 Sylvia's like autumn ripe, yet mild as May, 
 More bright than noon, yet frefli as early day ; 
 Ev'n fpring difpleafes, when flic mines not here ; 
 But bleft with her, 'tis fpring throughout the year. 
 
 STREPHON. 
 
 Say, Daphnis, fay, in what glad foil appears, 
 A wond'rous Tree that facred Monarchs bears : 
 Tell me but this, and I'll difclaim the prize, 
 And give the conqueft to thy Sylvia's eyes. 88 
 
 DAPHNIS. 
 
 Nay tell me firft, in what more happy fields 
 The Thiftle fprings, to which the Lilly yields : 
 
 And 
 
 V E R . S6. Awonifroiis Tree flat facred Monarch tears.'] 
 An allufion to the Royal Oak, in which Charles II. had 
 been hid from the purluit after the battle of Worcefter. P. 
 
 IMITATIONS. 
 
 VER. 90. The Thljlle firings to which the Lilly yields,] 
 
 Alludes to the device of the Scots Monarchs, the Thiftle, 
 
 worn by Queen Ann? -. and to the arms of France, the 
 
 I . Fleur
 
 PASTORALS. 17 
 
 And then a nobler prize I will refign ; 9' 1 
 
 For Sylvia, charming Sylvia fhall be thine. 
 
 DAMON. 
 
 Ceafe to contend, for, Daphnis, I decree, 
 The bowl to Strephon, and the lamb to thee : 
 Bleft Swains, whofe Nymphs in ev'ry grace excel ; 
 Bleft Nymphs, whofe Swains thofe graces fing fo 
 well ! 96 
 
 Now rife, and hafte to yonder woodbine bow'rs> 
 A foft retreat from fudden vernal fhow'rs ; 
 The turf with rural dainties (hall be crown'd, 
 While op'ning blooms diffufe their fweets around. 
 For fee ! the gath'ring flocks to fhelter tend, 10 1 
 Andjrom the Pleiads -fruitful fhow'rs defcend. 
 
 VARIATIONS. 
 VER. 99. was originally, 
 
 The turf with country dainties fliall be fpread, 
 And trees with twining branches fhade your head. P. 
 
 IMITATIONS. 
 
 Fleur de lya. The two riddles are in imitation of thofe 
 
 in Virg. Eel. iii. 
 
 Die quibut in tern's infcripti nomina Regum 
 Naftnntur Flores, fcf PbyllidajcJui habeto, P. 
 
 VOL. L C SUM-
 
 S U M M E R. 
 
 THE 
 
 SECOND PASTORAL, 
 
 O R 
 
 ALEXIS. 
 
 To Dr. GARTH. 
 
 A Shepherd's Boy (he feeks no better name) 
 Led forth his flocks along the filver Thame, 
 Where dancing fun-beams on the waters play'd, 
 And verdant alders form'd a quiv'ring fhade. 
 Soft as he mourn'd, the ftreams forgot to flow, 5 
 The flocks around a dumb compaflion fhow, 
 
 The 
 
 VE R . 3 . The Scene of this Paftoral by the river's fide ; 
 fuitable to the heat of the feafon ; the time noon. P. 
 
 VARIATIONS. 
 
 VER. r, 2, 3, 4. were thus printed in the firft edition : 
 A faithful fwain, whom Love had taught to fing, 
 Bewail'd his fate befide a filver fpring ; 
 Where gentle Thames his winding waters leads 
 Thro' verdant forefls, and thro' flow'ry meads. P. 
 
 VER. 3. Originally thus in the MS. 
 There to the winds he plain'd his haplefs love, 
 And Amaryllis fill'd the vocal grove.
 
 PASTORALS. 19 
 
 The Naiads wept in ev'ry watry bow'r, 
 And Jove confented in a filent fhow'r. 
 
 Accept, O GARTH, the Mufe's early lays, 
 That adds this wreath of Ivy to thy Bays ; 10 
 
 Hear what from Love unpraftis'd hearts endure, 
 From Love, the fole difcafe thou canft not cure. 
 
 Ye fhady beeches, and ye cooling ftreams, 
 Defence from Phoebus', not from Cupid's beams, 
 To you I mourn, nor to the deaf I fing, 15 
 
 The woods fhall anfwer, and their echo ring. 
 The hills and rocks attend my doleful lay, 
 Why art thou prouder and more hard than they ? 
 The bleating fheep with my complaints agree, 
 They parch'd with heat, and I inflam'd by thee. 29 
 The fultry Sirius burns the thirfry plains, 
 While in thy heart eternal winter reigns. 
 
 Where ftray ye Mufes, in what lawn or grove, 
 While your Alexis pines in hopelefs love ? 
 In thofe fair fields where facred Ifis glides, 25 
 
 Or elfe where Cam his winding vales divides ? 
 
 C 2 As 
 
 VER. 9 ] Dr. Samuel Garth, Author of the Difpen- 
 fary, was one of the firft friends of the Author, whofe 
 acquaintance with him began at fourteen or fifteen. Their 
 friendfhip continued from the year 1703 to '74 8, which 
 was that of his death. P. 
 
 VE R . 1 6. The fyoooJsJbull ' anfaser, andthtir echo ring^\ 
 Is a line out of Spenfer's Epithalamion. P. 
 
 IMITATIONS. 
 VER. 8. Jliid Jovt cofiftnteff] 
 
 Jupiter et Iceto defcenJet plurimus imbri. Virg. P. 
 VER. 15. nor to the deuflfingC^ 
 
 "Noncani>nuifurdii,rcfyandtnt omniaft/-v<f. Virg. P. 
 VER. 23. Where jimy y f Mufes, etc.] 
 
 <>>u<e nemota, aut qui vot/a/tut babutrt t fuell<f 
 
 NaiJtt,
 
 40 PASTORALS. 
 
 As in the cryftal fpring I view my face, 
 
 Frefh rifingblufhes paint the watry glafs j 
 
 But fince thofe graces pleafe thy eyes no more, 
 
 I fhun the fountains which I fought before. 30 
 
 Once I was fkill'd in ev'ry herb that grew, 
 
 And ev'ry plant that drinks the morning dew ; 
 
 Ah wretched fhepherd, what avails thy art, 
 
 To cure thy lambs, but not to heal thy heart ! 
 
 Let other fwains attend the rural care, 35 
 
 Feed fairer flocks, or richer fleeces fheer : 
 But nigh yon' mountain let me tune my lays, 
 Embrace my Love, and bind my brows with bays. 
 That flute is mine which Colin's tuneful breath 
 Infpir'd when living, and bequeath'd in death 5 40 
 
 He 
 
 VER. 39. Colin] The name taken by Spenfer in his 
 Eclogues, where his miftrefs is celebrated under that of 
 Rofalinda. P. 
 
 VARIATIONS. 
 VER. 27. 
 
 Oft in the cryrtal fpring I caft a view, 
 And equal'd Hylas, if the glafs be true ; 
 But fince thofe graces meet my eyes no more. 
 I fliun, etc. P. 
 
 IMITATIONS. 
 
 Na'ides, indigno cum Gallus amore periret ? 
 Warn neque Parnajfli vabisjuga, nam neque Pindi 
 \Jlla moram fecere, neque Aonia Aganippe. 
 
 Virg. out of Theocr. P. 
 
 VE R 27. Virgil again from the Cyclops of Theocritus, 
 
 nuper me in littore 'vidi 
 
 Cum placidum <uentis ftaret mare, non ego Dapbnim, 
 Judice te, mctuam, fi r.unquamfallat imago. P. 
 
 VER. 40. bequeathed in death ; etc.] Virg. Eel. ii. 
 Eft mibi difparibui feptem compafia cifutis 
 FiJJula, Damcctas dono mibi quam dedit olim, 
 Et dixit mcricni, Te nunc babtt ijla fecundum. P.
 
 PASTORALS. 21 
 
 He faid ; Alexis, take this pipe, the fame 
 That taught the groves my Rofalinda's name : 
 But now the reeds (hall hang on yonder tree, 
 For ever filent fince defpis'd by thee 
 Oh ! were I made by fome transforming pow'r 45 
 The captive bird that fings within thy bow'r ! 
 Then might my voice thy lift'ning ears employ, 
 And I thofe kifles he receives, enjoy. 
 
 And yet my numbers pleafe the rural throng, 
 Rough Satyrs dance, and Pan applauds the fong : 50 
 The Nymphs, forfaking ev'ry cave and fpring, 
 Their early fruit, and milk white turtles bring j 
 Each am'rous nymph prefers her gifts in vain, 
 On you their gifts are all beftow'd again. 
 For you the fwains the faireft flow'rs defign, 55 
 And in one garhnd all their beauties join j 
 Accept the wreath which you deferve alone, 
 In whom all beauties are compriz'd in one. 
 
 See what delights in fylvan fccnes appear ! 
 Defcending Gods have found Elyfium here. 60 
 
 In woods bright Venus with Adonis ftray'd, 
 And chafte Diana haunts the foreft made. 
 Come, lovely nymph, and blefs the filent hours, 
 When fwains from fheering feek their nightly 
 
 bow'rs j 
 
 When weary reapers quit the fultry field, 65 
 
 And crown'd with corn their thanks to Ceres yield, 
 
 C 3 This 
 
 IMITATIONS. 
 
 YE R. 60. Defcending Gods have found Elyfium here.] 
 H<ib:tarunt Dt quoque fil<uai Virg. 
 
 Idem. P.
 
 22 PASTORALS. 
 
 This harmlefs grove no lurking viper hides, 
 But in my breaft theferpent Love abides. 
 Here bees from bloflbms fip the rofy dew, 
 But your Alexis knows no fweets but you. 70 
 
 Oh deign to vifit our forfaken feats, 
 The moiTy fountains, and the green retreats ! 
 Where'er you walk, cool gales {hall, fan the glade, 
 Trees, where you fit, {hall croud into a fhade : 
 Where'er you tread, the blufliing flow'rs {hall rife, 
 And all things flourifli where you turn your eyes. 
 Oh! how I long with you to pafs my days, 
 Invoke the Mufes, and refound your praife ! 
 Your praife the birds {hall chant in ev'ry grove, 
 And winds {hall waft it to the pow'rs above. 80 
 
 But would you fing, and rival Orpheus' {train, 
 The wond'ring forefts foon {hould dance again, 
 The moving mountains hear the pow'rful call, 
 And headlong ftreams hang lift'mng in their fall ! 
 
 But fee, the mepherds fliun the noon-day heat, 
 The lowing herds to murm'ring brooks retreat, 86 
 
 To 
 
 VA R I A T I N S. 
 
 VER. 79, 80. 
 
 Your praife the tuneful birds to hcav'ii fhall bear, 
 And lift'ning wolves grow milder as they hear. 
 
 So the verfes were originally writren. But the author, 
 young as he was, foon found theahfurdicy which Spf*/er 
 himfelf overlooked, of introducing wolves into Eng- 
 land. P. 
 
 I M I T A T IONS. 
 VER. 80. dr.d winds /kail ivaft, etc.~\ 
 
 Pariem ali^uat/i, -venti, d^Zm rtferatii ad aura ! 
 
 Virg. P.
 
 PASTORALS. 43 
 
 To clofer {hades the panting flocks remove ; 
 
 Ye Gods ! and is there no relief for Love ? 
 
 But foon the fun with milder rays defcends 
 
 To the cool ocean, where his journey ends : 90 
 
 On me love's fiercer flames for ever prey, 
 
 By night he fcorches, as he burns by day. 
 
 VARIATION^. 
 VE R . 91. Me love inflames, nor will his fires allay. P. 
 
 IMITATIONS. 
 VER.88. T e Got!,, etc.} 
 
 Me tatnea urit amor, guis enlm nodus adfit amort ? 
 
 Idem. P. 
 
 C 4 ' AUfUMN.
 
 AUTUMN, 
 
 THE 
 
 THIRD PASTORAL, 
 
 O R 
 
 HYLAS and JEGON. 
 
 To Mr. WYCHERLEY. 
 
 BEneath the fhade a fpreading Beech difplays, 
 Hylas and ^Egon fung their rural lays, 
 This mourn'd a faithlefs, that an abfent Love, 
 And Delia's name and Doris fill'd the Grove. 
 Ye Mantuan nymphs, your facred fuccour bring; 5 
 Hylas and Agon's rural lays I fing. 
 
 Thou, whom the Nine with Plautus' wit infpire, 
 The art of Terence, and Menander's fire; 
 
 Whofe 
 
 This Paftoral confifts of two part?, like the viiith of 
 Virgil ; The Srene, a Hill j the Time at Sun-fet. P. 
 
 VER. 7. Tha:. -u-bom the Nine,'] Mr. Wycherley, a fa- 
 mous Author of Comedies ; of which the moft celebrated 
 were the Plain- Dealer a;.d Country-Wife, He was a 
 writer of infinite fpirit, iatire, and wit. The only ob- 
 jection made to him was that he had too much. How- 
 ever he was followed in the fame way by Mr. Congreve; 
 tho' with, a little more correclnefs. P.
 
 PASTORALS. 2$ 
 
 Whofe fenfe inftrucls us, and who r e humour charms, 
 Whofe judgment fways us, and whofe fpiiit warms! 
 Qh, rtcill'd in Nature ! fee the hearts of Swains, 
 Their artlefs paflions, and their tender pains. 
 Now fctting Phcebus fhone ferenely bright, 
 And fleecy clouds were fheaL'd with purple light ; . 
 When tuneful HjLs v/ith melodious moan, 15 
 
 Taught rocks to weep and made the mountains groan. 
 
 Go, gentle eales, and bear my fighs away ! 
 To Delia's ear, the tender notes convey. 
 As fome fad Turtle his loft love deplores, 
 And with deep murmurs fills the founding fhores j 
 Thus, far from Delia,* to the winds I mourn, 2-1 
 Alike unheard, unpity'd, and forlorn. 
 
 Go, gentle gales, and bear my fighs along ! 
 For her, the feather'd quires neglect their fong : 
 For her, the limes their pleafmg fhades deny ; 25 
 For her, the lillics hang their heads and die. 
 Ye flow'rs that droop, ford. ken by the fpring, 
 Ye birds that, left by fummer, ceafe to fmg. 
 Ye trees that fade when autumn-heats remove, 
 Say, is not abfcnce death to thofe who love ? 30 
 
 Go, gentle gales, and bear my fighs away; 
 Curs'd be the fields that caus'd my Delia's ftay j 
 Fade ev'ry bloflbm, wither ev'ry tree, 
 Die ev'ry funv'r, and perim all, but fhe. 
 What have I faid ? where'er my Delia flies, 35 
 Let fpring attend, and fudden flow'rs arifc; 
 Let op'ning rofes knotted oaks adorn, 
 And liquid amber drop from ev'ry thorn. 
 
 Go 
 
 IMITATIONS. 
 
 V E R . 37. jlurcu dm it 
 
 Mulct
 
 26 PASTORALS. 
 
 Go, gentle gales, and bear my fighs along ! 
 The birds fhall ceafe to tune their ev'ning fong, 40 
 The winds to breathe, the waving woods to move, 
 And ftreams to murmur, e'er I ceafe to love. 
 Not bubling fountains to the thirfty fwain, 
 Not balmy fleep to lab'rers faint with pain, 
 Not fhow'rs to larks, or fun-ihine to the bee, 45 
 Are half fo charming as thy fight to me. 
 
 Go, gentle gales, and bear my fighs away ! 
 Come, Delia, come ; ah why this long delay ? 
 Thro' rocks and caves the name of Delia founds, 
 Delia each cave and echoing rock rebounds. 50 
 Ye pow'rs, what pleafing frenzy fooths my mind ! 
 Do lovers dream, or is my Delia kind ? 
 She comes, my Delia comes ! Now ceafe rrry lay, 
 And ceafe, ye ga'es, to bear my fighs away ! 
 v Next JEgon fung, while Windfor groves admlr'd ; 
 Rehearfe, ye Mufes, what yourfelves infpir'd. 56 
 
 Refound, ye hills, refound my mournful ftrain ! 
 Of perjux'd Doris, dying I complain : 
 
 Here 
 
 A T I O N S. 
 
 YER 48. Original!}' thus in the MS. 
 
 With him thro' Libya's burning plains I'll 3-0 
 On Alpine mountains tread'th' -eternal inosv ; 
 Yet fi-el no heat but what our loves impart, 
 .rind dread no coldnefs bat in Thyrfia' he^rt. 
 
 I M I T A T J O N S. 
 
 Malaftramt ftirtan n.trcijjo fortqt alnits, 
 Pinsuiaftrftcibujfiulete!e2r.4iMtk0.yi& l> lL& viii. P , 
 VER. 43. <*] 
 
 '-Zufi't Jofor ft/fit in grc.tnias, quale per <f/tum 
 ^JuUit a^ua! jaliente jtliiji re^in^re ri--j9. cl. v. P. 
 \ ^ R.. 5 2. A'K 2ui a ma nt, ipftfimfimnizfKgunt ? Id. viii. P
 
 PASTORALS. 27 
 
 Here where the mountains lefs'ning as they rife 
 Lofe the low vales, and fteal into the fides : 60 
 While lab'ring oxen, fpent with toil and heat, 
 In their loofe traces from the field retreat: 
 While curling fmoaks from village-tops are feen, 
 And the fleet {hades glide o'er the dufky green. 
 
 Refound, ye hills, refound my mournful lay ! 65 
 Beneath yon' poplar oft we paft the day : 
 Oft' on the rind I carv'd her am'rous vows, 
 While file with garlands hung the bending boughs : 
 The garlands fade, the vows are worn away j 
 So dies her love, and fo my hopes decay. yo 
 
 Refound, ye hills, refound my mournful {train .' 
 Now bright Arclurus glads the teeming grain, 
 Now golden fruits on loaded branches fhine, 
 Aod grateful clutters fwell with floods of wine j 
 Now blufhing berries paint the yellow grove j 75 
 Juft Gods ! (hall all things yield returns but love ? 
 
 Refound, ye hills, refound my mournful lay ! 
 The fhcpherds cry, " Thy flocks arc left a prey 
 Ah ! what avails it me, the flocks to keep, 
 Who loft my heart while I preferv'd my (beep. 80 
 Pan came, and afk'd, what magic caus'd my fmart, 
 Or what ill eyes malignant glances dart ? 
 What eyes but hers, alas, have povv'r to move ! 
 And is there magic but what dwells in love ? 84 
 
 Refound, 
 
 VER. 74. Ami grate fal clujltrs, ctr.'] The fccne ij in 
 Windier i'c-rcft. So this irrage not fo exaft. 
 IMITATIONS. 
 
 VER . 82. Or what ill yei] 
 
 Nf/lh qn:s tcmrsi oculm nnli f-fiintit cgnos, P.
 
 28 PASTORALS. 
 
 Refound, ye hills, refound my mournful ftrains ! 
 I'll fly from fhepherds, flocks, and flow'ry plains. 
 From fhepherds, flocks, and plains, I may remove, 
 For fake mankind, and all the world but love ! 
 I know thee, Love ! on foreign Mountains bred, 
 Wolves gave thee fuck, and favage Tigers fed. 90 
 Thou wert from Etna's burning entrails torn, 
 Got by fierce whirlwinds, and in thunder born ! 
 
 Refound, ye hills, refound my mournful lay ! 
 Farewell, ye woods, adieu the light of day ! 
 One leap from yonder clifF (hall end my pains, 95 
 No more, ye hills, no more refound my drains ! 
 
 Thus fung the fhepherds till th' approach of night, 
 The Ikie- yet blufhing with departing light, 
 When falling dews with fpangles deck'd the glade, 
 And the low fun had iengthen'd ev'ry made. i co 
 
 VER. 98, 100.] There is a little inaccuracy here; the 
 rft line makes the time after fun- let; the fecond, before. 
 
 IMITATIONS. 
 
 VER. 89. Nuacfcio quid Jit Amor: duris in cotibus il- 
 l*m, etc. P. 
 
 WINTER,
 
 ( 29) 
 
 WINTER. 
 
 THE 
 
 FOURTH PASTORAL, 
 
 O R 
 
 DAPHNE. 
 
 To the Memory of Mrs. TEMPEST. 
 
 L Y C I D A S. 
 
 TH Y R s i s, the mufic of that murm'ring fpring 
 Is not fo mournful as the ftrains you fing. 
 Nor rivers winding thro' the v?lcs below, 
 So fweetly warble, or fo fmootbly flow. 
 
 Now 
 
 WINTER.] This was the Poet's favourite Paftoral. 
 Mrs. TempeJ}.'] This Lady was of an ancient family in 
 Yorkfhire, and particularly admired by the Author's friend 
 Mr. Walfh, who, having celebrated her in a Paftoral Ele- 
 gy, defircd his friend to do the f?me, as appears from one 
 of his Letters, dated Sept. 9, 1 706. " Your Jaft Eclogue 
 
 " being 
 IMITATION^. 
 
 VER. I. Thyrfis, the muf;c, etc.] 
 *A$v rt, (tc, Theocr. id. i.
 
 3 o PASTORALS. 
 
 Now fleeping flocks on their foft fleeces lie, 5 
 
 The moon, feretie in glory, mounts the fky, 
 While filent birds forget their tuneful lays, 
 Oh fing of Daphne's fate, and Daphne's praife ! 
 
 THYRSI S. 
 
 Behold the groves that fhine with filver frofr, 
 Their beauty wither'd, and their verdure loft. 10 
 Here {hall I try the fweet Alexis ftrain, 
 That call'd the lift'ning Dryads to the plain ? 
 Thames heard the numbers as he flow'd along, 
 And bade his wiJlows learn the moving fong. 
 
 L Y C I D A S. 
 
 So may kind rains their vita! moifture yield, 1 5 
 And fwell the future harveft of the field. 
 Begin ; this charge the dying Daphne gave, 
 And faid, " Ye fhepherds, fing around my grave !" 
 Sing, while befide the fhaded tomb I mourn, 
 And with freih bays her rural {hrine adorn. 20 
 
 T H Y R S I S. 
 
 Ye gentle Mufes, leave your cryftal fpring, 
 Let Nymphs and Sylvans cyprefs garlands bring ; 
 
 Ye 
 
 " being on the fame fubjeft with mine on Mrs. Tem- 
 " pciVs death. I fhould take it very kindly in you to give 
 " it a little turn as if it were to the memory of the fame 
 " lady." Her death having happened on the night of 
 the great florm in 1703, gave a propriety to this eclogue, 
 which in its general tarn ?.lludes to it. The fcene of the 
 Paftoral lies in a grove, the time at midnight. P. 
 
 IMITATIONS. 
 VER. 13. Thames heard, etc.] 
 
 4tfitE*rot<u,jn/lfiiqiutJi/i:erei**r. Virg. P.
 
 PASTORALS. 31 
 
 Ye weeping Loves, the ftream with myrtles hide, 
 And break your bows, as when Adonis dy'd ; 
 And with your golden darts, now ufelefs grown, 
 Infcribe a verfe on this relenting ftone: 26 
 
 " Let nature change, let heav'n and earth deplore, 
 " Fair Daphne's dead, and love is now no more ! 
 
 'Tis done, and nature's various charms decay, 
 See gloomy clouds obfcure the chearful day ! 30 
 Now hung with pearls the dropping trees appear, 
 Their faded honours fcatter'd on her bier. 
 See, where on earth the flow'ry glories lie, 
 With her they flourifh'd, and with her they die. 
 Ah what avail the beauties nature wore ? 35 
 
 Fair Daphne's dead, and beauty is no more! 
 
 For her the flocks refufe their verdant food, 
 The thirity heifers fhun the gliding flood. 
 The filver fwans her haplefs fate bemoan, 
 In notes more fad than when they fing their own; 
 In hollow caves fweet Echo filent lies, 4 1 
 
 Silent, or only to her name replies ; 
 Her name with pleafure once fhe taught the fhore, 
 Now Daphne's dead, and pleafure is no more ! 
 
 No grateful dews defcend from ev'ning fkies, 
 Nor morning odours from the flow'rs arifc 5 46 
 
 No 
 VARIATIONS. 
 
 VER. 29. Originally thus in the MS. 
 
 *Tis done, and nature's chang'd fmce you are gone ; 
 Behold the clouds have put their Mourning on. 
 
 IMITATIONS. 
 VER. 23, 24, 25. 
 
 Inducite fontibus umbras 
 Et tumulumfttcite, et tumulofu^eraddit carmen. P.
 
 3 3> PASTORALS. 
 
 No rich perfumes refrefh the fruitful field, 
 Nor fragrant herbs their native incenfe yield. 
 The balmy Zephyrs, filent fmce her death, 
 Lament the ceafmg of a fweeter breath ; 50 
 
 Th' induftrious bees neglect their golden ftore ! 
 Fair Daphne's dead, and fweetnefs is no more ! 
 
 No more the mounting kirks, while Daphne fings^ 
 Shall lilVning in mid air fufpend their wings ; 
 No more the birds fhall imitate her lays, 55 
 
 Or hufh'd with wonder, hearken from the fprays : 
 No more the ftreams their murmurs fhall forbear, 
 A fweeter mufic than their own to hear, 
 But tell the reeds, and tell the vocal fhore, 
 Fair Daphne's dead, and mufic is no more ! 60 
 
 Her fate is whifper'd by the gentle breeze, 
 And told in fighs to all the trembling trees j 
 The trembling trees, in ev'ry plain and wood, 
 Her fate remurmur to the filver flood ; 
 The filver flood, fo lately calm, appears 65 
 
 Swell'd with new paffion, and o'erflows with tears ; 
 The winds and trees and floods her death deplore, 
 Daphne, our grief ! our glory now no more ! 
 
 But fee! where Daphne wond'ring mounts on high 
 Above the clouds, above the ftarry fky ! 70 
 
 Eternal beauties grace the mining fcene, 
 Fields ever frefh, and groves for ever green I 
 There while you reft in Amaranthine bow'rs, 
 Or from thofe meads fele& unfading flow'rs, 
 
 Behold 
 
 IMITATIONS. 
 VER.6), 70. . miratur limen Okmpi, 
 
 Sub ftdibitfque vfjft nuba et fykra Dapbnii.V'irg. P,
 
 PASTORALS. 33 
 
 Behold us kindly, who your name implore, 75 
 
 Daphne, our Goddefs, and our grief no more ! 
 
 L Y C I D A & 
 
 How all things Men, while thy Mufe complains! 
 Such filence waits on Philomela's {trains, 
 In fome ftill ev'ning, when the whifp'ring breeze 
 Pants on "the leaves, and dies upon the trees. 80 
 To thee, bright goddefs, oft a lamb fhall bleed, 
 If teeming ewes encreafe my fleecy breed. 
 While plants their (hade, or flow'rs their odours give, 
 Thy name, thy honour, and thy praife fhall live ! 
 
 T H Y R S I S. 
 
 But fee, Orion fheds unwholfomedews, 85 
 
 Arife, the pines a noxious fhade diffufe j 
 Sharp Boreas blows, and Nature feels decay, 
 Time conquers all, and we muft Time obey. 
 
 Adieu, 
 
 VARIATIONS. 
 VER. 83. Originally thus in the MS. 
 
 While Vapours rife, and driving fnows defcend. 
 Thy honour, name, and praife lhall never end. 
 
 IMITATIONS. 
 VER. 8 1. H lius aram 
 
 S<rfe tener no fir is ab ovilibus imbue t a gnus. Virg. P. 
 VER. 86. foltt cjfi gravis cuntantibus umbra, 
 
 Juniperi gravis umbra* Virg. P. 
 
 VER. 88. Time conquers a//, etc. 
 
 Qmnia <vincit amor, et not cedamus amori. 
 Vid. etiam-Sannazarii Eel. et Spencer's Calendar. 
 
 VOL. I.
 
 34 PASTORALS. 
 
 Adieu, ye vales, ye mountains, ftreams and groves, 
 Adieu, yefhepherd's rural lays and loves j go 
 
 Adieu, my flocks, farewell ye fylvan crew, 
 Daphne, farewell, and all the world adieu. 
 
 V E R. 89, etc.] Thefe four laft lines allude to the feve- 
 ral lubjects of the four Paftorals, and to the feveral fcenes 
 of them, particularized before in each. P. 
 
 1
 
 ... 
 
 MESSIAH. 
 
 A 
 
 Sacred Eclogue, 
 
 In Imitation of 
 
 VIRGIL's POLLIO.
 
 Advertifement. 
 
 IN reading feveral paflages of the Prophet Ifaiah, 
 * which foretell the coming of Chrifl and the feli- 
 cities attending it, I could not but obferve a remark- 
 able parity between many of the thoughts, and thofe 
 in the Pollio of Virgil. This will not feem fur- 
 prifing, when we reflect, that the Eclogue was taken 
 from a Sibylline prophecy on the fame fubjcft. One 
 may judge that Virgil did -not copy it line by line, 
 but feledted fuch ideas as beft agreed with the nature 
 of paftoral poetry, and difpofed them in that manner 
 which ferved molt to beautify his piece. I have en- 
 deavour 3 d the fame in this imitation of him, though 
 without admitting any thing of my own ; fince it 
 was written with this particular view, that the read- 
 er, by comparing the fev'eral thoughts, might fee 
 how far the images and defcriptions of the Prophet 
 are fuperior to thofe of the Poet. But as I fear I 
 have' prejudiced them by my management, I fhall 
 fubjoin the paflages of Ifaiah, and thofe of Virgil, 
 under the fame disadvantage of a literal tranflation. P.
 
 MESSIAH. 
 
 A 
 
 SACRED ECLOGUE, 
 
 In Imitation of VIRGIL'S POLLIO. 
 
 YE Nymphs of Solyma ! begin the fong : 
 To lieav'nly themes fublimer ftrains belong. 
 The mofly fountains, and the fylvan fhades, 
 The dreams of Find us and th'Aonian maids, 
 Delight no more O thou my voice infpire 5 
 
 Who touch'd Ifaiah's hallow'd lips with fire ! 
 
 Rapt into future times, the Bard begun : 
 A Virgin fhall conceive, a Virgin bear a Son ! 
 
 From 
 
 IMITATIONS. 
 
 VER. 8. A Virgin Jhall conceive All crimes Jb all 
 ceaft, etc.] 
 
 Vine. E. iv. v. 6. 
 
 Jam redit et Virgo, redeunt Saturnia regna ; 
 Jam nova progenies Ccelo demittitur alto. 
 Te duce, fi qua manent fceleris veftigia noilri, 
 Irrita perpetua folvent formidine terras 
 Pacatumque rcget patriis virtutibus orbem. 
 Now the Virgin returns, now the kingdom of Saturn re* 
 turns, now a new Progeny is fent down from high heaven. 
 By means of (bee, whatever reliques of our crimes remain, 
 /ball be wiped away, and free the 'world from perpetual 
 ftars. He Jhall govern the earth in peace, with the virtuet 
 of his Father. 
 
 ISAIAH, Ch. vii. v. 14. Behold a Virgin Jball conceive 
 and bear a Son. Ch. ix. v. 6, 7. Unto us a Child is born, 
 unto ut a Son is given ; the Prince of Peace : of th< increaft 
 D 3 of
 
 38 PASTORALS. 
 
 From * JefTe's root behold a branch arife, 
 Whofe facred flow'r with fragrance fills the fides : 
 Th'^thereal fpirit o'er its leaves fhall move, 1 1 
 And on its tops defcends the myftic Dove. 
 Ye f Heav'ns ! from high the dewy ne&ar pour, 
 And in foft filence med the kindly fhow'r ! 
 The J fick and weak the healing plant fhall aid, 
 From ftorms a fhelter, and from heat a fhade. 
 All crimes fhall ceafe, and ancient fraud fhall fail ; 
 Returning || Juftice lift aloft her fcale ; 
 Peace o'er the world her olive wand extend, 
 And white-rob'd Innocence from heav'n defcend. 
 Swift fly the years, and rife th' expedled morn ! 21 
 Oh fpring to light, aufpicious Babe, be born ! 
 See Nature haftes her carlieft wreathes to bring, 
 With all the incenfe of the breathing fpring : 
 
 See 
 
 IMITATIONS. 
 
 of 'bis government ', and of bis peace, there Jball le no end : 
 Upon the throne of David, and upon bis kingdom, to order 
 and to jlablijb it, nvith judgment, and c u.itbjujiit:e,for e-ver 
 and ever, P. 
 
 VER. 23. See Nature haftes, etc.} 
 VIRG. E. iv. v. 1 8. ,j^ 
 
 Attibi prima, puer, nullo rr^uufcula cultu, 
 Errantes hederas paffim cum baccare tellus, 
 Mixtaque ridenti colocafia fundet acantho 
 Ipfa tibi blandos fundeiit cunabula flores. 
 For tbee, O Child, -Jhall the earth, without being tillti, 
 produce her early offerings j winding ivy, mixed 'with Bac- 
 car, and Colocafia 'with failing Acanthus. Thy cradle 
 Jball pour forth plea/ing flowers about tbee. 
 
 ISAIAH, Ch.xxxv. v. I. The wilder nefs and the foli- 
 taryflactjballbe glad, and toe dtfart Jball rejoice and blof- 
 
 Joni 
 
 *Ifai xi. v. i. f Ch. xlv. v. 8. t Ch. xxv. v. 4. 
 | Ch. ix. v. 7.
 
 PASTORALS. 39 
 
 See * lofty Lebanon his head advance, 25 
 
 See nodding forefts on the mountains dance : 
 See fpicy clouds from lowly Saron rife, 
 And Carmel's flow'ry top perfumes the fkies ! 
 Hark ! a glad voice the lonely defart chears ; 
 Prepare the f way ! a God, a God appears : 30 
 A God, a God ! the vocal hills reply, 
 The rocks proclaim th' approaching Deity. 
 Lo, earth receives him from the bending fkies ! 
 Sink down ye mountains, and ye valleys rife, 
 
 With 
 
 IMITATIONS. 
 
 fom as the rofe. Ch. Ix. v. 13. The glory of 'Lebanon JhaU 
 come unto thee, thefir-tree y the pine-tree, and the box to- 
 gether, to beautify the place of thefttnfluary. P. 
 
 VER. 29. Huik, a glad Voice, etc] 
 VIRG. E. iv. v. 46. 
 
 Aggredereo magnos, aderitjam tempus, honores, 
 
 Cara deum foboles, magnum fovis incrementum 
 
 Ipfi laetitia voces ad fydera jadtant 
 
 Intonfi monte, ipfae jam carmina rupes, 
 
 Ipfa fonant arbufta, Deus, deus ille Menalca \ 
 
 E. v. ver. 62. 
 
 Ob come and receive tie mighty honours : the time draiut 
 tiigh, O beloved offspring of the Gods, O great mire, fi of 
 Jove! The uncultivut td mountains fend Jbouts of joy to the 
 ft art, the very rocks feng in verfe, the veryjlrubs cry out t 
 A God, a God! 
 
 ISA IAH, Ch. xl. V. 3, 4. The voice of him that crietb 
 in the wilder ncfs, P> epare ye the ivay of the Lord! make 
 firait in the defart a high way for our God t Every val- 
 le\ Jhall be txulttd t and every mountain and hill jhall be 
 made Sow, and the crooked Jhall be made ft rait, and the 
 rough places plain. Ch, iv. V.23. Break firth into fmg- 
 ing, ye mountains ! O forefl, and every tree therein ! for 
 the Lord hath redeemed Ifrael . P. 
 
 *Ch. xxxv. v. 2. f Ch. xl. v. 3 , 4.
 
 40 PASTORALS. 
 
 With heads declin'd, ye cedars homage pay ; 35 
 
 Be fmooth ye rocks, ye rapid floods give way ! 
 
 The Saviour comes ! by ancient bards foretold : 
 
 Hear * him, ye deaf, and all ye blind, behold ! 
 
 He from thick films fhall purge the vifual ray, 
 
 And on the fightlefs eye-ball pour the day : 40 
 
 'Tis he th' obftrucled paths of found fhall clear, 
 
 And bid new mufic charm th' unfolding ear : 
 
 The dumb fhall fmg, the lame his crutch forego, 
 
 And leap exulting like the bounding roe. 
 
 No figh, no murmur the wide world fhall hear, 45 
 
 From ev'ry face he wipes off ev'ry tear. 
 
 In f adamantine chains fhall Death be bound, 
 
 And Hell's grim Tyrant feel th' eternal wound. 
 
 As the good J fhepherd tends his fleecy care, 
 
 Seeks frefheft pafture and the pureft air, 50 
 
 Explores the loft, the wand'ring fheep directs, 
 
 By day o'erfees them, and by night protects, 
 
 The tender lambs he raifes in his arms, 
 
 Feeds from his hand, and in his bofom warms j 
 
 Thus fhall mankind his guardian care engage, 55 
 
 The promis'd || father of the future age. 
 
 No more fhall nation againft nation rife, 
 
 Nor ardent warriours meet with hateful eyes, 
 
 Nor fields with gleaming fteel be cover'd o'er, 
 
 The brazen trumpets kindle rage no more j 69 
 
 But ufelefs lances into fcythes fhall bend, 
 
 And the broad faulchion in a plow-fharc end. 
 
 Then 
 
 * Ch. xliii. v. 18. Ch. xxxv. v. 5,6. f Ch. xxv. 
 v. 3. % Ch. xl. v. 1 1. || Ch. ix. v. 6. Ch.ii. v. 4,
 
 PASTORALS. 41 
 
 Then palaces fhall rife - r the joyful * Son 
 
 Shall finifh what his fhort-liv'd Sire begun ; 
 
 Their vines a fhadow to their race fhall yield, 65 
 
 And the fame hand that fovv'd, fhall reap the field. 
 
 The Twain in barren [ defarts with furprize 
 
 See lillies fpring, andfudden verdure rife; 
 
 And ftarts, amidft the thirfty wilds to hear 
 
 New falls of water murm'ring in his ear, 73 
 
 On rifted rocks, the dragon's late abodes, 
 
 The green reed trembles, and the bulrufh nods. 
 
 Wafte fandy | valleys, once perplex'd with thorn, 
 
 The fpiry fir and fhapely box adorn : 
 
 To leaflefs fhrubs the flow'ring palms fucceed, 75 
 
 And od'rous myrtle to the noifom weed. 
 
 The- 1| lambs with wolves fhall graze the verdant 
 
 mead, 
 And boys in flow'ry bands the tyger lead ; 
 
 The 
 
 IMITATIONS. 
 
 VE R . 67 . Thefwain in barren defarti} Virg. E. iv. v. 28. 
 Molli paulatim flavefcet campus arifta, 
 Incultifque rubens pendebit fentibus uva, 
 Et clurce quercus fudabunt rofcida mella. 
 'The fields Jhall grow yellow with ripen d ears, and tbe 
 red grape Jhall hang upon the wild brambles, and the hard 
 oak Jhall difliil homy like Jew. 
 
 ISAIAH, Ch. xxxv. v. 7. The parched g round Jhall be- 
 come a pool, and the thirjly landjprings of water : In the 
 habitations where dragons lay, //'// be grvfs, and reedf, 
 andrvjhes. Ch.lv. v. 13. Injieadof the thorn foull con:e 
 t/p the fir-tree \ and injlead of the briar Jhall come up the 
 myrtle tree. P. 
 
 VER. 77. The lambs with wolves, ctc.~\ Virg. E. iv. V. 21. 
 Jplk lack domum referent dillenta capellas 
 
 Ubera, 
 
 * Ch. Ixv. v. 21, 22. -} Ch. xxxv. v. 1,7. 
 JCh, xfi. v. 19. andCh.lv. v. 13. || Ch. xi. v. 6, 7, 8.
 
 42 PASTORALS. 
 
 The fleer and lion at one crib fhall meet, 
 
 And harmlefs * ferpents lick the pilgrim's feet. So 
 
 The fmiling infant in his hand fhall take 
 
 The crefted bafiliflc and fpeckled fnake, 
 
 Pleas'd the green luftre of the fcales furvey, 
 
 And with their forky tongue fhall innocently play. 
 
 Rife, crown'd with light, imperial f Salem, rife! 85 
 
 Exalt thy tow'ry head, and lift thy eyes ! 
 
 See, a long .{: race thy fpacious courts adorn j 
 
 See future fons, and daughters yet unborn, 
 
 In 
 
 IMITATIONS. 
 
 Ubera, nee ina^nos metuent armenta leones - 
 Occidet et ferpcns, et fallax herba veneni 
 Occidet. 
 
 Ihe goats jhall bear to the fold their udkrs dijl ended with 
 tnilk: nor Jhall the herds be afraid of the great eft lions. 
 Theferpent jball die, and the herb that conceals poijonjhall 
 die. 
 
 ISAIAH, Ch. xi. v. 16, etc. -The wolf Jball dwell with 
 the lamb, and the leop nd /hall 'lie down with the kid, and 
 the calf and the young lion and the falling together : and a 
 little child Jb all lead them. And the. lion Jhall eat ftraiu 
 like the ox. And the fucking child Jh all play on the hole of 
 the afp, and the weaned child Jhdll put his hand on the den 
 of the cockatrice. P. 
 
 VER. 85. Rife, crown'd with light, imperial Salem, 
 ri/tt] The thoughts of Jfaiah, which compofe the latter 
 part of the poem, are wonderfully elevated, and much 
 above thofe general exclamations of Virgil, whicii make 
 the loftieft parts of his Pollio. - 
 
 Magnus ab integro fzclorum nafcitur ordo ! 
 
 toto furget gens a urea mundo I 
 
 incipient magni procedere menfes ! 
 Afpice, venture laetentur ut omnia faeclo ! etc. 
 
 The reader needs only to turn to thfc-paiiages of Ifaiah, 
 here cited. P. 
 
 * Ch. Ixv. v. 25. f Ch. Ix. v. i. % Ch. Ix. v. 4, 
 
 i-
 
 PASTORALS. 43 
 
 Incrouding ranks on ev'ryfide arife, 
 
 Demanding life, impatient for the fides ! 93 
 
 See barb'rous * nations at thy gates attend, 
 
 Walk in thy light, and in thy temple bend ; 
 
 Sec thy bright altars throng'd with proftrate kings 
 
 And hcap'd with products of f Sabaean fprings ! 
 
 For thee Idume's fpicy forefls blow, <jj 
 
 And feeds of gold in Ophyr's mountains glow. 
 
 See heav'n its fparkling portals wide difplay, 
 
 And break upon thee in a flood of day ! 
 
 No more the rifing Sun (hall gild the morn, 
 
 Nor ev'ning Cynthia fill her filver horn j 103 
 
 But loft, difTolv'd in thy fuperior rays, 
 
 One tide of glory, one unclouded blaze 
 
 O'erflows thy courts : the Li^rht himfclf fhall fliinc 
 
 Reveal'd, and God's eternal day be thine ! 
 
 The || feas mall wafte, the fkies in fmoke decay, 105 
 
 Rocks fall to duft, and mountains melt away ; 
 
 But fix'd his word, his faving pow'r remains; 
 
 Thy realm for ever lafts, thy own MESSIAH rcignr? 
 
 * Cii \x. v. i. | Ch lx. v. 6. J Ch Ix. v 
 
 ; IjV v, i o.
 
 WINDSOR-FOREST, 
 
 To the Right Honourable 
 
 GEORGE Lord LANSDOWN. 
 
 Non injufla cano : Te noftrae, Fare-, myricas, 
 
 Te Nemus omne canet j nee Phoebo gratior ulla cftj 
 
 Quam fibi quoe Van pcaefcripfit pagina nomen. 
 
 VIRC.
 
 ei.I.facuiy p-4-7-
 
 (47) 
 
 WINDSOR-FOREST. 
 
 To the Right Honourable 
 
 GEORGE Lord L A N s D o w N. 
 
 THY forefts, Windfor ! and thy green retreats, 
 At once the Monarch's and the Mufe's feats, 
 Invite my lays. Be prefent, fylvan maids ! 
 Unlock your fprings, and open all your (hades. 
 GRANVILLE commands; your aid, O Mufes, 
 
 bring ! 
 What Mufe for GRANVILLE can refufe to fing ? 
 
 The Groves of Eden, vanifh'd now fo long, 
 Live in defcription, and look green in fong : 
 
 Thefe, 
 
 This Poem was written at two different times : the firft 
 part of it, which relates to the country, in the year 1704.,' 
 at the fame time with the PaftoraU : the latter part was 
 not added till the year 1713, in which it was pubhftied. P. 
 
 VAR IATIONS. 
 VER. 3, etc. originally thus, 
 
 Chailc Goddefs of the woods, 
 Nymphs of the vales, and Naiads of the floods, 
 Lead me thro' arching bow'rs, and glimm'ring glades. 
 Unlock your fprings P. 
 
 IMITATIONS: 
 
 V E R . 6. pegft quit carmiaa Gallo ? Virg.
 
 48 WINDSOR-FOREST. 
 
 Thefe, were my breaft infpir'd with equal flame, 
 Like them in beauty, fliould be like in fame. 10 
 Here hills and vales, the woodland and the plain, 
 Here earth and water feem to ftrive again j 
 Not Chaos-like together crufli'd and bruis'd, 
 But, as the world, harmonioufly confus'd : 
 Where order in variety we fee, 1 5 
 
 ' And where, tho' all things differ, all agree. 
 Here waving groves a chequer'd fcene difplay, 
 And part admit, and part exclude the day j 
 .As fome coy nymph her lover's warm addrefs 
 Nor quite indulges, nor can quite reprefs. 20 
 
 There, interfpers'd in lawns and op'ning glades, 
 Thin trees arife that fhun each other's fhacles. 
 Here in full light the ruffet plains extend : 
 There wrapt in clouds the blueifh hills afcend. 
 Ev'n the wild heath difplays her purple dyes, 25 
 And 'mid ft the defart fruitful fields arife, 
 That crown 'd with tufted trees and fpringing corn, 
 Like verdant ifles the fable wafte adorn. 
 Let India boaft her plants, nor envy we 
 The weeping amber or the balmy tree, 30 
 
 While by our oaks the precious loads are born, 
 And realms commanded which thofe trees adpj'n. 
 
 Not 
 
 VARIATIONS. 
 
 VR.2$. Originally thus ; 
 
 Why fliould I fing our better funs or air, 
 Whofe vital draughts prevent the leach's care, 
 While thro' frcfh fields th'enliv'ning odours breathe, 
 Or fpread with vernal blooms the purple heath ? ?.
 
 WINDSOR-FOREST. 49 
 
 Not proud Olympus yields a nobler fight, 
 Tho' Gods aflembled grace his tow'ring height, 
 Than what more humble mountains offer here, 35 
 Where, in their bleffings, all thofe Gods appear. 
 See Pan with flocks, with fruits Pomona crown'd, 
 Here blufhing Flora paints th' enamel'd ground, 
 Here Ceres' gifts in waving profpecl: ftand, 
 And nodding tempt the joyful reapers hand ; 40 
 Rich Induftry fits fmiling on the plains, 
 And peace and plenty tell, a STUART reigns. 
 
 Not thus the land appear 'd in ages paft, 
 A dreary defert, and a gloomy wafte, 
 To favage beafts and favage laws a prey, 45 
 
 Arid kings more furious and fevere than they ; 
 Who claim'd the fkies, difpeopled air and floods, 
 The lonely lords of empty wilds and woods : 
 Cities laid wafte, they ftorm'd the dens and caves, 
 (For wifer brutes were backward to be flaves.) 50 
 What could be free, when lawlc-fs beafts dbey'd, 
 And ev'n the elements a Tyrant fway'd ? 
 
 Jn 
 
 VER. 33. Not proud Olympus, etc.'] Sir J. Denham, in 
 his Cooper's Hill, had faid, 
 ' Than nuhicb a no'iter weight no mountain bears, 
 
 But^tlas only^ which fujporti the fpberes. 
 The comparifon is chiklifh, for this ftory of Atlas being 
 fabulous, leaves no room for a compliment. OurPoet 
 has been more artful (though he employs as fabulous a 
 circumitance in his comparison) by flic win in what the 
 . npbility of the hills of Windfor- Foreft conhtls 
 
 Where, in their bleffings, all tbofe GoJf appear, etc. 
 rot to fpeak of .the beautiful turn of wit. 
 . . VER. 45. favage luiui\ The Forcfl Laws. 
 
 VARIATIONS. 
 VE R . AC;. Originally thus in the MS. 
 VOL. I. E From
 
 5 o WINDSOR-FOREST. 
 
 Ill vain kind feafons fwell'd the teeming grain, 
 Soft fhow'rs difHU'd, and funs grew warm in vain ; 
 The fwain with tears his fruftrate labour yields, 55 
 And famifh'd dies amidft his ripen'd fields. 
 What wonder then, a beaft or fubjecl: flain 
 Were eqaal crimes in a defpotic reign ? 
 Both doom'd alike, for fportive Tyrants bled, 
 But while the fubjedr, ftarv'd, the beaft was fed. 60 
 Proud Nimrod frrft the bloody chace began, 
 A mighty hunter, and his prey was man : 
 Our haughty Norman boafts that barb'rous name, 
 And makes his trembling flaves the royal game. 
 The fields are ravifh'd from th' induftrious fwains, 
 From men their cities, and from Gods their fanes : 
 The levell'd towns with weeds lie cover'd o'er j 
 The hollow winds thro' naked temples roar ; 
 Round broken columns clafping ivy twin'd ; 
 O'er heaps of ruin ftalk'ct the ft'ately hind^ 70 
 
 The 
 
 VE R . 65. The fields are ravlfnd, etc ] Alluding to the 
 deftruclion made in the New Foreft, and the tyrannies ex- 
 ercifed tliere by William I. P. 
 
 VAR IATIONS. 
 
 From towns laid watte, to dens and caves they ran 
 (For who firil ftoop'd to be a flave was man.) 
 VER. 57, etc. 
 
 No wonder favages or fubjefts flain 
 But fubjeds flarv'd while Ravages were fed. 
 It was originally thus, but the word favages is not pro- 
 perly applied to beafts but to> men which occafioned 
 the alteration. P. 
 
 IMITATIONS. 
 
 VER. 65. The fields ivtre ra<vijh V from tb* ivduftriottt 
 Jkuains, From 'men their cities, and from Qodi their f*. ties:] 
 
 Iran-
 
 WINDSOR-FOREST. 51 
 
 The fox obfcene to gaping tombs retires, 
 And favage bowlings fill the facred quires. 
 Aw'd by his Nobles, by his Commons curft, 
 Th'Oppreflbr rul'd tyrannic where he durft, 
 Strctch'd o'er the Poor and Church his iron rod, 75 
 And ferv'd alike his Vaffals and his God. 
 Whom ev'n the Saxon fpar'd and bloody Dane, 
 The wanton victims of his fport remain. 
 But fee, the man who fpacious regions gave 
 A wafte for beafts, himfelf deny'd a grave ! 80 
 Stretch'd on the lawn his fecond hope furvey, 
 At once the chafer, and at once the prey : 
 Lo Rufus, tugging at the deadly dart, 
 Bleeds in the foreft like a wounded hart. 
 Succeeding monarchs heard the fubje&s cries, 85 
 Nor faw difpleas'd the peaceful cottage rife. 
 
 E 2 Then 
 
 VER. 80 himfelf deny'd a grave /] The place of his 
 interment at Caen in Normandy was claimed by a gen- 
 tleman as his inheritance, the moment his fervants were 
 going to put him in his tomb : fo that they were obliged 
 to compound with the owner before they could perform 
 the King's obfequies. 
 
 V B R . 8 1. fecond htpt] Richard, fecond fon of William 
 tie Conqueror. 
 
 VARIATIONS. 
 
 VER. 72. And wolves with howling fill, etc. 
 The Author thought this an error, wolves not being com- 
 mon in England ac the time of the Conqueror. P. 
 
 I M I T A T I N S. 
 
 Translated from, 
 
 Templa adimlt (tivij, fora civifUft arva eoloy'f, 
 an old monkilh writer, I forget who. P.
 
 5* WINDS OR -FORE ST. 
 
 Then gath'ring flocks on unknown mountains fedj 
 O'er fandy wilds were yellow harvefts fpread, 
 The forefts wonder'd at th' unufual grain, 
 And fecret tranfport touch'd the confcious fwain. 
 Fair Liberty, Britannia's Goddefs, rears 91 
 
 Her chearful head, and leads the golden years. 
 Ye vig'rous fwains ! while youth ferments your 
 
 blood, 
 
 And purer fpirits fwell the fprightly floodj 
 Now range the hills, the gameful woods befet, . 95 
 Wind the fhrill horn, or fpread the waving net. 
 When milder autumn fummer's heat fucceeds, 
 And in the new-fhorn field the partridge feeds, 
 Before his lord the ready fpaniel bounds, 
 Panting with hope, he tries the furrow'd grounds ; 
 But when the tainted gales the game betray, ior- 
 Couch'd clofe he lies, and meditates the prey : 
 
 Securf 
 
 V A R I A T r N S. 
 
 VER.QI. 
 
 t Oh may no more a foreign mailer's rage, 
 With wrongs yet legal, curfe a future age ! 
 Still fpread, fair Liberty ! thy heav'nly wing?, 
 Breath plenty on the fields, and fragrance on the 
 fprings. P. 
 
 VER. 97. 
 
 When yellow autumn futnmer's heat fucceeds, 
 And into wine the purple harveft bleeds *, 
 The partridge feeding in the new- (horn fields, 
 Both morning fports aud ev'ning pleafures yields. 
 
 * Perhaps the Author thought it not allowable to defcribe the fea* 
 fon by a oircumftance not proper to our climate, th vintage. P. 
 
 IMITATIONS. 
 
 VSR. 89. Miraturque nsvasfroncksetnenfuafoma. 
 
 Virg.
 
 WINDSOR. FOREST. 53 
 
 .Secure they truftth' unfaithful field befet, 
 'Till hov'ring o'er 'em fweeps the fweiling net. 
 Thus (if fmall things we may with great compare) 
 When Albion fends her eager fons to war, 106 
 
 Some thoughtlefs Town, with cafe and plenty bleft, 
 ;Near, and more near, the clofing lines inveft j 
 Sudden they feize th' amaz'd, defencelefs prize, 
 And high in air Britannia's ftandard flies, 1 10 
 
 See ! from the brake the whirring pheafant fprings, 
 And mounts exulting on triumphant wings : 
 Short is his joy ; he feels the fiery wound, 
 Flutters in blood, and panting beats *he ground. 
 Ah ! what avail his glofly, varying dyes, 115 
 
 His purple creft, and fcarlet-circled eyes, 
 The vivid green his fhining plumes unfold, 
 .His painted wings, and breaft that flames with gold? 
 
 Nor yet, when moift Arclurus clouds the fky, 
 The woods and fields their pleafing toils deny. 120 
 To plains with well-breath 'd beagles we repair, 
 And trace the mazes of the circling hare : 
 (Beafts, urg'd by us, their fellow- beafts purfue, 
 And learn of man each other to undo.) 1 24. 
 
 E 3 With 
 
 VARIATIONS. 
 
 VER. 107. It flood thus in the firft Editions, 
 Pleas'd, in the Gen'ral's fight, the hoft lie down 
 Sudden before fonie unfulpeting town ; 
 *>The young, the old, one inilant makes our pri7c. 
 And o'er their captive heads Britannia's ftandard flies. 
 
 IMITATIONS. 
 
 V R . 1 1 5 . ne c te tun plurima, Ppntbeu, 
 
 Lnbcntem pirtas, wel dpolliwi infnla texit. Virg.
 
 54 WINDSOR-FOREST. 
 
 With flauglit'ring guns th' unweary'd fowler rove*', 
 When frofts have whiten'd all the naked groves 5 
 Where doves in flocks the leafiefs trees o'erfhade, 
 And lonely woodcocks haunt the wat'ry glade. 
 He lifts the tube, and levels with his eye ; 
 Strait a mort thunder breaks the frozen fky : 1 30 
 Oft, as in airy rings they fkim the heath, 
 The clam'rous Lapwings feel the leaden death : 
 Oft, as the mounting larks their notes prepare, 
 They fall, and leave their little lives in air. 
 
 In genial fpring, beneath the quiv'ring fhade, 
 Where cooling vapours breathe along the mead, 
 The patient fifher takes his filent ftand, 137 
 
 Intent, his angle trembling in his hand : 
 With looks unmov'd, he hopes the fcaly breed, 
 And eyes the dancing cork, and bending reed. 
 Our plenteous flreams a various race fupply, 1 4 1 
 The bright-ey'd perch with fins of Tynan djte, 
 The filver eel, in {Lining volumes roll'd, 
 The yellow carp, infcales bedrop'd with gold, 
 Swift troutSj diverfify'd with crimfon ftains, 145 
 And pykes, the tyrants of the watry plains. 
 
 Now Cancer glows with Phoebus' fiery car : 
 The youth rufli eager to the fylvan war, 
 
 Swarm 
 
 VARIATIONS. 
 
 VER. 126. O'er ruftling leaves around the naked 
 grove?. 
 
 VER. 129. The fowler lifts his leveli'd tube on high. P. 
 
 VR, 154. Prtffiptiji alia ^itc.m fub nube rtlin-junnt . 
 
 Virg,
 
 WINDS OR- FOREST. 55 
 
 Swarm o'er the lawns, the foreft walks furround, 
 Rouze the fleet hart, and chear the opening hound. 
 Th' impatient courfer pants in ev'ry vein, 15 I 
 
 And pawing, feems to beat the diftant plain : 
 Hills, vales, and floods appear already crofs'd, 
 And e'er he ftarts, a thoufand fleps are loft. 15 4 
 See the bold youth ftrain up the threat'ning fteep, 
 Rufh thro' the thickets, down the valleys fweep, 
 Hang o'er their courfers heads with eager fpeed, 
 And earth rolls back beneath the flying fteed. 
 Let old Arcadia boaft her ample plain, 
 Th' immortal huntrefs, and her virgin-train; 160 
 Nor envy, Windfor ! fmce thy fhades have feen 
 As bright a Goddefs, and as chafte a QUEEN ; 
 Whofe care, like hers, protects the fylvan reign, 
 The Earth's fair light, and Emprefs of the Main. 
 
 Here too, 'tis fung, of old Diana ftray'd, 165 
 And Cynthus' top forfook for Windfor fhade j 
 
 E 4 Here 
 
 VER. 162. QueenAxNE. 
 
 IMITATIONS. 
 
 VER. 151. 7&' impatitnt courfer ; etc.] Translated 
 fiom Statius, 
 
 Stare adeo miferum eft, pereunt vejiigia millt 
 Antefugam, abfentemque ferit gravis ungula eampum. 
 
 Thefe lines Mr. Dryden, in his preface to his tranflation 
 of Frefnoy's Art of painting, calls wo nder fully fine, and 
 fays they ivould coft him an hour, if he had the leifurt t 
 tratiJJate them, there it fo muth of beauty in the original i 
 which was the reafon, I fuppofe, why Mr. P. tried his 
 ilrength with them. 
 
 VER. 158. and earth rolls back] He has improved his 
 original, 
 
 terrttqvt urbefqut receJunt, Virg.
 
 5 6 WINDSOR- FOREST. 
 
 Here was me feen o'er airy waftes to rove, 
 
 Seek the clear fpring, or haunt the pathlefs grove ; 
 
 Here arm'd with filver bows, in early dawn, 
 
 Her bufkin'd Virgins trac'd the dewy lawn. 170 
 
 Above the reft a rural nymph was fam'd, 
 Thy offspring, Thames ! the fair Lodona nam'd ; 
 (Lodona's fate, in long oblivion caft, 
 The Mufe fhall fing, and what fhe fings (hall laft.) 
 Scarce could the Goddefs from her nymph be 
 known, 175 
 
 But by the crefcentand the golden zone. 
 She fcorn'd the praife of beauty, and the care j 
 A belt her waift, a fillet binds her hair ; 
 A painted quiver on her moulder founds, 
 And with her dart the flying deer me wounds. 
 Jt chanc'd, as eager of the chace, the maid 
 Beyond the foreft's verdant limits ftray'd, i8q 
 
 Pan faw and lov'd, and burning with dcfire 
 Purfu'd herflight, her flight increas'd his fire. 
 Not half fo fwift the trembling doves can fly, 
 When the fierce eagle cleaves the liquid fky j 
 Not half fo fwiftly the fierce eagle moves, 1 85 
 
 When thro' the clouds he drives the trembling doves j 
 As from the God fhe flew with furious pace, 
 Or as the God, more furious, urg'd the chace. 
 
 Now 
 
 IMITATIONS. 
 VER. 175. 
 
 Nee pofitu <variare comas ; ubi fibula <veftem, 
 Vitta coercuerat neglcftoi alba capillos. Ovid. 
 
 VER. 183, 186. 
 
 Utfugere accip\trempenna trepldante 
 Ut Ja let accipitfr trepidas agita
 
 W I N D S O R - F O R E S T. 57 
 
 Now fainting, finking, pale, the nymph appears ; 
 
 Nowclofc behind, his founding fteps (he hears ; 
 
 And now his fhadow reach'd her as fhe run, j 9 1 
 
 His fhadow lengthen'd by the fctting fun ; 
 
 And now his (hotter breath, with fultry air, 
 
 Pants on her neck, and fans her parting hair. 
 
 In vain on father Thames (he calls for aid, ige 
 
 Nor could Diana help her injur'd maid. 
 
 Faint, breathlcfs, thu . (he pray'd, nor pray'd in vain \ 
 
 *' Ah Cynthia! ah tho' banifh'd from thy train, 
 
 ** Let me, O let me, to the (hades repair, 
 
 " My native (hades there weep, and murmur there. 
 
 She laid, and melting as in tears (he lay, 201 
 
 Jn a foft, filver (tream diflblv'd away. 
 
 The filver ftream her virgin coldnefs keeps, 
 
 for ever murmurs, and for ever weeps ; 
 
 Still bears the name the haplefs virgin bore, 2CC 
 
 And bathes the foreft where (he rang'd before. 
 
 Jn her chafte current oft the Goddefs laves, 
 
 And with celeftial tears augments the waves. 
 
 Pft in her glafs the mufmg fliepherd fpies 
 
 The headlong mountains and the downward fkies, 
 
 The watry landfkipof the pendant woods, 2i| 
 
 And abfent trees that tremble in the floods ; 
 
 In 
 
 VER. 20-. Still lean the name] The River Loddon. 
 VER. 209. Oft in ker; glafs, etc .] Thcfefix lines were 
 jidded after the f.rft writing of this poem. P. 
 
 IMITATIONS. 
 VER. 191, 194- 
 
 So! f rat (i tirgo : i>idi prsecedere lon^om 
 j4ntf fec'tj wnbram : tuft Jt timar Ufa viJetaf. 
 Sed cote foniluqucpiaum terrebur j ct ingent 
 s cabat anhelitu! arts.
 
 58 WINDSOR-FOREST. 
 
 In the clear azure gleam the flocks are feen, 
 And floating forefts paint the waves with green, 
 Thro' the fair fcene roll flow the ling'ring ftreams, 
 Then foaming pour along, and rufh into the Thames. 
 
 Thou too, great father of the Britifh floods ! 
 With joyful pride furvey'ft our lofty woods ; 
 Where tow'ring oaks their growing honours rear, 
 And future navies on thy ftiores appear, 223 
 
 Not Neptune's felf from all her ftreams receives 
 A wealthier tribute, than to thine he gives. 
 No feas fo rich , fo gay no banks appear, 
 No lake fo gentle, and no fpring fo clear. 
 Nor Po fo fwells the fabling Poet's lays, 225 
 
 While led along the fides his current ftrays, 
 As thine, which vifits Windfor's fam'd abodes, 
 To grace the manfion of our earthly Gods : 
 Nor all his ftars above a luftre {how, 
 Like the bright Beauties on thy banks below; 230 
 Where Jove, fubdu'd by mortal Paflion ftill, 
 Might change Olympus for a nobler hill. 
 
 Happy the man whom this bright Court approves, 
 His Sov'reign favours, and his Country loves : 
 
 Happy 
 
 VARIATIONS. 
 VER. 231. It ftood thus in the MS, 
 
 And force great Jove, if Jove's a lover flill, 
 To change Olympus, etc. 
 VER. 233. 
 
 Harpy the man, who to the (hades retires, 
 
 ->ably happy, if theMufe infpircs ! 
 L ! cii whom thelwcets of home felt quiet pleafe j 
 )W wr aiore blcft, who ftudy joins with cafe. P
 
 WINDSOR-FOREST. 5> 
 
 Happy next him, who to thefe (hades retires, 235 
 Whom Nature charms, and whom the Mufe hl- 
 
 fpires ; 
 
 Whom humbler joys of home-felt quiet plea/e, 
 Succeflive ftudy, excrcife, and eafe. 
 He gathers health from herbs the foreft yields, 
 And of their fragrant phyfic fpoils the fields : 249 
 With chymic art exalts the min'ral pow'rs. 
 And draws the aromatic fouls of flow'rs : 
 Now marks the courfe of rolling orbs on hio-h ; 
 O'er figur'd worlds now travels with his eye j 
 Of ancient writ unlocks the learned ftore, 245 
 Confults the dead, and lives paft ages o'er; 
 Or wand'ring thoughtful in the filent wood, 
 Attends the duties of the wife and good, 
 T'obfcrve a mean, be to himfelf a friend, 
 To follow nature, and regard his end ; 2ro 
 
 Or looks on heav'n with more than mortal eyes, 
 Bids his free foul expatiate in the fkies, 
 Amid her kindred liars familiar roam, 
 Survey the region, and confcfs her home ! 
 Such was the life great Scipio once admir'd, 255 
 Thus Atticus, and TRUMBAL thus retir'd. 
 Ye facred Nine ! that all my fou! poiTcfs, 
 Whofe raptures fire me, and whofe vifions blcfs, 
 Bear me, oh bear me to fequefter'd fcenes, 
 The bow'ry mazes, and furrounding greens : 260 
 To Thames's banks which fragrant breezes fill, 
 Or where ye Mufcs fporton COOPER'^ HILL. 
 
 (On 
 IMITATIONS. 
 
 VHP. 249,50. Servare tnodumfinemqite teiiere^ 
 
 Vatttr^mqvt fequi. I.ucr. 
 
 VER. 259. O qui me gelijis, etc.
 
 <So WINDSOR-FOREST. 
 
 (On COOPER'S HILL eternal wreaths {hall grow, 
 \Vhile lafls the mountain, or while Thames fhafl 
 
 flow) 
 
 I feemthro' confecrated .walks to rove, 265 
 
 I hear foft mufic die along the grove : 
 Led by the found, I roam from {hade to {hade, 
 By god-like Poets venerable made : 
 Here bAs firft lays majeftic DENHAM fung ; 
 There the laft numbers flow'd from CowLEy's 
 
 tongue. 
 
 O early loft ! what tears the river {hed, 27 1 
 
 When the fad pomp along his banks was led ? 
 His drooping fvvans on ev'ry note expire, ^ 
 
 And on his willows hung each Mufe's lyre. 
 
 Since fate relendefs ftop'd their heav'nly voice, 
 No more the forefts ring, or groves rejoice; 276 
 Who now {hall charm the {hades, where CGWLEY 
 
 lining 
 His living harp, and lofty DENHAM fung ? 
 
 But 
 
 VER. 270. There the laft numbers flow 'a from Cowhf s 
 tongue] Mr Cowlcy died at Chertfey, on the borders of 
 the fcxeft, and was from thence convey* J to Weftmia- 
 fier. P. 
 
 VARIATIONS. 
 
 VER. t6;. It flood thus in the MS. 
 
 Methinks around your holy fcenes f rove, 
 And hear your mufic echoing thro' the grove: 
 With tranfport vilit each inlpiring fliade 
 By God like Poets venerable made. 
 VER. 273. 
 
 What fighs, \vh?l murmurs fill'd the vocal fliore ! 
 His tuneful fwans were beard to fing no more. P,
 
 WINDSOR-FOREST. 6r 
 
 But hark ! the groves rejoice, the foreft rings ! 
 Are thefe reviv'd ? or is itGRANViLLE fings ? 280 
 'Tis yours, my Lord, to blefs our foft retreats, 
 And call the Mufes to their ancient feats j 
 To paint anew the flow'ry fylvan fcenes, 
 To crown the forefts with immortal greens, 
 Make Windfor-hills in lofty numbers rife, 285 
 And lift her turrets nearer to the fkies ; 
 To fiog thofe honours you deferve to wear, 
 And add new luftre to her filver ftar. 
 
 Here noble SURREY felt the facred rage, 
 SURREY, the GRANVILLE of a former age: 290 
 Matchlefs his pen, victorious was his lance, 
 Bold in the lifts, and graceful in the dance : 
 In the fame (hades th .; Cupids tun'd his 1 .re, 
 To the fame notes, of love, and foft dcfire : 
 Fair Geraldine, bright object of his vow, 29$ 
 
 Then fill'd the groves, as heav'nly Mira now. 
 
 Oh would'ft thou fing what Heroes Windfor bore^.< 
 What Kings firft breath'd upon her winding (hore, 
 Or raife old warriours, whofe ador'd remains 
 In weeping vaults her haliow'd earth contains ! 
 
 With-' 
 
 VER. 289. Here nolle Surrey} Henry Howard, Farl of 
 Surrey, one of the firft refiners of the Englifh poetry ; 
 who fkmriuYd in the time of Henry VIII. P. 
 
 V A R I - T I O N 3. 
 
 VzR.2?8. ktr filwr Jlar^ All the lines that f-llo-.v 
 were not added to the poem til!-the year 1710. Vv uat 
 immediately followed ihii, and nude the Cone. 
 were thefe, 
 
 My humb'e Mufe in unambitiour. ftrains 
 Paints the green foreiU and the fiow'ry ^ ;
 
 6i W I N D S O R - F O R S T. 
 
 With Edward's as adorn the fhining page, 331 
 Stretch his long triumphs down thro' ev'ry age, 
 Draw Monarchs chain'd, and Crefii's glorious field, 
 Thelillies blazing on the regal fhield : 
 Then, from her roofs when Verrio's colours fall, 
 And leave inanimate the naked wall, 306 
 
 Still in thy fong fhould vanquifh'd France appear, 
 And bleed for ever under Britain's fpear. 
 
 Let fofter drains ill-fated Henry mourn, 
 And palms eternal flourifh round his urn. 3 1 
 
 Here o'er the Martyr-King the marble weeps, 
 And faft befide him, once-fcar'd Edward fleeps-: 
 Whom not th' extended Albion could contain, 
 From old Belerium to the northern main, 
 The grave unites ; where ev'n the Great find reft, 
 And blended lie th' oppreflbr and th' oppreft ! 316 
 
 Make facred Charles's tomb for ever known, 
 (Obfcure die place, and un-infcrib'd the ftone) 
 
 Oh 
 
 VE R . 30 1 . Edward's afts] Edward ML born here. P. 
 
 VE (1.309. Henry mourn} Henry VI. P. 
 
 VER. 312. once -feared Edward Jeeps :] Ed\v. IV. P. 
 
 VARIATIONS. 
 
 Where I obfcurely pafs my carelefs days, 
 Pleas'd in the filent {hade with empty praife, 
 Enough for me that to the lift'ning fwains 
 Firil in thefe fields I fung the fylvan Arams. P^ 
 
 VER. 305. Originally thus in the MS. 
 
 When Brafs decays, when Trophies lie o'erthrown, 
 And mould'ring into duft draft the fraud jlone .
 
 WINDSOR-FOREST. 63 
 
 Oh fact accurft ! what tears has Albion fhed, 
 Heav'ns, what new wounds ! and how her old ha?e 
 bled ? 320 
 
 She faw her fons with purple death expire. 
 Her facred domes involv'd in rolling fire, 
 A dreadful feries of inteftine wars, 
 Inglorious triumphs and difhoneft fears- 3 24 
 
 At length great ANNA faid " Let Difcord ceafe !" 
 She faid, the world obey'd, and all was Peace ! 
 
 In that bleft moment from his oozy bed 
 Old father Thames advanc'd his rev'rend head. 
 His trefles drop'd with dews, and o'er theftream 
 His fhining horns diffus'd a golden gleam : 330 
 Grav'd on his urn appear'd the moon, that guides 
 His fwelling waters, and alternate tides j 
 
 The 
 
 VARIATIONS. 
 VE R. 319. Originally thus in the MS.' 
 Oh fact accurlt ! oh facrilegious brood, 
 Sworn to rebellion, principled in blood .' 
 Since that dire morn what tears has Albion fhed, 
 G-ods ! what new wounds, etc. 
 
 VER. 3:5 Thus in the MS. 
 
 Till A nna rofc and bade the Furies ceafe ; 
 
 Let there be Pence (he faid, and all was Peace. 
 
 Between Verfe 328 and 529, originally flood thefe 
 lines, 
 
 From fliore to fhorc exqltiog fhouts he heard, 
 
 O'er all his banks a lambent light appear'd, 
 
 With fparklirrg flames heav'n's glowing cotlcaVfr 
 
 fhone, 
 
 Fictitious flars, and glories not her own. 
 He faw, and gently rofe above the iire;un ; 
 His fliining horns difuile a golden gleam : 
 With pearl and gold hi. nw'ry front was drefr, 
 The tributes of the uiitaiu Jtaic and Weil. P.
 
 64. WINDSOR-FOREST. 
 
 7'he figui'd ftreams in waves of filver roll'd^ 
 
 And on their banks Augufta rofe in gold. 
 
 Around his throne the fea-born brothers flood, 335 
 
 iVho fwell with tributary urns his flood ; 
 
 Firft the fam'd authors of his ancierit namej 
 
 The winding Ifts and the fruitful Tame : 
 
 The Kenriet fwift, for filver eels renown'd ; 339 
 
 The Loddoh flow, with verdant alders crown'd j 
 
 Cole, whofe dark flreams his flow'ry iflands lave 5 
 
 And chalky Wey, that rolls a milky wave i 
 
 The bluej tranfparent Vandalis appears ; 
 
 The gulphy Lee his fedgy trefies rears ; 
 
 And fallen Molej that hides his diving flood ; 345 
 
 And filent Darent, ftain'd with Danim blood. 
 
 High in the midfl", upon his urn reclin'd, 
 (His fea-greert mantle waving with the wind) 
 The God appear'd : he turn'd his azure eyes 349 
 Where Windfor-domes and pompous turrets rife j 
 Then bow'd and fpoke ; the winds forget to roar^ 
 And the hufh'd waves glide foftly to the (hore. 
 
 Hail, facred Peace ! hail Iong-expe6ted days, 
 That Thames's glory to the ftars (hall raife ! 
 Tho' Tyber's ftreams immortal Rome behold, 35 $ 
 Tho' foaming Hermus fvvells with tides of gold, 
 From heav'n itfelf tho' fev'n-fold Nilus flows, 
 And harvefts on a hundred realms beftows ; 
 Thefe now no more (hall be the Mufe's themes,' 
 Loft in my fame, as in the fea their ftreams. 360 
 
 Let
 
 W I H D S O R - F O R E S T. 65 
 
 Let Volga's banks with iron fquadrons mine-, 
 And groves of lances glitter on the Rhine, 
 Let barb'rous Ganger arm a fervile train i 
 Be rnirie the bleflings of a peaceful reign. 
 No more my fons fhall die with Britim blood 365 
 Red Iber's funds, or liter's foaming flood : 
 Safe on my fhore each unrriolefted fwain 
 Shall tend the flocks, or reap the bearded grain j 
 The fhady empire (hall retain no trace 
 Of war or Wood, but in the fylvaji chace ; 370 
 The trumpet fleep, while chearful horns are blown, 
 And arms employ 'd on birds and bcafts alone. 
 Behold ! th' afcending Villa's on my fide, 
 Project long fhadows o'er the cryftal tide, 
 Behold ! Augufta's glitt'ring fpires increafe, 37, 
 And Temple's rife, the beauteous works of Peace. 
 I fee, I fee', where two fait cities bend 
 Their ample bow, a new Whitehall afcend ! 
 There mighty Nations (hall enquire their doom, 
 The World's great Oracle in times to come ; 380 
 There Kings mall fue, and fiippliant States be feen 
 Once more to bend before a BRITISH QUEEN. 
 Thy trees, fair Windfor I now fhall leave their 
 
 woods, 
 And half thy forcfts rum into thy floods, 
 
 Vr R . 376. dnJTeaqlei rrfe,] The fifty ne\vChurcJ^. P. 
 
 VARIATIONS. 
 VER. 361. Originally thus in the MS. 
 
 Let V enice boait her Tow'rs amidft the Main, 
 Where the rough Adrian Iwclls and roart in vain ; 
 Here nor a Town, but fpacious Realm (hall have 
 A furc foundation on the rolling wave. 
 
 Vo u. i F Beat
 
 66 WINDSOR-FOREST. 
 
 Bear Britain's thunder, and her Crofs difplay, 385 
 
 To the bright regions of the riling day ; 
 
 Tempt icy feas, where fcarce the waters roll, 
 
 Where clearer flames glow round the frozen Pole ; 
 
 Or under fouthern fkies exalt their fails, 
 
 Led by new ftars, and borne by fpicy gales ! 390 
 
 For me the balm fhall bleed, and amber flow, 
 
 The coral redden, and the ruby glow, 
 
 The pearly fhell its lucid globe infold, 
 
 And Phoebus warm the rip'ning ore to gold. 394 
 
 The time fhall come, when free as feas or wind 
 
 Unbounded Thames fhall flow for all mankind, 
 
 Whole nations enter with each fwelling tide, 
 
 And feas but join the regions they divide ; 
 
 Earth's diftant ends our glory fhall behold, 399 
 
 And the new world launch forth tofeek the old. 
 
 Then fhips of uncouth form fhall ftem the tide, 
 
 And feather' d people croud my wealthy fide, 
 
 And 
 
 VER. 388. Where clearer flames glow round the frozen 
 Pole ] The Poet is here recommending the advantages if 
 commerce, and therefore tiie extremities of heat and cold 
 are not reprefented in a forbidding manner : as again, 
 Or under fouthsrn Jkie-s exalt their fa ill, 
 Led by neiv Jtnrs, and boi tie by fpicy gales. 
 But in the Dunciad, where the mifchief of Dulnefs is de- 
 Icribed, they are painted in all their inclemencies, 
 See round the Poles where keener fyingles jhine t 
 Where fyices [~moke lemuth the burning line. 
 VER. 3<;6. Unbounded 'Tbam^, etc."] A wifh that Lon- 
 don may be made a FREE PORT. P. 
 
 VARIATIONS. 
 VER. 383, etc. were originally thus, 
 
 Now (hall our fleets the bloody Crofs difplay 
 To the rich regions of the rifmg day, 
 
 Or
 
 WINDSOR-FOREST. 6* 
 
 And naked youths and painted chiefs admire 
 Our fpeech, our colour, and our ftrange attire ! 
 Oh ftretch thy reign, fair Peace ! from (bore to (bore, 
 'Till Conqueft ceafe, and Slav'ry be no more j 406 
 'Till the freed Indians in their .native groves 
 Reap their own fruits, and woo their fame loves, 
 Peru once more a race of Kings behold, 
 And other Mexico's be rooFd with gold. 410 
 
 Exil'd by thee from earth to deepeft hell, 
 In brazen bonds, fhall barb'rous Difcord dwell ; 
 Gigantic Pride, pale Terror, gloomy Care, 
 And mad Ambition fhall attend her there : 
 There purple Vengeance bath'd in gore retires, 415 
 Her weapons blunted, and extinct her fires : 
 There hateful Envy her own fhakes fhall feel, 
 And Perfecution mourn her broken wheel : 
 There Faction roar, Rebellion bite her chain, 
 And gafping Furies thirft for blood in vain. 420 
 
 Here ceafe thy flight, nor with unhallow'd lays 
 Touch the fair fame of Albion's golden days : 
 The thoughts of Gods letGa ANVILLE'S verfe recite, 
 And bring the fcenes of op'ning fate to light. 
 My humble Mufe, in unambitious (trains 425 
 Paints the green forefts and the flow'ry plains, 
 
 F 2 Where 
 
 VARIATIONS. 
 
 Or thofe green ifles, where headlong Titan ftecps 
 His hilling axle in th' Atlantic deeps ; 
 Tempt icy Teas, etc. P. 
 
 IMITATIONS; 
 V u R . 421. 
 
 2>uo, Mu/a, tendis ? define pervicax 
 Referre fermonei Deorum et 
 
 tWrt^ria mo.iii tcnuute farvit. Hot.
 
 68 WINDSOR-FOREST. 
 
 Where Peace defcending bids her olives fprlng, 
 And fcatters bleflings from her dove-like wing. 
 Ev'n I more fweetly pafs my carelefs days, 
 Pleas'd in the filent fhade with empty praife ; 
 Enough for me, that to the linVning fwains 
 Firft in ihefc fields I fung the fylvan ftralns.
 
 ODE 
 
 O N 
 
 ST. CECILIA'S DAY, 
 
 MDCCVIII. 
 AND OT'HER 
 
 PIECES for MUSIC.
 
 i a a 
 
 
 1 1
 
 ODE for MUSIC 
 
 O N 
 
 ST. CECIL I A's DAY, 
 
 I. 
 
 DEfcend, ye Nine ! defcend and fing ; 
 The breathing inftruments infpire, 
 Wake into voice each filent firing, 
 And fvveep the founding lyre ! 
 
 In a fadly-pleafmg {train 5 
 
 Let the warbling lute complain : 
 Let the loud trumpet found, 
 'Till the roofs all around 
 The (brill echos rebound : 
 
 F 4 While 
 
 Ode fir A////JV.] This is one of the moft artful as well 
 as fublirne of our Poet's fmaller compositions, TJieyf'// 
 ihnza is a dekription of the various tones and meafuvs 
 in mufic. The ftcomi relax-; their power over the k\>-- 
 ral paflions in gcnc-ral. The tkitd, their uie in infpiring 
 the Heroic paflions in particular. Thtfour/b,jS/jo t and 
 f:xtb, their power over all nature in the fable of Orpheus's 
 expedition to hell; which fiibje-flof illullration a role na- 
 turally out of the preceding mention of the Argonautir 
 expedition, where Orpheus gives an ex-mipK- of the ufe 
 of Mufic to infpire the heroic pafiions. The /?>-'./' and 
 lafc concludes in praife of Mufic, a. id thead\;m:. 
 the facred above the prophaiK-.
 
 72 ODE S. 
 
 While in more lengthen'd notes and flow, 10 
 
 The deep, majeitic, folemn organs blow. 
 
 H.ark ' the numbers foft and clear, 
 
 Gently fteal upon the ear ; 
 
 Now louder, and yet louder rife 
 
 And fill with fpreading founds the fkies ; 15 
 Exulting in triumph nowfwell the bold notes, 
 In broken air, trembling, the wild mufic floats $ 
 
 'TUl, by degrees, remote and final], 
 The ftrains decay, 
 And melt away, 20 
 
 In a dying, dying fall. 
 
 H. 
 
 By Mufic, minds an equal temper know, 
 Nor fwell too high, nor fink too low. 
 If in the breaft tumultuous joys arife, 
 Mufic her foft, afluafive voice applies ; 25 
 
 Or, when the foul is prefs'd with cares, 
 Exalts her in enlivening airs. 
 Warriors fhe fires with animated founds; 
 Pours balm into the bleeding lover's wounds : 
 
 Melancholy lifts her head, 3 
 
 Morpheus rouzes from his bed, 
 Sloth unfolds her arms and wakes,, 
 Lift'ning Envy drops her makes j 
 lateftine war no more our Paflions wage, 
 And giddy Fadtions hear away their rage. 3 5 
 
 III. 
 
 But when our Country's caufe provokes to A*ms, 
 How martial rnuftc ev'ry bofom warms ! 
 
 So
 
 ODES. 73 
 
 So when the fixft bold veffcl dar'd the fcas, 
 High on the (krn the Thracian rais'd his ftratn, 
 
 Wliile Argo (aw her kindred trees 40 
 
 Defcend from Pelion to the main. 
 Tranfported dcmi-gods flood rourid_, 
 And men grew heroes at the found, 
 Enflam'd with glory's charms : 
 Each chief his fev'nfold fliield difpby'd, ^5 
 
 And half unflieath'd the mining blade : 
 And feas, and rocksj and ikies rebound 
 To arms, to arms, to arms ! 
 
 IV. 
 
 But when thro' all th' infernal bounds, 
 Which flaming Phle-getoa furrounds, 50 
 
 Love, ftrong as Death, the Poet Ie4 
 To the pale nations of the dead, 
 What founds were heard, 
 What fcenes appear'd, 
 
 O'er all the dreary coafts ! 55 
 
 Dreadful gleams, 
 Difmal fcreams, 
 Fires that glow, 
 Shrieks of woe, 
 
 Sullen moans, 60 
 
 Hollow groans, 
 And cries of tortur'd ghofts ! 
 But hark ! he ftrikes the golden lyre ; 
 And fee ! ' the tortur'd ghofts refpire^ 
 
 See, fhady forms advance ! 65 
 
 Thyftone, O Syfiphus, ftands ftill, 
 Ixion re'fts upon his wheel, 
 
 And the pale fpedrcs dance ! 
 
 The
 
 74 ODE S. 
 
 The Furies fink upon their iron beds, 
 
 And fhakes uncurl'd hang lift'ning round their heads. 
 
 V. 
 
 By the ftreams that ever flow, 
 
 By the fragrant winds that blow 
 O'er th' Elyfian flow'rs ; 
 
 By thofe happy foiils who dwell 
 
 In yellow meads of Afphodel, 
 
 Or Amaranthine bow'rs ; 75 
 
 By the hero's armed {hades, 
 
 Glitt'ring thro' the gloomy glades j 
 
 By the youths that dy'd for love, 
 
 \Vand'ring in the myrtle grove, 
 Reftore, reftore Eurydice to life : 8fi 
 
 Oh take the hufband, or return the wife ! 
 
 He fung, an'd hell confented 
 
 To hear the Poet's prayer : 
 Stern Proferpine relented, 
 
 And gave him back the fair. 85 
 
 Thus fong could prevail 
 O'er death, and o'er hell, 
 A conqueft how hard and how glorious ? 
 Tho' fate had faft bound her 
 With Styx nine times round her, 90 
 
 Yet mufic and Iqve were victorious. 
 
 VI. 
 
 But foon, too foon, the lover turns his eyes : 
 Again {he falls, again {he dies, {he dies ! 
 How wilt thou now the fata! fitters move ? 
 No crime was thine, if 'tis no crime to love. * 95 
 
 Now
 
 ODES. 75 
 
 Now under hanging mountains, 
 Befide the falls of fountains, 
 Or where Hebrus wanders, 
 Rolling in Meanders, 
 
 All alone, J00 
 
 Unheard, unknown, 
 He makes his moan ; 
 And calls her ghoft, 
 For ever, ever, ever loft ! 
 
 Now with Furies furrounded, 105 
 
 Defpairing, confounded, 
 He trembles, he glows, 
 Amidft Rhodope's fnows : 
 See, wild as the winds, o'er the defart he flies ; 
 Hark! Haemus refounds with the Bacchanals cries 
 
 Ah fee, he dies ! 
 
 Yet ev'n in death Eurydice he fung, 
 
 Eurydice ftill trembled on his tongue, 
 
 Eurydice the woods, 
 
 Eurydice the floods, 1 15 
 
 purydice the rocks, and hollow mountains rung. 
 
 vir. 
 
 Mufic the fierceft grief can charm, 
 And fate's fevereft rage difarm : 
 Mufic can foften pain to cafe, 120 
 
 And make defpair and madnefs pleafe: 
 Our joys below it can improve, 
 And antedate theblifs above. 
 This the divine Cecilia found, 
 And to her Maker's praife confin'd the found, i 25 
 
 When
 
 7$ ODES. 
 
 When the full organ joins the tuneful quirt, 
 
 7"h' immortal pow'rs incline their ear ; 
 Borne on the fwelling notes our fouls afpire, 
 While folemn atrs improve the facred fire ; 
 
 And Angels lean from heav'n to hear, 
 Of Orpheus now no more let Poets tell, 
 To bright Cecilia greater power is giv'n ; 
 His numbers rais'd a fhade from hell, 
 -Hers lift the foul to heav'n. 
 
 TWO 

 
 ODES. 77 
 
 TWO 
 
 C H O R U S'S 
 
 TO THE 
 
 Tragedy of BRUTUS*, 
 
 CHORUS of ATHENIANS. 
 
 STROPHE I. 
 
 YE fhadcs, where facrcd truth is fought ; 
 Groves, where immortal Sages tauglrt : 
 Where heav'nly vifions Plato fir'd, 
 And Epicurus lay infpir'd I 
 In vain your guiltlefs laurels flood 5 
 
 Unfpotted long with human blood. 
 War, horrid war, your thoughtful walks invades, 
 And ftcel now glitters in the Mufcs fhades. 
 
 ANTISTROPHE I. 
 Oh hcav'n-born fiftcrs ! fburce of art ! 
 Who charm the fsnfe, or mend the heart ; 
 Who lead fair Virtue's train along, 
 Moral Trujh, and irtyftic Song ! 
 
 To 
 
 * Altered from Shakefpear by the Duke of Bucking- 
 ham, at whole defire chcil: two Chorus's \vere conipofed 
 to fuuply as many, wanting in his play. They were fee 
 
 mnny years uf'v 1 wards by the famou* Bonontini, and
 
 7 r- o" D" E' s. 
 
 To what new clime, what diftant fkyj 
 
 Forfaken, friendlefs, fliall ye fly ? 
 Say, will ye blefs the bleak Atlantic fliore ? 15 
 
 Or bid the furious Gaul be rude no more ? 
 
 STROPHE II. 
 When Athens finks by fates unjuft, 
 When wild Barbarians fpurn her duft ; 
 Perhaps ev'n Britain's utmoft fhore 
 Shall ceafe to bluih with ftranger's gore, 20 
 See Arts her favage fons controul, 
 And Athens rifmg near the pole ! 
 'Till fome new Tyrant lifts his purple hand, 
 And civil madnefs tears them from the land. 
 
 ANTISTROPHE II. 
 
 Ye Gods ! what juftice rules the ball ? 25 
 
 Freedom and Arts together fall ; 
 7 Fools grant whate'er Ambition craves, 
 
 And men, once ignorant, are flaves. 
 
 Oh curs'd effects of civil hate, 
 
 In ev'ry age, in ev'ry ftate ! 30 
 
 Still, when the luft of tyrant power fucceeds, 
 Some Athens pcriflies, fome Tully bleeds. 
 
 CHORUS
 
 ODES. 7 
 
 CHORUS of Youths and Virgins. 
 
 SEMICHORUS. 
 
 OH Tyrant Love. ! haft thou pofleft 
 The prudent, learn'd, and virtuous bread ? 
 Wifdom and wit in vain reclaim, 
 And Arts but foften us to feel thy flame. 
 
 Love, foft intruder, enters here, 5 
 
 But entring learns to be fincere. 
 Marcus with blufhes owns he loves, 
 And Brutus tenderly reproves. 
 
 Why, Virtue, doft thou blame defire, 
 
 Which Nature has impreft ? IO 
 
 Why, Nature, doft thou fooneft fire 
 The mild and gen'rous breaft ? 
 
 CHORUS. 
 
 r Love's purer flames the Gods approve ; 
 The Gods and Brutus bend to love : 
 Brutus for abfent Portia fighs, I 5 
 
 And fterner Caffius melts at Junia's eyes. 
 What is loofe love ? a tranfient guft, 
 Spent in a fudden ftorm of luft, 
 A vapour fed from wild defire, 
 A wand'ring, felf-confuming fire. 20 
 
 But Hymen's kinder flames unite ; 
 
 And burn for ever one j 
 Chafte as cold Cynthia's virgin light, 
 Productive as the Sun. 
 
 VER. 9. Why, Virtue, etc.] In allufion to that famous 
 concc-it of Guarini, 
 
 " Se il peccare e si dolcc, etc. 
 
 S E-
 
 So ODES. 
 
 SEMICHORUS. 
 
 Oh fource of ev'ry focial tye, 1$ 
 
 United wifli, and mutual joy \ 
 What various joys on one attend, 
 As Ton, as father, brother, hufband, friend ? 
 Whether his hoary fire he fpies, 
 While thoufand grateful thoughts arife ; 30 
 
 Or meets his fpoufe's fonder eye; 
 Or views his fmiling progeny ; 
 
 What tender paflions take their turns, 
 
 W^hat home-felt raptures move ? 
 His heart now melts, now leaps, now burns, 
 With rev'rence, hope, and love. 36 
 
 CHORUS. 
 
 Hence guilty joys, diftaftcs, furmizes,. 
 Hence falfe tears, deceits, difguifes, 
 Dangers, doubts, delays, furprizes ; 
 
 Fires that fcorch, yet dare not fhine : 40 
 Pureft love's unwafting treafure, 
 Conftant faith, fair hope, long leifure > 
 Days of cafe, and nights of pleafure ; 
 
 Sacred Hymen ! thefe are thine. 
 
 ODE
 
 ODES. 8r 
 
 ODE on SOLITUDE*. 
 
 HAPPY the man, whofe wifh and care 
 A few paternal acres bound, 
 Content to breathe his native air, 
 
 In his own ground. 
 
 Whofe herds with milk, whofe fields with bread, 
 
 Whofe flocks fupply him with attire, 6 
 
 Whofe trees in fummer yield him (hade, 
 In winter fire. 
 
 Bleft, who can unconcern'dly find 
 
 Hours, days, and years flide foft away, IO 
 
 In health of body, peace of mind, 
 
 Quiet by day, 
 
 Sound fleepby night; ftudy and eafe, 
 Together mixt ; fweet recreation j 
 And innocence, which moft does pleafe 15 
 
 With meditation. 
 
 Thus let me live, unfeen, unknown, 
 
 Thus unlamented let me die, 
 Steal from the world, and not a ftone 
 Tell where I lie. 
 
 * This was a very early production of onr Author, 
 written at about twelve years old. P. 
 
 VOL. I. G Tlw
 
 82 ODES. 
 
 The dying Chriftian to his S o u 
 ODE*. 
 
 t 
 
 VITAL fpark of heav'nly flame ! 
 Quit, oh quit this mortal frame : 
 Trembling, hoping, lirig'ring, flying, 
 Oh the pain, the blifs of dying ! 
 Ceafe, fond Nature, ceafe thy ftrife, 
 And let me languifh into life. 
 
 tl. 
 
 Hark ! they whifper j Angels fay* 
 
 Sifter Spirit, come away. 
 
 What is this abforbs me quite ? 
 
 Steals my fenfes, fhuts my fight, 
 Drowns my fpirks, draws my breath ? 
 Tell me, my Soul, can this be Death ? 
 
 III. The 
 
 * This ode was written in imitation of the famous 
 fonnet of Hadrian to his departing foul ; but as much 
 fuperior in fenfe and fublimity to his original, as the 
 Chriftian Religion is to the Pagan,
 
 ODES. 83 
 
 HI. 
 
 The world recedes j ittiifappears ! 
 Heav'n opens on my eyes ! my ears 
 
 With founds feraphic ring : 
 Lend, lend your wings ! I mount ! I iy ! 
 O Grave ! where is thy Vi&ory ? 
 
 O Death ! where is thy Sting ? 
 
 G 2
 
 A N 
 
 ESSAY 
 
 O N 
 
 CRITICISM. 
 
 Written in the Year MDCCIX.
 
 CONTENTS 
 
 O F T H E 
 
 ESSAY on CRITICISM, 
 
 PART I. 
 
 jNtrcduftion. That 'tis as great a fault to judge ill, 
 * as to write ill, and a more dangerous one to the 
 
 public* v. I. 
 Tbat a true Tafte is 41 rare to be found, as a true Ge-: 
 
 nius, v. 9 to 1 8. 
 That mcjl men are born with fame Tafte, buifpoifd by 
 
 falfe Education, v. 19 to 25. 
 The Multitude, of Critics, and caufcs cf them, v. 26 
 
 to 45- 
 
 That we aretojludy our own Tafte, qndbtow the Li- 
 mits of it, v. 46 to 67. 
 
 Nature the beft guide of Judgment, v. 68 to 87. 
 Improvd by Art and Rules, which are but metbodis'd 
 
 Nature, v. 88. 
 Rules derived from the Practice of the Ancient Poets, 
 
 v. id. to 1 10. 
 That therefore the Ancients are ntctffary to beJluJyd 
 
 by a Critic, particularly Homer and Virgil, v. i 2J3 
 
 to 138. 
 Of Licenfes, and the ufe ef them by the Ancients^ 
 
 v. 140 to 1 80. 
 Reverence due to the Ancients, and fraife cf them, 
 
 v. 181, ttt; 
 
 G 4 PART
 
 88 CONTENTS. 
 
 PART II. Ver. 203, etc. 
 C'aufes hindering a true Judgment. I . Pride, v. 208. 
 2. Imperfect Learning, v. 215. 3. Judging by 
 parts, and not by the whole, v. 233 to 288. Cri- 
 tics in Wit, Language, Verification, only, v. 288. 
 305. 339, etc. 4. Being too hard to pleafe, or to9 
 apt to admire, v. 384. 5. Partiality too much 
 Love to a Sect, to the Ancients or Moderns, 
 v. 394. 6. Prejudice or Prevention, v. 408. 
 7. Singularity, v. 424. 8. Inconftancy, v. 430: 
 9. Party Spirit, v. 452, *fc. 10. Envy, v. 466. 
 dgainjl Envy, andinpraife of Good-nature, v. 508, 
 etc. When Severity is chiefly to be ufed by Critics^ 
 v. 526, etc, 
 
 PART III. Ver. s 60, etc. 
 
 Rules for //?> Conduct 0/*Manners in a Critic, i. Can- 
 dour, v. 563. Modefty, v. 566. Good-breed- 
 ing, v. 572. Sincerity, and Freedom of advice, 
 
 v. 578. 2. When one's Counfel is to be retrained, 
 v. 584. Character of an incorrigible Poet, v. 600. 
 And ef an impertinent Critic, v. 6 1 o, etc. Cha- 
 racter of a good Critic, v. 629. The Hiftory of 
 Criticifm, and Character of the bejl Critics, Ari- 
 ftotle, v. 645. Horace, ' v. 653. Dionyfius, 
 v. 665. Petronius, v. 667 Quintilian, v. 670. 
 Longinus, v. 675. Of the Decay of C.riticifm, 
 and its Revival. Erafmus, v. 693. Vida, v. 705. 
 Boileau, v. 714. Lord Rofcommon, etc. v. 725. 
 Corulufion. 
 
 A N
 
 A N 
 
 ESSAY 
 
 " O N 
 
 CRITICISM. 
 
 JrTlI S hard to fay, if greater want of (kill 
 
 X Appear in writing or in judging ill ; 
 But, of the two, lefs dang'rous is th' offence 
 To tire our patience, than miflead our fenfe. 
 Some few in that, but numbers err in this, 5 
 
 Ten cenfure wrong, for one who writes amifs ; 
 A fool might once himfelf alone expofe, 
 Now one in verfe makes many more in profe. 
 
 'Tis with our judgments as our watches, none 
 Go juft alike, yet each believes his own. 10 
 
 In Poets as true genius is but rare, 
 True Tafte as feldom is the Critic's (hare ; 
 Both muft alike from Heav'n derive their light, 
 Thefe born to judge, as well as thofe to write. 
 
 Let
 
 9 o ESSAY ON CRITICISM. 
 
 Jyet fuch teach others who themfelves excel, 15 
 And cenfure freely who have written well. 
 Authors are partial to their wit, 'tis true, 
 But are not Critics to their judgment too ? 
 
 Yet if we look more clofely, we fhall find 
 Moft ha.ve the feeds of judgment in their min4 : 2O 
 Nature affords at leaft a glimm'ring light ; 
 The lines, tho' touch'd but faintly, are drawn right. 
 But as the flighteft fketch, if juftly trac'd, * 
 
 Is by ill-colouring but the more difgrac'd, > 
 
 So by falfe learning is good fenfe defac'd : 3 
 
 Sonie are bewilder'd in thema^e of fchools, 26 
 And fome made coxcombs Nature meant but fools,. 
 In fearch of wit thefe lofe their common fenfe, 
 And then turn Critics in their own defence : 
 
 Each 
 
 VER. 15. Let fuch teach others J] Qui faitit artijicjofe, 
 ai a/its commode fcripta fufile intelligere poterit. Cic. ad 
 Herenn. lib. 4. De pidore, fculptore , fifiore, nifi artifex t 
 judicare non patefl,. Pliny. P. 
 
 VER. 20. Moft ba<ve the feeds] Omnes tacito ^uodam 
 fenfu, Jim ulla arts, out ratione, qu<f fint in artibus ac ra- 
 tionibus reSta et pravt dijudjcant. Cic. deOrat. lib. iii. P. 
 
 VSR. ?,. &> by falfg learning} Plus fine doclrina pru- 
 deittia, quamjiht piudentia valet doir}na. Quint. P. 
 
 VARIATIONS. 
 
 Between v. 25 and 26 were thefe lines, fince ojnkted 
 by the author : 
 
 Many are fyoil'd by that pedantic throng, 
 
 Who with great pains teach youth to reaibn wrong. 
 
 'i u'crs, like Virtaefo's, oft inciin'd 
 
 By ilninge trnnsfufion to improve the mind, 
 
 Draw off the fenfe we have, to rour in new ; 
 
 "Which yet, with tH ihe'-r ."/.ill, they ne'er could do. P.
 
 - ESSAY ON CRITICISM. 9I 
 
 Each burns alike, who can, or cannot write, 30 
 
 On with a Rival's, or an Eunuch's fpite. 
 
 All fools have ftill an itching to deride, 
 
 And fain would be upon the laughing fide. 
 
 If Msevius fcribble in Apollo's fpight, 
 
 There are, who judge ftill worfe than he can write. 
 
 Some have at firft for Wits, then Poets paft, 3 6 
 Turn'd Critics next, and prov'd plain fools at laft. 
 Some neither can for Wits nor Critics pafs, 
 As heavy mules are neither horfe nor afs. 
 Thofe half-learn'd witlings, num'rous in our ifle, 
 As half-form'd infects on the banks of Nile ; 41 
 Unfinifli'd things, one knows not what to call. 
 Their generation's fo equivocal : 
 To fell 'em, would a hundred tongues require 3 
 Or one vain wit's, that might a hundred tire. 45 . 
 
 But you who feek to give and merit fame. 
 And juftly bear a Critic's noble name, 
 Be fure yourfelf and your own reach tq know, 
 Flow far your genius, tafte, and learning go j 
 Launch not beyond your depth, but be difcreet, 50 
 And mark that point where fenfe and dullnefs meet, 
 
 Nature to all things fyc'd the limits fit, 
 And wifely curb'd proud man's pretending wit. 
 
 As 
 
 V E R . 51. And mark that point where fenfe and dullneft 
 meetJ] This precept cautions us ngainft going on, when 
 bur Ideas begin to grow pbfcurc ; as we arc apt to do, 
 tho' that obfcurity is a monition that we fhould leave off; 
 for it arifes either thro' our fmall acquaintance with the 
 fubject, or the incomprehenfibility of its nature. In 
 which circumftances a genius will always write as heavily 
 
 . a dunce. Anobfervation well worth the attention of 
 
 11 profound writers.
 
 92 ESSAY ON CRITICISM. - 
 
 As on the land while here the ocean gains, 
 
 In other parts it leaves wide fandy plains ; 55 
 
 Thus in the foul while memory prevails, 
 
 The folid pow'r of underftanding fails ; 
 
 Where beams of warm imagination play, 
 
 The memory's foft figures melt away. 
 
 One fcience only will one genius fit ; 60 
 
 So vaft is art, fo narrow human wit : 
 
 Not only bounded to peculiar arts, 
 
 But oft' in thofe confin'd to fmgle parts. 
 
 Like Kings we lofe the conquefls gain'd before, 
 
 By vain ambition ftilJ to make them more ; 65 
 
 Each might his fev'ral province well command, 
 
 Would all but ftoop to what they underftand. 
 
 Firft follow Nature, and your judgment frame 
 By herjuft ftandard, which is fr.il! the fame: 
 Unerring NATURE, ftill divinely bright, 70 
 
 One clear, unchang'd, and univerfal light, 
 Life, force, and beauty, muft to all impirt, 
 At once the fource, and end, and teft of Art. 
 Art from that fund eachjuft fupply provides, 
 Works without mow, and without pomp prefides : 
 In fome fair body thus th' informing foul 76 
 
 With fpirits feeds, with vigour fills the whole, 
 Each motion guides, and ev'ry nerve fuftains j 
 Itfelf unfeen, but in th' effects, remains. 
 
 Some, 
 
 V E R . 67. Would all but JJoof) to ixbst they undtrfland. ] 
 The exprefllon is delicate, and implies what is very true, 
 that mofl men think it a degradation of their genius to 
 employ it in cultivating what lies level to their compre- 
 henfion, but had rather cxercife their ambition in fub- 
 . duing what is placed above it. 
 I
 
 ESSAY ON CRITICISM. 93 
 
 Some, to whom Heav'n in wit has been profufe, 
 Want as much more to turn it to its ufe ; 81 
 
 For wit and judgment often are at ftrife, 
 Tho' meant each other's aid, like man and wife. 
 'Tis more to guide, than fpur the Mufe's fteed j 
 Reftrain his fury, than provoke his fpeed ; 85 
 
 The winged courfer, like a gen'rous horfe, 
 Shows moft true mettle when you check his courfe. 
 
 Thofe RULES of old difcover'd, not devis'd, 
 Are Nature dill, but Nature methodiz'd ; 
 Nature, like Liberty, is but reftrain'd 90 
 
 By the fame Laws which firft herfelf ordain'd. 
 
 Hear how learn'd Greece her ufeful rules indites, 
 When to reprefs, and when indulge our flights : 
 High onParnaflus' top her fons fhefhow'd, 
 And painted out thbfe arduous paths they trod ; 95 
 Held from afar, aloft, th' immortal prize, 
 And urg'd the reft by equal {reps to rife. 
 
 Juft 
 
 VER. 88. T/^fe rules of old, </,-.] Cicero has, bcft of 
 any one I know, explained what that is which reduces 
 the wild and fcattered parts of human knowledge into 
 atti. Nibil eft quod ad arlem reJigi pojfit, niji His p>i:t'. t 
 qui ilLi tenet, quorum art em iitjlituere vult, baheat Uhm 
 fctentiam, lit ex Us rebus, qucruir. ar.< tiondum fit, art tut 
 ejf.cere p"jfit. Qmniafere, queefunt cancli/fa nunc nrtihus^ 
 tbfperf.i ef dijftpata quondaj/i fuerunt, ut in Mn/icis, ct.-. 
 Adhibit a eft igiiur au qu/rdum extrin/ectu ex alio ^e>ie>e 
 quodam, quod fibt totum ['H ILO 3 OPHi fffu /', qitrc i em 
 djfolutuin d'-^juljanique con^lutinartt, ft t<.<tioui: qu-.il<.'.ni 
 cviij': ringer zt. DC Orat. 1. i. c 41,2. 
 
 VARIATIONS. 
 VER 80. 
 
 There are whom Heav'n has blcfl with {lore of wit, 
 Vet want as much again to manage it.
 
 94 fiSSAY ON CRITICISM. 
 
 Juft precepts thus from great examples giv'n, 
 She drew from them what they deriv'd from Heav'n. 
 The gen'rous Critic fann'd the Poet's fire, 100 
 
 And taught th<* world with reafon to admire. 
 Then Criticifpl the Miifes handmaid prov'd, 
 To drefs her charms, and make her more belov'd : 
 But following wits from that intention ftray'd, 
 Who couM not win the miftrefs, woo'd the maid ; 
 Againft the Poets their own arms they turn'd, 
 Sure to hate moft the men from whom they learn'd. 
 So modern 'Pothecaries, taught the art 
 By Doctor's bills to play the Doctor's part, 
 Bold in the practice of miftaken rules, no 
 
 Prefcribe, apply, and call their mafters fools. 
 Some on the leaves of ancient authors prey, 
 Nor time nor moths e'er fpoil'd fo much as they. 
 
 Some 
 
 VER.gS. J lift precepts] Nee enim artibus edithfaSium 
 ej} ut argumenta irpueniremus, fed difla funt omnia ante- 
 quam pr&ciperentur ; tnex ea feriptores obfervata et col' 
 Utia edidtrunt. QuintiJ. P. 
 
 V E R . 112. Ss.'Ke on the leaves Sofa drily plain. ] The 
 firft, the Aft* of thofe Italian Critics, who at the refto- 
 ration of letters having found the claflic writers miferably 
 mangled by the hands of monkilh Librarians, very com- 
 mendably employed their pains and talents in reftoring 
 'them to their native purity. The fetond, the p/agiariei 
 from the French, who had made fotne admirable Com- 
 mentaries on the ancient critics. But that acumen and 
 tnfte, which feparately conftitute the diftinft value of 
 thofe two fpecies of foreign Criticifm, make no part of 
 the chara&er of thefe paltry mimics at home-, defcribed 
 by our Poet in the following lines, 
 
 Thefe have the fsnfe, their learning to difplay % 
 And thofe explain the meaning quite avuay. 
 Which fpcies is the Iqail hurtful, the Poet has enabled 
 i us
 
 ESSAY ON CRlf ICISM. 95 
 
 Some drily plain, without invention's aid, 
 Write dull receits how poems may be made. 1 15 
 Thefe leave the fenfe, their learning to difplay, 
 And thofe explain the meaning quite away. 
 
 You then whofe judgment the right courfe would 
 
 fleer, 
 
 Know well each AKCIENT'S proper character J 
 His Fable, Subjefti, fcope in ev'ry page ; I2O 
 
 Religion, Country^ genius of his Age : 
 Without all thefe at once before your eyes, 
 Cavil you may, but never criticize. 
 Be Homer's works your ftudy and delight, 
 Read them by day, and meditate by night ; 125 
 Thence form your judgment^ thence your maxims 
 
 bring* 
 And trace the Mufe's upward to their fpring. 
 
 Still 
 
 us to determine in the lines with which he opens his 
 poem, 
 
 But of the tivo lefs dangrous is tb* ojfcnce 
 To tire our patience than mi/lei<d ourjenfe. 
 From whence we conclude* that the reverend Mr. Upton 
 was much more innocently employed when he quibbled 
 upon Epiftetus, than when he commented upon Shake- 
 fpear. 
 
 VARIATIONS. 
 
 VER. 123. Cavil you tn y% but ne-ver criticize. ] The 
 uthor after this vcrfe origmally infirted the following, 
 which he has however omitted in all the editions : 
 
 Zoilus, had thefe been known, without a name 
 Had dy'd, and Pe>-auh ne'er been damn'd to fame ; 
 The fenfe of found Antiquity had reign'd, 
 And facred Homer yet been unprophan'd. 
 None e'er had thought his comprehenfive mind 
 To modern cuftoms, modern rules confin'd ; 
 Who for all aecj \vrit, and all mankind. ]
 
 96 ESSAY ON CRITICISM. 
 Still with itfelf compar'd. his text perufe ; 
 And let your comment be the Mantuan Mufe. 
 
 When firft young Maro in his boundlefs mind 
 A work t' outlaft immortal Rome deflgn'd, 131 
 Perhaps he feem'd above the Critic's law, 
 And but from Nature's fountains fcorn'd to draw : 
 J-ju.' when t' examine ev'ry part he came, 
 Nature and Homer were, he found, the fame. 
 Convinc'd, amaz'd, he checks the bold defign ' y -\ 
 And rules as -trie} his labour'd work confine, v 
 As if theStagirite o'erlook'd each line. 3 
 
 Learn hence for ancient rules a juft efteem ; 
 To copy nature is to copy them. 1 4.0 
 
 Some beauties yet no Precepts can declare, 
 For there's a happinefs as well as care. 
 Mufic refembles Poetry, in each * 
 
 Are namelefs graces which no methods teach, C 
 And which a mailer-hand alone can reach. 145 3 
 
 If, 
 
 VER. i 30. When firfl young Maro, efc.~\ Virg. Eclog. vi. 
 Cum caneremregei et prcelia, Cynthiui aurem 
 
 Veliit. 
 
 It is a tradition preft-rved by Servius, that Virgil began 
 with writing a poem of the Alban and Roman affairs; 
 which he found above his years, and defcended firft to 
 imitate Theocritus on rural lubje^ts, and afterwards to 
 copy Homer in Heroic poetry. P. 
 
 .VARIATIONS. 
 
 130. 
 
 When firft young Maro fung of Kings and Wars, 
 Ere warning Phoebus touch'd his trembling ears.
 
 ESSAY ON CRITICISM. 97 
 
 If, where the rules not far enough extend, 
 (Since rules were made but to promote their end) 
 Some lucky Licence anfvver to the full 
 Th' intent propos'd, that Licence is a nje. 
 Thus Pegafus, a nearer way to take* 150 
 
 May boldly deviate from the common track ; 
 From vulgar bounds with brave diforder part, 
 And fnatch a grace beyond the reach of art, 
 Which without paffing thro' the judgment, gains 
 The heart, and all its end at once attains 1 . 155 
 
 In profpe6ts thus, feme objects pleafe our eyes, 
 Which out of nature's common order rife, 
 The fhapeleft rock, or hanging precipice. 
 Great Wits fometimes may glorioufly offend, 
 And rife to faults true Critics dare not mend. 1 60 
 But tho' the Ancients thus their rules invade, 
 (As Kings difpenfe with laws themfelves have made) 
 Moderns, beware ! or if you muft offend 
 Againft the precept, ne'er tranfgrefs its End ; 
 Let it be feldom, and compell'd by need ; 165 
 
 And have, at leaft, their precedent to plead. 
 The Critic elfe proceeds without rcmorfe, 
 Seizes your fame, and puts his laws in force. 
 
 I know there are, to whofe prefumptuous thoughts 
 Thofe freer beauties, ev'n in them, feem faults, 1 7 o 
 
 Some 
 
 VER. 146. If, irf'tre the rula, ttcJ] fttqtie enim ro- 
 gationibti! plebirve fiitis fanfia funt ifln Fr/ecef>ta, fed hoc, 
 qu:cquid eft, Uti/itas exco^itai-it. noAOfgah autcm fie 
 utile ej/e pltrumque; verum ft eaaf.ni il!a noh's aliul f:t'i- 
 dtbit Uti/ita;, hanc, reliciii mtgijlrorum (i 
 fequemur. Quintil. lib. ii. cap. 13. P. 
 
 Vol. I. H
 
 $8 ESSA'f ON CRITICISM. 
 
 Some figures monftrous and mis-fhap'd appear, 
 
 Confider'd fingly, or beheld too near, 
 
 Which, but proportion'd to their light, or place, 
 
 Due diftance reconciles to form and grace. 
 
 A prudent chief not always muft difplay 175 
 
 His pow'rs in equal ranks, and fair array, 
 
 But with th' occafion and the place comply, 
 
 Conceal his force, nay feem fometimes to fly. 
 
 Thofe oft are ftratagems which errors feem, 
 
 Nor is it Homer nods, but we that dream. 183 
 
 Still green with bays each ancient Altar ftands, 
 Above the reach of facrilegious hands ; 
 Secure from Flames, from Envy's fiercer rage, 
 Deftru&ive War, and all-involving Age. 
 See, from each clime thelearn'd their incenfe bring \ 
 Hear, in all tongues confenting Paeans ring ! 185 
 In praife fo juft let ev'ry voice be join'd, 
 And fill the gen'ral chorus of mankind. 
 
 Hail, 
 
 YES.. 175. A prudent chief, etc.~\ OTo;/ Tt -zroiaW o* 
 C 1 =... i (x,-. i ?i!zJ.ri\x.Txixsi,T T; T|EI; TUV rg&ltvpiMTU Dion. 
 
 rial. De'ilrua. orat. 
 
 VER. 180. Nor is it Homer nods, lut ive that dream ~\ 
 frlodejie, et circumfyeRo judicio dc tantls <uiris pronnr.cian- 
 dum eft, Tie (quod plerifque accidit ) damnent quod non 
 inteliigunt. Ac Ji necejje eft in alter am err are par 'tern , 
 OMtiia eoruKi legentibus piacere, quam tnulta difplicere ma- 
 lua-i-n. Quint. P. 
 
 VrR. 1$%. Secure from flames, from envy's Jlrrcer rage, 
 
 DeftruSli-ve war, and allinvolving age.] The Poet 
 
 here alludes to the four great caufcs of the ravage amongft 
 
 ancient writings: The deftrudlion of the Alexandrine and 
 
 Palatine libraries by Jire ; the fiercer rage of Zoilus and 
 
 and their followers againil Wit ; the irruption 
 of the Rarbariatis into the empire ; and the long reign 
 of Ignorance and Superftition in the cJoijhrs,
 
 ESSAY ON CRITICISM. 9? 
 Hail, Bards triumphant ! born in happier days ; 
 Immortal heirs of univerfal praife ! 1 90 
 
 Whofe honours with increafe of ages grow, 
 As ftreams roll down, enlarging as they flow ; 
 Nations unborn your mighty names mail found, 
 And worlds applaud that muft not yet be found ! 
 Oh may fome fpark of your celeftial fire, 195 
 
 The laft, the meaneft of your fons infpire, 
 (That on weak wings, from far, purfues your flights j 
 Glows while he reads, but trembles as he writes) 
 To teach vain Wits a fcience little known, 
 T' admire fuperior fenfe, and doubt their own ! ZOO 
 
 Of all the Caufes which confpire to blind 
 Man's erring judgment, and mifguide the mind, 
 What the weak head with ftrongeft bias rules, 
 Is Prlde^ the never-failing vice of fools. 
 Whatever Nature has in worth deny'd, 205 
 
 She gives in large recruits of needful Pride ; 
 For as in bodies, thus in fouls, we find 
 What wants' in blood and fpirits, fwell'd with wind : 
 Pride, where Wit fails, fteps in to our defence, 
 And fills up all the mighty Void of fenfe. 2IO 
 
 H 2 If 
 
 VER. 189. Hail, Bards triumphant!] There is a 
 pleafantry in this title, which alludes to the {late of aiw- 
 fare that all true Genius muft undergo while here upon 
 earth. 
 
 VER. 209 Pride ivkere Wit f.nh fteps in to our de- 
 fence, And Jills up all the mighty void of fenfe] A very 
 fenfiblc French writer makes the following remark on 
 this fpecies of pride. " Un horn me qui .cait plufieurs 
 *' Langues, qui etend Ics Auteurs Grecs et Latins, qui 
 " s'eleve memejufqu' a la dignitc de SCHOLIASTE ; 
 *' fi cet hommc venoit a pefer fon veritable merite, il
 
 ioo ESSAY ON CRITICISM; 
 
 If once right reafon drives that cloud away, 
 Truth breaks upon us with refiftlefs day. 
 Truft not yourfelf j but your defects to knoWj 
 Make ufe of ev'ry friend and ev'ry foe. 
 
 A little learning is a dang'rous thing ; 215. 
 
 Drink deep, or tafte not the Pierian fpring : 
 There (hallow draughts intoxicate the brain, 
 And drinking largely fobers us again. 
 Fir'd at firft fight with what the Mufe imparts, 
 In fearlefs youth we tempt the heights of Arts, 
 While from the bounded level of our mind, 221 
 Short views we take, nor fee the lengths behind ; 
 But more advanc'd, behold with ftrange furprize 
 New diftant fcenes of endlefs fcience rife ! 
 So pleas'd at firft the tow'ring Alps we try, 22$ 
 
 Mount o'er the vales, and feem to tread the fky, 
 Tb' eternal fnows appear already pair, 
 And the firft clouds and mountains feem the laft : 
 
 But 
 
 trouveroit fouVent qu'il fe reduit a avoir eu des yeux 
 et de la memoire, il le garderoit bien de donner le noai 
 refpedablc de icience a une erudition fans lumiere. II 
 y a une grande difference entre s'enrichir des mots ou 
 des chofes, entre alleguer des autoritez ou des raifons. 
 Si un liomme pouvoit fe furprendre a n' avoir que 
 cette forte de merite, il en rougiroit plutot que d'en 
 etre vain." 
 
 VE R . 2 r 7. There fallow draughts, etc.'] The thought 
 was taken from Lord Verulam, who applies it to more 
 fenous enquiries. 
 
 VARIATIONS. 
 VER. 225. 
 
 So pleas'd at firft the tow'ring Alps to try, 
 
 Fill'd with ideas of fair Italy, 
 
 The Traveller beholds with chearful eyes 
 
 The kfs'ning vales^ and feems to tread the flue?.
 
 ESSAY ON CRITICISM. 101 
 
 But, thofe attain'd, we tremble to furvey 
 The growing labours of the lengthen'd way, 230 
 Th' increafing profpect tires our wand'ring eyes, 
 Hills peep o'er hills, and Alps on Alps arife ! 
 
 A perfect Judge will read each work of Wit 
 With the fame fpirit that its author writ : 
 Survey the WHOLE, nor feek flight faults to find 
 Where nature moves, and rapture warms the mind j 
 Nor lofe, for that malignant dull delight, 
 The gen'rous pleafure to be charm'd with wit. 
 But in fuch lays as neither ebb, nor flow, 
 Correctly cold, and regularly low, 240 
 
 That fhunning faults, one quiet tenour keep j 
 We cannot blame indeed but we may fleep. 
 In Wit, as Nature, what affects our hearts 
 Is not th' exadtnefs of peculiar parts j 
 'Tis not a lip, or eye, we beauty call, 245 
 
 But the joint force and full refult of all. 
 Thus when we view fome well-proportion'd dome, 
 (The world's juft wonder, and ev'n thine, O Rome !) 
 H 3 No 
 
 VER.233- A perfeft Jud^e, ete.~] Diligent er legendum 
 eft, ac pane ad fc ribendi follic itudinem : Nee per partei 
 mo do fcrutanda funt omnia, Jed perlettus liber utique ex 
 integro refumer.dus. Quin. 
 
 VEX. 235. Survey the Whole, nor feek flight faults t* 
 find, Where nature moves, and rapture luarms the mind \\ 
 The/fcond line, in apologizing for thofe fau/fi which the 
 firft fays mould be overlooked, gives the reafon of the 
 precept. For when a writer's attention is fixed on a ge- 
 neral view of Nature, and his imagination warm'd with 
 the contemplation of great ideas, it can hardly be but 
 that there muft be fmall irregularities in the difpofition 
 both of matter and ftylc, becaufe the avoiding thefe re- 
 quires a coolnefs of recollection, which a writuf fo buficd 
 is not mailer of.
 
 102 ESSAY ON CRITICISM. 
 
 No fmgle parts unequally furprize, 
 All comes united to th' admiring eyes ; 250 
 
 No monftrous height, or breadth, or length appear > 
 The' Whole at once is bold, and regular. 
 
 Whoever thinks a faultlefs piece to fee, 
 Thinks what ne'er was, nor is, nor e'er mall be. 
 In ev'ry work regard the writer's End, 255 
 
 Since none can compafs more than they intend - t 
 And if the means be juft, the conduct true, 
 Applaufe, in fpight of trivial faults, is due. 
 As men of breeding, fometimes men of wit, 
 T' avoid great errors, mufl the lefs commit : 260 
 Neglecl the rules each verbal Critic lays, 
 For not to know fome trifles, is a praife. 
 Moft Critics, fond of fome fubfervient art, 
 Still make the Whole depend upon a Part ; 
 They talk of principles, but notions prize, 26 $ 
 And all to one lov'd Folly facrifice. 
 
 Once on a time, La Mancha's Knight, they fay, 
 A certain Bard encount'ring on the way, 
 Difcours'd in terms as juft, with looks as fage, 
 As e'er could Dennis, of the Grecian Pcage j 270 
 Concluding all were defp'rate fots and fools, 
 Who durft depart from Ariftotle's rules. 
 Our Author, happy in a judge fo nice, 
 Produc'd his Play, and begg'd the Knight's advice; 
 Made him obferve the fubjecl, and the plot, 275 
 The manners, pailions, unities, what not ? 
 
 All 
 
 VER. 261. verbal Critic] Is not here ufed in its com- 
 mon fignification, of one who retails the fenfe of fmgle 
 words ; but of one who deals in large cargo's of them 
 without any fenfe at all.
 
 ESSAY ON CRITICISM. 103 
 
 All which, exact to rule, were brought about, 
 
 Were but a Combat in the lifts left out. 
 
 " What! leave the Combat out?" exclaims the 
 
 Knight j 
 
 Yes, or we muft renounce the Stagirite. 280 
 
 " Not fo, by Heav'n" (he anfwers in a rage) 
 *' Knights, fquires, and ftecds, muft enter on the 
 
 " ftage." 
 
 So vaft a throng the ftage can ne'er contain. 
 " Then build a new, or act it on a plain." 
 
 Thus Critics, of lefs judgment than caprice, 285 
 Curious not knowing, not exact but nice, 
 Form fhort Ideas j and offend in arts 
 (As moft in manners) by a love to parts. 
 
 Some to Conceit alone their tafte confine, 
 And glitt'ring thoughts ftruck out at ev'ry line ; 290 
 Pleas'd with a work where nothing's juft or fit; 
 One glaring Chaos and wild heap of wit. 
 
 H 4 Poets, 
 
 VER. 285. Thus Critics of lefs judgment than en f rice, 
 
 Curious not knowing, not exadt but nice.] In thefe 
 two lines the poet finely defcribes the way in which bad 
 writers are wont to imitate the qualities of good ones. 
 As true "Judgment generally draws men out of popular 
 opinions, fo he who cannot get from the croud by the 
 affiftance of this guide, willingly follows Caprice, which 
 will be fure to lead him into iingularities. Again, true 
 Knowledge is the art of treafuring up only that which, 
 from its ufc in life, is worthy of being lodged in the 
 memory. But Cwiefity confifls in a vain attention to 
 every thing out of the way, and which, for its ufelcflT- 
 nefs, the world leaft regards. Laftly, Exaftnffi is the 
 juft proportion of parts to one another, and their harmo- 
 ny in a whole : But he who has not extent of capacity 
 for the exercife of this quality, contents himfelf with 
 Nicety, which Is a bufying one's fclf about points and 
 fyllabk-s.
 
 104 ESSAY ON CRITICISM. 
 
 Poets, like painters, thus, unfkill'd to trace 
 
 The naked nature ?md the living grace, 
 
 With gold and jewels cover ev'ry part, 295 
 
 And hide with ornaments their want of art. 
 
 True Wit is Nature to advantage drefs'd, 
 
 What oft was thought, but ne'er fo well exprefs'd j 
 
 Something, whofe truth convinc'd at fight we find, 
 
 That gives us back the image of our mind. 300 
 
 As {hades more fweetly recommend the light, 
 
 So modeft plainnefs fets off fprightly wit. 
 
 For 
 
 VER. 297. Irut Wit is Nature to ad-vantage are.fi 'J, 
 efc.} This definition is very exaft. Mr. Locke had de- 
 fined Wit to conflit in the ajfewblage of ideas, and putting 
 tbofe together, with quicknefs and variety, wherein can be 
 found any rtfembl^nce cr congruity, ^whereby to make uf 
 pleafant piBurti and agreeable <vijions in the fancy. But 
 that great Philofopher, in feparating Wit from Judg- 
 ment, as he does in' this place, has given us (and he could 
 therefore give us no other) only an account of Wit in 
 general : In which falfe Wit, tho' not every fpecies of 
 ,r, is included. A Jlriking Image therefore of Nature is, 
 as Mr. Locke obferves, certainly Wit : But this image may 
 firike on feveral other accounts, as well as for its truth 
 and atniabhntfe $ and the Philofopher has explained the 
 manoer how. But it never becomes that Wit which is 
 th? ornament of true Poefy, whole end is to icprefent 
 Nature, but when it drejjes that Nature to advantage, 
 0nd prefents her to us in the cleareft and moft amiable 
 light. And to know when the Fancy has done its office 
 truly, the poet fubjoins this admirable Teft, viz. When 
 v/e perceive that it gives us hick the ima^e of our mind. 
 When it does that, \Ve may be fure it plays no tricks with 
 u c : For this image is the creature of the Judgment ; and 
 whenever Wit correfponds with Judgment, we may fafely 
 ] renounce it to be true, 
 
 Naturam intueamur, bane fequcmur : id fac'iHline acei- 
 / aninv qnod agnofcnnt. Quintil. lib, viii. c. 3,
 
 ESSAY ON CRITICISM. 105 
 
 For works may have more wit than does 'em good ? 
 As bodies perifh thro' excefs of blood. 
 
 Others for Language all their care exprefs, 305 
 And value books, as women men, for Drefs : 
 Their praife is ftill, the Style is excellent : 
 The Senfe, they humbly take upon content. 
 Words are like leaves; and where theymoft abound, 
 Much fruit of fenfe beneath is rarely found. 310 
 Falfe Eloquence, like the prifmatic glafs, 
 Its gaudy colours fpreads on ev'ry place ; 
 The face of Nature we no more furvey, 
 All glares alike, without diftinclion gay : 
 But true Expreffion, like th' unchanging Sun, ^ % 
 Clears, and improves whate'er it fhines upon, t 
 Jt gilds all objects, but it alters none. J 
 
 Expreifion is the drefs of thought, and ftilj 
 Appears more decent, as more fuitable j 
 A vile conceit in pompous words exprefs'd, 320 
 Is like a clown in regal purple drefs'd : 
 For diff'rent ftyles with cliff' rent fubjecls fort, 
 AS feveral garbs with country, town, and court. 
 
 Some 
 
 VER. 311. Fat/e eloquence, like the prifmatic gfafs, 
 etc.] This fimilc is beautiful. For the falle colouring* 
 given to objefts by the prifmatic glafs, is owing to its 
 untwifting, by its obliquities, thof'e threads cf light, 
 which Nature had put together in order to fpread over 
 its works an ingenuous and fmiplc candor, that fhould 
 not hide, but only heighten the native complexion of the 
 objefls. And falfe Eloquence is nothing elfe but the 
 ftraining and divaricating the parts of true exprcffion t 
 and then daubing them over with what the Rhetorician^ 
 very properly term, COLOURS; in lieu of that candid 
 light, now loft, which was reflected from them in tbeir 
 ^atural ftate while fmce. re and entire.
 
 ie6 ESSAY ON CRITICISM. 
 
 Some by pM words to fame have made pretence, 
 Ancients in phrafe, meer moderns in their fenfe ; 
 Such labour 'd nothings, m fo ftrange a ftyle, 326 
 Amaze th' unlearn'd, and make the learned fmile. 
 Unlucky, asFimgofo in the Play, -\ 
 
 Thefe fparks with aukward vanity difplay V 
 
 What the fine gentleman wore yefterday; 330 J. 
 And but fo mimic ancient wits at heft, 
 As apes our grandfires, in their doublets dreft. 
 In words, as fafhions, the fame rule will hold ; 
 Alike fantaftic, if too new, or old : 
 Be not the firft by whom the new are try'd, 335 
 Nor yet the laft to lay the old afide. 
 
 But moft by Numbers judge a Poet's fong; 
 And fmooth or rough, with them, is right or wrong: 
 In the bright Mufe tho' thoufand charms confpire, 
 Her Voice is all thefe tuneful fools admire 3 340 
 
 Who 
 
 VER. 324. Sam* fo old words, etc.] db:litz et abro- 
 gata rtttaere, infolenti<f cujufdam /?/?, tt'fri<vol< in par* 
 ohja8xn:i<ff. Quintil. lib i. c. 6. P. 
 
 Of its eft ut <vsrba a vet aft ate rcpstlta ncque crelrafint, 
 Kcquc manifcjla, quia nil eft odiofius ajfettatiane, nee utique 
 ab ullimis repetita temporibits. Oratio cujus fumma virtut 
 eft fofpicuita.', quamfit vifiofa, ft egeat interprets ? Ergo 
 it ;iG-vo>-um optima srunt maxime cetera, ita veteruat 
 maxims nova. Idem. P. 
 
 VER. 328. unlucky as Fungofo, etc,] See Ben John- 
 
 fon's Every Man in bis Humour. P. 
 VER. 337. But moft by Numbers, etc. ~\ 
 
 Quirpoputi firtxo eft P quis enim ? nifi carmlna mollz 
 N"nc demutn nutnero fiuere, ut per lefve feveros 
 Effundat junfrura ungues : fat tenders *verfum 
 Kon ffcus ac Jl oculo tubricam dirigat uno. 
 
 6 Pcrf. Sat. i, P.
 
 ESSAY ON CRITICISM. 107 
 
 Who haunt Parnaflus but to pleafe their ear, 
 Not mend their minds; as forne to Church repair, 
 Not for the doctrine, but the mufic there. 
 Thefe equal fyllables alone require, 
 Tho' oft the ear the open vowels tire ; 245 
 
 While expletives their feeble aid do join ; 
 And ten low words oft creep in one dull line : 
 While they ring round the fame unvary'd chime?, 
 With fare returns of ftill expected rhymes ; 
 Where-e'er you find " the cooling weftern breeze,** 
 In the next line, it " whifpers thro' the trees :" 
 If cryflal ftreams " with pleafing murmurs creep," 
 The reader's threaten'd (not in vain) with " fleep:" 
 Then, at the laft and only couplet fraught 
 With fome unmeaning thing they call a thought, 
 A needlefs Alexandrine ends thefong, 3^6 
 
 That, like a wounded fnake, drags its flow length 
 
 along. 
 
 Leave fuch to tune their own dull rhymes, and know 
 What's roundly fmooth, or languiihingly flow ; 
 And praife the eafy vigour of a line, 360 
 
 Where Denham's ftrength, and Waller's fweetnefs 
 
 join. True 
 
 VER. 345. Tbo oft the ear, etc.~\ Fugiemus crebrat 
 tvocalium concurfiones, qua vaftam atqtie biantem ornt'to- 
 ncm reddunt. Cic. ad Hcrcn. lib. iv. Vide etiam Quin- 
 til. lib. ix. c. 4. P. 
 
 IMITATIONS. 
 
 VER. 346. While (acpltttv* their feeble mc( r'o jo'in^ 
 
 And ten k<w words oft creep in one dull line, .] From 
 Dryden, " He creeps along with ten little ^vordt in every 
 " fine, and helps out his numbers with [for] [toj and 
 " [unto] and all the pretty expletives he can find, while 
 "' the fenie is left halt tired behind it." /~ij> on Dram, 
 Poetry.
 
 ic8 ESSAY ON- CRITICISM. 
 True cafe in writing comes from art, not chance, 
 As thofe move eafieft who have learn'd to dance. 
 *Tis not enough no harfhnefs gives offence, 
 The found muft feem an Echo to the fenfe : 365 
 Soft is the ftrain when Zephyr gently blows, 
 And the fmooth ftream in fmoother numbers flows ; 
 But when loud furges lafh the founding fhoar, 
 The hoarfe, rough verfe fhould like the torrent roar : 
 When Ajax ftrives fome rock's vaft weight to throw, 
 The line too labours, and the word* move flow ; 
 
 Not 
 
 VER. 364 ^Tis not enough no harjhnefs gives offence ; 
 
 The found muft feem an Echo to the fenfe :] The judi- 
 cious introduction of this precept is remarkable. The 
 Poet?, and even fome of the beft of them, have been fo 
 fond of the beauty arifmg from this trivial precept, that, 
 in their practice, they have violated the very End of it, 
 which is the encreafe of harmony ; and, fo they could 
 but raife an Echo, did not care whofe ears they offended 
 by its diflbnance. To remedy this abufe therefore, the 
 poet, by the introductory line, would infmuate, that 
 Harmony is always prefuppofed as obferved ; tho' it may 
 and ought to be perpetually varied, fo as to produce the 
 effeft here recommended. 
 
 Vu R. 365. "The found muft feent an Echo to tbefofe :] 
 Lord Rofcomrnon fays, 
 
 ^he found is ft ill a comment to the fenfe. 
 They are both well expreffed : only this fuppofes the fenfe 
 to be aflifted by the found ; that, the fpund aflifted by 
 dae fenfe. 
 
 IMITATIONS. 
 YE R. 366. Soft is the /train, etc.] 
 
 Tumji/teta canunt, etc. VidaPoet. 1. iii. v. 403. 
 VE R. 368. But it'/vw loud furges i etc ] 
 
 angefak faxa jlncnl, etc. Vida ib. 388. 
 370. fFfoxjfyaxflrivtT, eft.] 
 e :a'(i ft quid geritur malimine mano, etc. 
 
 \''ida ib. 1
 
 ESSAY ON CRITICISM. 109 
 
 Not fo,. when fwift Camilla fcours the plain, 372 
 Flies o'er th* unbending corn, and fkiras along die 
 
 main. 
 
 Hear how Timotheus' vary'd lays furprize, 
 And bid alternate paflions fall and rife ! 375 
 
 While, at each change, the fon of Libyan Jove 
 Now burns with glory, and then melts with lovej 
 Now his fierce eyes with fparkling fury glow, 
 Now fighs fteal out, and tears begin to flow : 
 Perfians and Greeks like turns of nature found, 
 And the World's victor flood fubdu'd by Sound f 
 The pow'r of Mufic all our hearts a'low, 
 And what Timotheus was, isDRYDEN now. 
 
 Avoid Extremes ; and fhun the fault of fuch, 
 Who flill are pleas'd too little or too much. 38$. 
 At ev'ry trifle fcorn to take offence, 
 That always fhows great pride, or little fenfe; 
 Thofe heads, as ftomachs 3 are not fure the beft, 
 Which naufeate all, and nothing can digeft. 
 Yet let not each gay Turn thy rapture move ; 392 
 For fools admire, but men of fenfe approve : 
 As things feem large which we thro' miftsdefcry, 
 Dulnefs is ever apt to rnagnify. 
 
 Some foreign writers, fome our own defpife; 
 The Ancients only, or the Moderns prize. 395 
 
 Thus 
 
 VER. 374. Hear koiv Timotheus, etc.] See Alexan- 
 der's Fcalt, or the Power ofMulick; an Ode by Mr, 
 Dry den. P. 
 
 IMITATIONS. 
 VER. 37 i. Njf fo, wkenfwift Camilla, etc.] 
 
 At mora ft fuciit Jattino, i>rof>erare jubtbo, etc. 
 i Yidaib. 420.
 
 no ESSAY ON CRITICISM. 
 
 Thus Wit, like Faith, by each man is apply'd 
 To one fmall fet, and all are damn'd befide. 
 Meanly they feek the bleffing to confine, 
 And force that fun but on a part to.fhine, 
 Which not alone the fouthern wit fublimcs, 4-03 
 But ri pens .fpir its in cold northern climes ; 
 Which from the firft has fhone on ages pad, 
 Enlights the prefent, and fhall warm the lad ; 
 Tho' each may feel encreafes and decays, 
 And fee now clearer and now darker days. 405 
 Regard not then, if W it be old or new, 
 But blame the falfe, and value flill the true. 
 
 Some ne'er advance a Judgment oPtheir own, 
 But catch the fpreading notion of the Town ; 
 They reafon and conclude by precedent, 41 
 
 And own flale nonfenfe which they ne'er invent. 
 Some judge of authors names, not works, and then 
 Nor praiie nor blame the "writings, but the men. 
 Of all this fervile herd, the worft is he 
 That in proud dulnefs joins with Quality. 415 
 
 A conftant critic at the great man's board, 
 To fetch and carry nonfenfe for my Lord. 
 What woful fluff this madrigal would be, 
 In fome ftarv'd hackney fonnetteer, or me ? 
 But let a Lord once own the happy lines, 420 
 
 How the wit brightens ! how the ftyle refines ! 
 
 Before 
 
 VER. 402. Which frim tie fir ft, efr.] Genius is the 
 fame in all ages ; hut its fruits arc various ; and more or 
 lefs excellent as they are checked or matured by the in- 
 fluence of Government or Religion upon them. Hence 
 in forne parts of Literature the Ancients excel ; in other', 
 the moderrrj; jail as thofe accidental circumilances in- 
 fluenced them.
 
 ESSAY ON CRITICISM, m 
 
 Before his facred name flies ev'ry fault, 
 And each exalted ftanza teems with thought ! 
 
 The Vulgar thus thro' Imitation err ; 
 As oft the Learn'd by being fingular; 425 
 
 So much they fcorn the croud, that if the throng 
 By chance go right, they purpofely go wrong : 
 So Schifmatics the plain believers quit, 
 And are but damn'd for having too much wit. 
 Some praifc at morning what they blame at night ; 
 But always think the laft opinion right. 431 
 
 A Mufe by thefe is like a miftrefs us'd, 
 This hour file's idoliz'd, the next abus'd ; 
 While their weak heads like towns unfortify'd, 
 'Twixt fenfe and nonfenfe daily change their fulc. 
 Afk them the caufe ; they're wifer ftill, they fay j 
 And ftill to-morrow's wiftr than to-day. 
 We think our fathers fools, fo wife we grow ; 
 Our wifer fons, no doubt, will think us fo. 439 
 Once School-divines this zealous ifle o'cr-fpread ; 
 Who knew moft Sentences, was deepeft read ; 
 Faith, Gofpel, all, feem'd made to be difputcd, 
 And none had fenfe enough to be confuted : 
 Scotifts and Thomifts, now, in peace remain, 
 Amidft their kindred cobwebs in Duck-lane. 445: 
 
 If 
 
 VER.444- Scofifis and Tbornlfti\ Thefe were two 
 parties amongft the ichoolmcn, headed by Duns Scotus 
 and 'Thomas Aquinas, of different opinions, and from that 
 difference denominated Realifls and Kominalifts ; they 
 were perpetually difputing on the immaculate conception, 
 and on iubjefts of tiie like importance. 
 
 VER. 444. Scoffs'] So denominated from Jobanvft 
 Duns Scolus. He fuffercd a mifcrable reverfc of fortune 
 at Oxford in the time of Henry V1IL That grave An- 
 tiquary
 
 ii2 ESSAY ON CRITICISM, 
 
 If Faith itfelf has diff'rent drefies worn, 
 
 What wonder modes in Wit fliould take their turn? 
 
 Oft', leaving what is natural and fit, 
 
 The current folly proves the ready wit ; 
 
 And 
 
 tiquary Mr. Antony Wood fadly laments the deformation, 
 as he calls it, of that Univerfity by the King's Commif- 
 fiosers ; and even records the blafphemous fpecches of 
 one of them in his own Words We bavefet DUNCE in 
 Bdccardo, nvith all bis blind GloJJ~ers t fc.fl nailed up upon 
 pojis in all common boufes of eafement. Upon which our 
 venerable Antiquary thus exclaims : " If fo be, the com- 
 mifiioners had fuch difrefpeft for that moft famous 
 Author J. Duns, who was fo much admired by our 
 predeceflbrs, and so DIFFICULT TO BE UNDER- 
 STOOD, that the Doctors of thofe times, namely Dr. 
 William Roper, Dr JohnKynton, Dr.William Mowfe, 
 etc. profeffed, that, m twenty eight years ftudy, they 
 could not underftand him rightly, What then had the/ 
 for others of an inferior note ?" What indeed ! But 
 then, If fo be, that mvft famous J Duns was fo difficult; 
 to be underftood (for that this is a moft claflical proof of 
 his great value, who donbts ?) I mould conceive our 
 good old Antiquary to be a little miftaken. And that 
 the nailing up this Proteus was done by the CommifTioners 
 in hanour of tie moft famous Duns : There being no other 
 \vay of catching the fenfe of fo flippery an Author, who 
 had eluded the ptirfait of three of their moft renowned 
 Doftors, in full cry after him, for twenty eight years to- 
 gether. And this Boccardo in which he was confined, 
 feemed very proper for the purpofc ; it being obferved, 
 that men are never more ferious and thoughtful than in 
 that place. SCR.IBL. 
 
 Ibid, ybomifts^ From Thomas Aquinas^ a truly grcrft 
 Genius, who was, in thofe blind ages, the fame in The- 
 ology that Friar Bacon was in natural Philofophy : lefs 
 happy than our Countryman in this, that he foon became 
 furrounded with a number of dark Gloflers, who never 
 left him till they had extinguifhed the radiance of that 
 light which had pierced through the thickeft night of 
 
 Monkery,
 
 ESSAY ON CRITICISM. 113 
 
 And authors think their reputation fafe, 450 
 
 Which lives as 1 ng as fools are pleas'd to laugh. 
 Some valuing thofe of their own fide or mind, 
 Still make themfclves the meafure of mankind : 
 Fondly we think we honour merit then, 
 When we but praife ourfelves in other men. 455 
 Parties in Wit attend on thofe of State, 
 And public faction doubles private hate. 
 Pride, Valice, Folly, againfl Drydenrofe, 
 In various (hapes of Parfons, Critics, Beaus ; 
 But fenfe furviv'd, when merry jefts were paft ; 
 For riftng merit will buoy up at laft. 461 
 
 Might he return, and blefs once more our eyes, 
 New Bl ckmores and new Milbourns muft arife : 
 Nay fhould great Homer lift his awful head, 
 Zoilus again would ftart up from the dead. 465 
 Envy will merit, as it> fhade, purfue ; 
 But like a (hadow, proves the fubftance true j 
 
 Monkery, the thirteenth century, when the IVuldenfes 
 
 ippreffe/i, and Wickliffc not yet rifen. 
 VER. 445. Duck-lane} \ place where old and fecond- 
 hand books were ibid formerly, near Smithh'eld. P. 
 
 VARIATIONS. 
 VER. 447. Between this and ver. 448. 
 
 The rhyming Clowns that gladded Shakefpear's age, 
 
 No more with crambo entertain the flage. 
 
 Who now i;i Anagrams their Patron praife, 
 
 Or fing their Millref 1 in Acroilic lays ? 
 
 Ev'n pulpits pleas'd with merry puns of yore; 
 
 Now all are baniftYd to the Hibernian Ihore ! 
 
 Thus leaving what was natural and ht, 
 
 The current lolly prov'd their ready wit ; 
 
 And authors thought their reputation fafe. 
 
 Which liv'd as long as fools were pleai'd to laugh. 
 
 VOL. I. I For
 
 ii 4 ESSAY ON CRITICISM, 
 For envy'd Wit, like Sol eclips'd, makes known 
 Th' oppofing body's grofihefs, not its own. 
 When firft that fun too pow'jful beams difplays, 
 It draws up vapours which obfcure its rays j 471 
 But ev'n thofe clouds at laft adorn its way, 
 Reflect new glories, and augment the day. 
 Be thou the firft true merit to befriend ; 
 His praife is loft, who ftays 'till all commend. 475 
 Short is the date, alas, of modern rhymes, 
 And 'tis but juft to let them live betimes. 
 No longer now that golden age appears, 
 When Patriarch-wits furviv'd a thoufand years : 
 Now length of Fame (ourfecond life) is loft, 480 
 And bare threefcore is all ev'n that can boaft ; 
 Our fons their fathers failing language fee, 
 And fuch as Chaucer is, mall Dryden be. 
 So when the faithful pencil has defign'd 
 Some bright Idea of the mafter's mind, 485 
 
 Where 
 
 VE 11.468. For envy V Wit, like Sol ecli^J, etc ] This 
 fimilitude implies a facl too often verified ; and of which 
 \ve need not feek abroad for examples. It is, that fre- 
 quently thofe very Authors, who have at firft done all 
 they could to obfcure and deprefs a rifmg genius, have at 
 length, in order to keep themfelves in forne little credit, 
 been reduced to borrow from him, imitate his manner, 
 and refie& what they could of his fplendor. Nor hath 
 the poet been lefs artful, to infinuate alfo what is fome- 
 times the caufe. A youthful genius, like the Sun rifing 
 towards the Meridian, difplays too ftrong and powerful 
 leams for the dirty genius of inferior writers, which oc- 
 cafions their gathering, condenfing, and blackening. But as 
 he defcends from the Meridian (the time when the Sun 
 gives \^ gilding to the furrounding clouds) his rays grow 
 milder, his heat more benign, and then 
 
 ev'n tbofe Clouds at laft adorn its <way^ 
 Refleft new glories, and avgnjfnt the day.
 
 ESSAY ON CRITICISM. 115 
 Where a new world leaps out at hiscommand, 
 And ready Nature waits upon his hand; 
 When the ripe colours foften and unite, 
 And fweetly melt into juft (hade and light ; 
 When mellowing years their full perfection give, 
 And each bold figure juft begins to live, 491 
 
 The treach'rous colours the fair art betray, 
 And all the bright creation fades away ! 
 
 Unhappy Wit, like moft miftaken things, 
 Atones not for that envy which it brings. 495 
 
 In youth alone its empty praife we boaft, 
 But foon the fhort-liv'd vanity is loft : 
 Like fome fair flow'r the early fpring fupplies,. 
 That gayly blooms, but ev'n in blooming dies. 
 What is this Wit, which muft our cares employ ? 
 The owner's wife, that other men enjoy ; 501 
 Then moft our trouble ftill when moftadmir'd, 
 And ftill the more we give, the more requird ; 
 Whofe fame with pains we guard, but lofe with cafe, 
 Sure fome to vex, but never all to pleafe ; 505 
 'Tis what the vicious fear, the virtuous fhun, 
 By fools 'tis hated," and by knaves undone ! 
 
 If Wit fo much from Ign'rance undergo, 
 Ah let not Learning too commence its foe ! 
 Of old, thofe met rewards who could exce'l, 510 
 And fuch were prais'd who but cndeavour'd well : 
 Tho' triumphs were to gen'rals only due, 
 Crowns were referv'd to grace the foldiers too. 
 
 I 2 Now, 
 
 VE R. 507. ly knaves undone /] By which the Poet 
 would infmuate, a common but lhameful truth, That 
 Men in power, if they got into it by illiberal arts, gene- 
 rally lefc Wit and Science to ftarve.
 
 n6 ESSAY ON CRITICISM; 
 
 Now, they who reach Parnafius' lofty crown, 
 Employ their pains to fpurn fome others down ; 
 And while felf-love each jealous writer rules, 
 Contending wits become the fport of fools : 
 But ftill the worft with moft regret commend, 
 For each ill Author is as bad a Friend. 520 
 
 To what bafe ends, and by what abject ways, 
 Are mortals urg'd thro' facred luft of praife ! 
 Ah ne'er fo dire a thirft of glory boaft, 
 Nor in the Critic let the Man be loir. 
 Good-nature and good-fenfe muft ever join ; 525 
 To err is human, to forgive, divine. 
 
 But if in noble minds fome dregs remain 
 Not yet purg'd off, of fpleen and four difdain j 
 Difcharge that rage on more provoking crimes, 
 Nor fear a dearth in thefe flagitious times. 533 
 
 No pardon vile Obfcenity fhould find, 
 Tho' wit and art confpire to move your mind j 
 But Dulnefs with Obfcenity muft prove 
 As fhameful fure as Impotence in love. 
 
 In 
 
 VER. 519. ButjlHltbe Worft with mojl regret commend, 
 For each til Author is as bad a Friend.] As Igno- 
 rance, when joined with Humility, produces ftupid ad- 
 miration, on which account it is fo commonly obferved 
 to be the mother of Devotion and blind homage ; fo when 
 joined with Vanity (as it always is in bad Critics) it gives 
 birth to every iniquity of impudent abufe and {lander. 
 See an- example (for want of a better) in a late \vorthlefs 
 and now forgotten thing,' called the Life of Socrates. 
 Where the head of the Author (as a man of wit obferved 
 on reading the book) had juft made a fhift to do the office 
 of a Camera obfcura> to reprefcnt things in an inverted 
 Order : himfclf abo<v e * and Sprat, Eollin, Voltaire, and 
 every other Author of reputation, below.
 
 ESSAY ON CRITICISM. 117 
 
 In the fat age of pleafure, wealth, and eafe, 535 
 Sprung the rank weed, and thriv'd with large in- 
 
 creafe : 
 
 When love was all an eafy Monarch's care j 
 Seldom at council, never in a war : 
 Jilts rul'd the ftate, and ftatcfmen farces writ ; 
 Nay wits had penfions, and young Lords had wit : 
 The Fair fate panting at a Courtier's play, 541 
 
 And not a Mafk went unimprov'd away : 
 The modeft fan was lifted up no more, 
 And Virgins fmil'd at what they blufh'd before. 
 The following licence of a Foreign reign 545 
 Did all the dregs of bold Socinus drain ; 
 '"Then unbelieving Priefts reform' d the nation, 
 And taught more pleafant methods of falvation ; 
 Where Heav'n's free fubjedb might their rights 
 
 difpute, 
 
 Left God himfelf fhould feem too abfolute : 55* 
 Pulpits their facred fatire learn'd to fpare, 
 And Vice admir'd to find a flatt'rer there ! 
 Encourag'd thus, Wit's Titans brav'd the fides, 
 And the prefs groan'd with licens'd blafphemies. 
 Thefe monfters, Critics ! with your darts engage, 
 Here point your thunder, and exhauft your rage ! 
 Yet (nun their fault, who, fcandaloufly nice, 
 Will needs miftake an author into vice j . 
 All feems infc&ed that th' infected fpy, 
 As all looks yellow to the jaundic'H eye. 560 
 
 I 3 LEARN 
 
 VER. 547. The author has omitted two lines which 
 flood here, as containing a National RtfttQien, which in 
 hi. rtri&er judgment he could not but difapprove on aivj- 
 People whatever. P.
 
 nS ESSAY ON CRITICISM. 
 
 LEAT. >. MORALS Critics ought to fhow,- 
 
 For 'tis but half a Judge's talk, to know. 
 'Tis not enough, tafte, judgment, learning, join ; 
 In all you fpeak, let truth and candour fhine : 
 That not alone what to your fenfe is due 5 65 
 
 All may allow ; but feek your friendfhip too. 
 
 .ent always when you doubt your fenfe j 
 And fpeak, thr' iure, with feeming diffidence ; 
 Some pofitive, perfifling fops we know, 
 Who, if once wrong, will needs be always fo ; 
 But you, with pleafure own your errors paft, 
 And make each day a Critic on the laft. 
 
 J Tis not enough, your counfel ftill be true; 
 Blunt truths more mifchief than nice falfhoods do ; 
 Men muft be taught as if ypu taught them not, 575 
 And things unknown propos'd as things forgot. 
 Without Good Breeding, truth is difapprov'd j 
 That only makes fuperior fenfe belov'd. 
 
 Be niggards of advice on no pretence ; 
 For the worft avarice is that of fenfe. 580 
 
 With mean complacence ne'er betray you truft, 
 Nor be fo civil as to prove unjuft. 
 Fear not the anger of the wife to raife ; 
 Thofe beft can bear reproof, who merit praife. 
 'Twere well might Critics ftill this freedom take, 
 But Appius reddens at each word you fpeak, 586 
 
 And 
 
 VER. 562. For "'tis but half a Judge 's tfljk t 
 The Critic afts in two capacities, of Affeffir and of 
 Judge : in the firft, fcience alone is fufficient ; but the 
 other requires mtrah likewife.
 
 ESSAY ON CRITICISM. 119 
 
 And flares, tremendous, with a threat'ning eye, 
 Like fome fierce Tyrant in old tapeftry. 
 Fear moft to tax an Honourable fool, 
 Whofe right it is, uncenfur'd to be dull ; 590 
 
 Such, without wit, are Poets when they pleafe, 
 As without learning they can take Degrees. 
 Leave dang'rous truths to unfuccefsful Satires, 
 And flattery to fulfome Dedicators, 
 Whom, when they praife, the world believes no 
 more, 595 
 
 Than when they promife to give fcribling o'er. 
 'Tis beft fometimes your cenfure to reftrain, 
 And charitably let the dull be vain : 
 Your filence there is better than your fpite, 
 For who can rail fo long as they can write ? 6c0 
 Still humming on, their drouzy courfe they keep, 
 And lafh'd fo long, like tops, are lafli'd afleep. 
 Falfe fteps but help them to renew the race, 
 As, after /tumbling, Jades will mend their pace. 
 What crouds of thefe, impeniteixtly bold, 605 
 In founds and jingling fyllables grown old, 
 Still run on Poets, in a raging vein, 
 Ev'n to the dregs and fqueezings of the brain, 
 Strain out the laft dull droppings of their fenfe, 
 And rhyme with all the rage of Impotence. 610 
 I 4 Such 
 
 VER. 587. And flares, tretntndous, tie.'] This piflure 
 was taken to himfelf by John Dennis, a furious old Cri- 
 lic by profeflion, who, upon no other provocation, wrote 
 a2,ainft this Eflay and its author, in a manner perfedly 
 lunatic : For, as to the mention made of him in v. 270. 
 he took it as a Compliment, and faid it was treacheroufly 
 meant to caufe him to overlook this Abvft of his Ptrfon. P. 
 6
 
 120 ESSAY ON CRITICISM. 
 
 Such fhamelefs Bards we have ; and yet 'tis true, 
 There are as mad, abandon'd Critics too. 
 The bookful blockhead, ignorantly read, 
 With loads of learned lumber in his head, 
 With his own tongue ftill edifies his ears, 615 
 
 And always lift'ning to himfelf appears. 
 All books he reads, and all he reads aflails, 
 From Dryden's Fables down to Durfey's Tales. 
 With him, moft authors fteal their works, or buy ; 
 Garth did not write his own Difpenfary. 620 
 
 Name a new Play, and he's the Poet's friend, 
 Nay fhow'd his faults but when would Poets mend ? 
 No place fo facred from fuch fops is barr'd, 
 Nor is Paul's church more fafe than Paul's church 
 
 yard : 
 
 Nay, fly to Altars ; there they'll talk you dead : 625 
 For Fools rufh in where Angels fear to tread. 
 Diftruftful fenfe with modeft caution fpeaks, 
 It ftill looks home, and fhort excurfions makes ; 
 But rattling nonfenfe in full vollies breaks, 
 And never fhock'd, and never turn'd afide, 630 
 Burfts out, refiftlefs, with a thund'ring tide. 
 
 But 
 
 VER. 620. Garth did not write, etc.] A common flan- 
 der at that time in prejudice of that deferving author. 
 Our Poet did him this juftice, when that flander moft 
 prevail'd ; and it is now (perhaps the fooner for this ve- 
 ry verfe) dead and forgotten. P. 
 
 VARIATIONS. 
 VER. 624. Between this and v. 625. 
 
 In vain you (hrug and fweat, and drive to fly ; 
 Thefe know no Manners but of Poetry. 
 They'll flop a hungry Chaplain in his grace, 
 To treat ot Unities of time and place.
 
 ESSAY ON CRITICISM. 121 
 
 But where's the man, who counfel can beftow, 
 Still pleas'd to teach, and yet not proud to know ? 
 Unbias'd, or by favour, or by fpite ; 
 Not dully prepoflefs'd, nor blindly right ; 635 
 
 Tho' learn'd, well-bred; and tho' well-bred, fmcere;. 
 Modeftly bold, and humanly fevere : 
 Who to a friend his faults can freely mow, 
 And gladly praife the merit of a foe ? 
 Bleft with a tafte exaft, yet unconfin'd ; 640 
 
 A knowledge both of books and human kind ; 
 Gen'rous converfe j a foul exempt from pride ; 
 And love to praife, with reafon on his fide ? 
 
 Such once were Critics ; fuch the happy few, 
 Athens and Rome in better ages knew. 645 
 
 The mighty Stagirite firft left the more, 
 Spread all his fails, and durft the deeps explore j 
 
 He 
 
 VE 11.632. But 'wbere''s the man, etc."} The Poet, by 
 
 his manner of afking after this Character, and telling us, 
 
 when he had defcribed it, that fucb onceiuere Critics, does 
 
 not encourage us to fearch for it in modern writers. And 
 
 indeed thedifcovery of him, if it could be made, would 
 
 be but an invidious bufmefs. I will venture no farther 
 
 than to name the piece of Criticifm in which thefe marks 
 
 may be found. It is intitled, j. Hor. Fl. An Poe'tica, 
 
 with an Engiijh Commentary and Notes. 
 
 VARIATIONS. 
 
 Between v. 647 and 648, 1 found the following lines, 
 fmce fuppreft by the author : 
 
 That bold Columbus of the realms of wit, 
 
 Whofe firft difcov'ry's not exceeded yet. 
 
 Led by the light of the Maeonian Star, 
 
 He fteer'd fecurely, and difcovcr'd far. ' 
 
 He, when all Nature was fubdu'd befcr*, 
 
 Like his great Pupil, figh'd, and long'd for more: 
 
 Fancy's wild regions yet unvanquiflrd lay, 
 
 A boundlcfs empire, and that own'd no fway. 
 
 Poets, etc.
 
 12* ESSAY ON CRITICISM 
 Hefteer'd fecurely, and difcover'd far, 
 Led by the light of the Masonian Star. 
 Poets, a race long unconfin'd, and free, 650 
 
 Still fond and proud of favage liberty, 
 Received his laws ; and'ftood convinc'd 'twas fit, 
 "Who conquer'd Nature, fhould prefide o'er Wit. 
 
 Horace ftill charms with graceful negligence, 
 And without method talks us into fenfe, 655 
 
 Will, like a friend, familiarly convey 
 The trueft notions in the eafieft w?y. 
 He, who fupreme in judgment, as in wit, 
 Might boldly cenfure, as he boldly writ, 659 
 
 Yet judg'd with coolnefs, tho' he fun'g with fire ; 
 His Precepts teach but what his works infpire. 
 Our Critics take a contrary extreme, 
 They judge with fury, but they write with fle'me : 
 Nor fuffers Horace more in wrong Tranflations 
 By Wits, than Critics in as wrong Quotations. 665 
 
 See 
 
 VE R . 6 5 3 . Who conquered Nature,Jhould prefide o'er Wit."] 
 By this is not meant phyjtcal Nature, but moral. The 
 force of the obiei'vation confifts in our undemanding it 
 in this fenfe. For the Poet not only ufes the word Nature 
 for human nature, throughout this poem ; but alfo, 
 where, in the beginning of it, he lays down the princi- 
 ples of the arts he treats of, he makes the knowledge of 
 human native the foundation of all Criticifm and Poetry, 
 Nor is the obfervation lels true than appofite. For, Ari- 
 ftotles natural enquiries were fuperficial, and ill-made, 
 tho' extenlive: But his logical and moral works are in- 
 comparable, fn thefe he has unfolded the human mind, 
 and laid open all the receffes of the heart and underftand- 
 ing ; and by his Categories, not only conquered Nature, 
 but kept Her in tenfold- chains : Not as Dttlmfs kept the 
 Mufes, in the Dundad, to filencc them ; bu: as A 
 held Proteus in Virgil, to deliver Oracles,
 
 ESSAY ON CRITICISM. 123 
 
 Sec Dionyfms Homer's thoughts refine, 
 And call new beauties forth from ev'ry line ! 
 
 Fancy and art in gay Petronius pleafe, 
 The fcholar's learning, with the courtier's cafe. 
 
 In grave Quintilian's copious work, we find 670 
 The jufteft rules, and cleareft method join'd : 
 Thus ufcful arms in magazines we place, 
 All rang'd in order, and difpos'd with grace, 
 But lefs to pleafe the eye, than arm the hand, 
 Still fit for ufe, and ready at command. 675 
 
 Thee, bold Longinus ! ah 1 the Nine infpire, 
 And blefs their Critic with a Poet's fire. 
 An ardent Judge, who zealous in his truft, 
 With warmth gives fentence, yet is always juft ; 
 Whofe own example ftrengthens all his laws; 680 
 And is himfelf that great Sublime he draws. 
 
 Thus long fuccceding Critics juftly reign'd, 
 Licence reprefs'd, and ufeful laws ordain'd. 
 Learning and Rome alike in empire grew ; 684 
 And Arts ftill follow'd where her Eagles flew ; 
 From the fame foes, at laft, both felt their doom, 
 And the fame age faw Learning fall, and Rome. 
 With Tyranny, then Superftition join'd, 
 As that the body, this enflav'd the mind ; 
 Much was believ'cl, but little underftood, 690 
 
 And to be dull was conftru'd to be good ; 
 
 A fecond 
 
 VER.666. See Dionysus'] Of Halicarnaflus. P. 
 VARIATIONS. 
 
 Between ver. 691 and 692, the author omitted thcfc 
 two, 
 
 Vain Wits and Critics were no more allowed, 
 YVluu none but Saints had licence to be proud. P.
 
 i2 4 ESSAY ON CRITICISM. 
 
 A fecond deluge Learning thus o'er-run, 
 
 And the Monks finifli'd what the Goths begun. 
 
 At length Erafmus, that great injur'd name, 
 (The glory of the Priefthood, and the fhame !) 
 Stem'd the wild torrent of a barb'rous age, 696 
 And drove thofe holy Vandals off the ftage. 
 
 But fee ! eachMufe, in LEO'S golden days, 
 Starts from her trance, and trims her wither'd bays, 
 Rome's ancient Genius, o'er its ruins fpread, 700 
 Shakes off the duft, and rears his rev'rend head. 
 Then Sculpture and her fifter-arts revive ; 
 Stones leap'd to form, and recks began to live ; 
 With fweeter notes each rifmg Temple rung ; 
 A Raphael painted, and a Vida fung. 705 
 
 Immortal Vida : on whofe honour'd brow 
 The Poet's bays and Critic's ivy grow : 
 Cremona now fhall ever boaft thy name, 
 As next in place to Mantua, next in fame ! 709 
 
 But 
 
 VER. 69^. Tbegltry of the Priefiboo 
 Our author elfewhere lets us know what he eftcems to be 
 the glory of the Priejlbood as vve'l as of a Chriftian in ge- 
 neral, where, comparing himfelf to Era/mus, he fays, 
 
 In Alo DERATION placing all my glory, 
 and confequently, what heefteems to be \hzjbarrt of it. 
 The who'e of this character belong'd moft eminently and 
 almoil folely to Erafmus : For the other Reformers, fiich 
 as Luther, Ca!i>in, and their followers, underftood fo lit- 
 tle in what true ChritHan Liberty confided, that they 
 carried with them, into the reformed Churches, that very 
 fpirit of perfecution, which had driven them from the 
 church of Rome. 
 
 IMITATIONS. 
 
 VER. 708. At next in place to Mantua^] Alluding to 
 Mantua vts tnifera nimium <vifina Cremona, \ irg.
 
 ESSAY ON CRITICISM. 125 
 
 But foon by impious arms from Latium chas'd, 
 Their ancient bounds the banifh'd Mufcs pafs'd ; 
 Thence Arts o'er all the northern world advance, 
 But Critic- learning flourifh'd moft jn France : 
 The rules a nation, born to ferve, obeys ; 
 And Boileau ftill in right of Horace fways. 71$ 
 But we, brave Britons, foreign laws defpis'd, 
 And kept unconquer'd, and unciviliz'd ; 
 Fierce for the liberties of* wit, and bold, 
 We ftill defy'd the Romans, as of old. 
 Yet fome there were, among the founder few 
 Of thofe who lefs prefum'd, and better knew, 721 
 Who durft aflert the juftcr ancient caufe, 
 And here reftor'd Wit's fundamental laws, 
 Such was the Mufe, whofe rules and pradice tell, 
 " Nature's chief Mafter-pieee is writing well." 7 25 
 
 Such 
 
 VER. 724. Sucbiuas the Mufe ] EJfay on Poetry by 
 the Duke of Buckingham. Our Poet is not the pnly one 
 of his time who complimented this KJfay, and its noble 
 Author. Mr. Dryden had done it very largely in the 
 Dedication to his tranflation of the ./Eneid ; and Dr. 
 Garth in the firfl Edition of his Difpenfary fays, 
 
 The Tyber aavj no courtly Gal/usfeet, 
 Butjmiliit^ Thames enjoys hii Nbimanbyt. 
 
 Tho' afterwards omitted, when parties were carried fo 
 high in the reign of Queen Anne, as to allow no com- 
 mendation to an oppofite in Politics. The Duke was all 
 his life a fleacly adherent to the Church of England Party, 
 yet an enemy to the extravagant inealures of the Court 
 in the reign of Charles II. On which account after 
 having flrongly patronized Mr. Dryden, a coolnefs fuc- 
 ceeded between them on that poet's abiolute attachment 
 to the Court, which carried him fome lengths beyond 
 what the Duke could approve of. This Nobleman's 
 
 true
 
 i26 ESSAY ON CRITICISM. 
 
 Such was Rofcommon, not more learn'd than good, 
 With manners gen'rous as his noble blood ; 
 To him the wit of Greece and Rome was known, 
 And ev'ry author's merit, but his own. 
 Such late was Walfh the Mufe's judge and friend, 
 Who juftly knew to blame or to commend; 731 
 To failings mild, but zealous for defert ; 
 The cleared head, and the fincereft heart. 
 This humble praife, lamented fhade ! receive, 
 This praife at leaft a grateful Mufe may give : 73 j 
 The Mufe, whofe early voice you taught to fing, 
 Prefcrib'd her heights, and prun'd her tender wing, 
 (Her guide now loft) no more attempts to rife, 
 But in low numbers fhort excursions tries : 739 
 Content, if hence th' unlearn'd their wants may view. 
 The learn'd reflect on what before they knew : 
 Carelefs of cenfure, nor too fond of fame ; 
 Still pleas'd to praife, yet not afraid to blame; 
 Averfe alike to flatter, or offend ; 744 
 
 Not free from faults, nor yet too vain to mend. 
 
 true character had been very well marked by Mr.Dryden 
 before, 
 
 the Mufe's friend, 
 
 Himfelf a Mitfe. In Sanadrirfs debate 
 'True to his prince, but not a Jla<ve of jlate. 
 
 Abf. and A chit. 
 
 Our Author was more happy, he was honoured very 
 young with his friendfhip, and it continued till his deatk 
 in ail the circumftances of a familiar efteem.
 
 THE 
 
 RAPE of the LOCK. 
 
 A N 
 
 HEROI-COMICAL 
 
 POEM. 
 
 Written in the Year M DCC xir.
 
 ( 129 ) 
 T O 
 
 Mrs. ARABELLA FERMOR. 
 
 MADAM, 
 
 T T will be in vain to deny that I have fome re- 
 * gard for this piece, fince I dedicate it to You. 
 Yet you may bear me witnefs, it was intended only 
 to divert a few young Ladies, who have good fenfe 
 and good humour enough to laugh not only at their 
 fex's little unguarded follies, but at their own. But 
 as it was communicated with the air of a Secret, it 
 foon found its way into the world. An imperfect co- 
 py having been offer'd to a Bookfeller, you had the 
 good-nature for my fake to confent to the publica- 
 tion of one more corredt : This I was forc'd to, be- 
 fore I had executed half my defign, for the Ma- 
 chinery was entirely wanting to compleat it. 
 
 The Machinery, Madam, is a term invented by 
 the Critics, to fignify that part which the Deities, 
 Angels, or D.tmons are made to act in a Poem : 
 For the ancient Poets are in one refpeft Tike many 
 modern Ladies: let an acTion be never fo trivial in 
 itfelf, they always make it appear of the utmoft 
 importance. Thefe Machines I detcrmin'd to raife 
 on a very new and odd foundation, the Roficrucian 
 doctrine of Spirits. 
 
 I know how difagreeable it is to make ufeof hard 
 words before a Lady ; but 'tis fo much the concern 
 of a Poet to have his works understood, and parti- 
 cularly by your Sex, that you muft give me leave to 
 explain two or three difficult terms. 
 
 The Roficrucians are a people I muft bring you 
 
 acquainted with. The beft account I know of them 
 
 is in a French book call'd l.e Comte de Gabalis, which 
 
 VOL. I. K both
 
 i 3 o EPISTLE. 
 
 both in its tide and fize is fo like a Novel, that ma- 
 ny of the Fair Sex have read it for one by miftake. 
 According to thefe Gentlemen, the four Elements 
 are inhabited by Spirits, which they call Sylphs, 
 Gnomes, Nymphs, and Salamanders. The Gnomes 
 or Daemons of Earth delight in mifchief; but the 
 Sylphs, whofe habitation -K in the Air, arethebeft- 
 condition'd creatures imaginable. For they fay, 
 any mortals may enjoy the moft intimate familiarities 
 with thefe gentle Spirits, upon a condition very eafy 
 to all true Adepts, an inviolate prefervation of 
 Chaftity. 
 
 As to the following Cantos, all the paflages of 
 them are as fabulous, as the Vifion at the beginning, 
 or the Transformation at the end j (except the lofs 
 of your Hair, which I always mention with reve- 
 rence.) The Human perfons are as fititious as the 
 Airy ones ; and the character of Belinda, as it is 
 now manag'd, refembles you in nothing but in 
 Beauty. 
 
 If this Poem had as many Graces as there are in 
 your Perfon, or in your Mind, yet I could never 
 hope it fhould pafs thro' the world half fo Uncen- 
 fur'd as you have done. Bat let its fortune be what 
 it will, mine is happy enough, to have given me 
 this occafion of afllmng you that I am, with the 
 trueft ofteem, 
 
 MADAM, 
 
 Yiiir moft obedient. , bumble Servant, 
 
 A. POPE 
 
 THE
 
 THE 
 
 RAPE of the LOCK. 
 
 * Nolaeram, Belinda, tuos violare capillos ; 
 
 Sed juvat, hoc prccibus me tribuiffc tuis. MA R T. 
 
 CANTO J. 
 
 WHAT dire offence from am'rous caufes 
 fprings, 
 
 What mighty Cornells rife from trivial things, 
 I fing This verfe to CARYL, Mufe ! is due: 
 This, ev'n Belinda may vouchfafc to view : 
 
 K 2 Slight 
 
 * It appears, by this Motto, that the following Poem 
 was written or publifhed at the Lady's requell. But there 
 are fome further circumftances not unworthy relating. 
 Mr. Caryl (a Gentleman who was Secretary to Queen 
 Mary, wife of James II. whofe fortunes he followed in- 
 to France, Author of the Comedy of Sir Solomon Single, 
 and of feveral tranflations in Dryden's Mifcellanies) ori- 
 ginally propofed the iubjedt to him in a view of putting 
 an end, by this piece of ridicule, to a quarrel that was 
 rifen between two noble Families, thofe of Lord Petre 
 and of Mrs. Fermor, on the trifling occafion of his hav- 
 ing cut off a lock of her hair. The Author fen: it to 
 the Lady, with whom he was acquainted ; and (he took 
 it fo well as to give about copies of it. That full (ketch 
 (we learn from one of his Letters) was written in lfs than 
 a fortnight, in 171 1. in two Canto's only, and it was fo 
 printed ; firft, in a Mifcellany of Bern. Lintot's, without 
 the name of the Author. But it was received fo well 
 that he made it mor confidcrable the next year by the 
 
 addition
 
 i 3 2 THE RAPE OF THE LOCK. 
 Slight is the fubjeft, but not fo the praife, 5 
 
 If She infpire, and He approve my lays. 
 
 Say what ftrange motive, Goddefs ! could compel 
 A well-bred Lord t'aflault a gentle Belle ? 
 Oh fay what ftranger caufe, yet unexplor'd, 
 Could make a gentle Belle reject a Lord ? 10 
 
 In tafks fo bold, can little men engage, 
 And in foft bofoms dwells fuch mighty Rage f 
 
 Sol thro' white curtains (hot a tim'rous ray, 
 And ope'd thofe eyes that rnuft eclipfe the day : 
 Now lap-dogs give themfelves the roufing make, 
 And fleeplefs lovers, juft at twelve, awake : 16 
 Thrice rung the bell, the flipper knock'd the ground, 
 And the prefs'd watch feturn'd a filver found. 
 
 Belinda 
 
 addition of the machinery of the Sylphs, and extended 
 it to five Canto's. We fhall give the reader the pleafure 
 of feeing in what manner thefe additions were inferted, 
 fo as to feem not to be added, but to grow out or' the 
 Poem. See Notes, Cant. I. v. 19, etc. P. 
 
 This infertion he always efteemed, and juftly, the 
 greateft effort of \usjkill and art as a Poet. 
 
 VARIATIONS. 
 
 VE R. ii, 12. It was in the firft editions, 
 And dwells fuch rage in foftefl bofoms then, 
 And lodge fuch daring Souls in little Men ? P. 
 
 VER. 13, etc. Stood thus in the firft Edition, 
 Sol thro' white curtains did his beams difplay, 
 And ope'd thofe eyes which brighter fhone than they;- 
 Shock juft had giv'n himfelf the roufing {hake, 
 And Nymphs prepar'd their Chocolate to take ; 
 Thrice the wrought flipper knock'd againft the 
 
 ground, 
 Ar.d ftriking watches the tenth hour refound. P.
 
 THE RAPE OF THE LOCK. 133. 
 
 Belinda ftill her downy pillow preft, 
 Her guardian SYLPH prolong'd the balmy reft: 
 'Twas He had fummon'd to her filcnt bed 2 1 
 
 The morning dream that hover'd o'er her head. 
 A Youth more glitt'ring than a Birth-night Beau, 
 (That ev'a in flumber caus'd her cheek to glow) 
 Seem'd to her ear his winning lips to lay, 25 
 
 And thus in whifpers faid, or feem'd to fay. 
 
 Faireft of mortals, thou diftinguifli'd care 
 Of thoufand bright Inhabitants of Air ! 
 If e'er one Vifion touch thy infant thought, 
 Of all the Nurfe and all the Prieft have taught ; 
 Of airy Elves by moonlight fhadows feen, 31 
 
 The filver token, and the circled green, 
 Or virgins vifited by Angel-pow'rs, 
 With golden crowns and wreaths of heav'nly flow'rs; 
 Hear and believe ! thy own importance know, 35 
 Nor bound thy narrow views to things below. 
 Some fecret truths, from learned pride conceal 'd, 
 To Maids alone and Children are reveal'd : 
 What tho' no credit doubting Wits may give ? 
 The Fair and Innocent (hall ftill believe. 40 
 
 Know then, unnumber'd Spirits round thee fly, 
 The light Militia of the lower fky : 
 Thefe, tho' unfeen, are ever on the wing, 
 Hang o'er the Box, and hover round the Ring. 
 Think what an equipage thou haft in Air, 45 
 
 And view with fcorn two Pages and a Chair. 
 As now your own, our beings were of old, 
 And once inclos'd in Woman's beauteous mould ; 
 K 3 Thence 
 
 VE R . I q. Belinda flill, etc.\ All the vcrfcs frotji hence 
 to the end of this Canto, were added afterwards.
 
 134 THE RAPE OF THE LOCK. 
 
 Thence, by a foft tranfition, we repair 
 
 From earthly Vehicles to thefe of air. 50 
 
 Think not, when Woman's tranfient breath is fled, 
 
 That all her vanities at once are dead j 
 
 Succeeding vanities fhe ftill regards, 
 
 And tho' fhe plays no more, o'erlooks the cards. 
 
 Her joy in gilded Chariots, when alive, 55 
 
 And love of Ombre, after death furvive. 
 
 For when the Fair in all their pride expire, 
 
 To their firft Elements their Souls retire : 
 
 The Sprites of fiery Termagants in Flame 
 
 Mount up, and take a Salamander's name. 6fD 
 
 Soft yielding minds to Water glide away, 
 
 And fip, with Nymphs, their elemental Tea. 
 
 The graver Prude finks downward to a Gnome, 
 
 In fearch of mifchief ftill on Earth to roam. 
 
 The light Coquettes in Sylphs aloft repair, 65 
 
 And fport and flutter in the fields of Air. 
 
 Know farther yet ; whoever fair and chafte 
 Rejects mankind, is by fome Sylph embrac'd : 
 For Spirits, freed from mortal laws, with eafe 
 AiTume what fexes and what fliapes they pleafe. 
 What guards the purity of melting Maids, 
 Jn courtly balls, and midnight mafquerades, 
 Safe from the treach'rous friend, the daring fpark, 
 The glance by day, the whifper in the dark, 
 When kind occafion prompts their warm defires, 
 When mufic foftens, and when dancing fires ? 76 
 
 'Tis 
 IMITATIONS. 
 
 VER. $4, 55. Qu<* gratia c urrum 
 
 j4> morumque fuit c vi i vis, qu<e cura nltentes 
 Pa/fere equos, eadem fequitur ttlhire rcpoflos. 
 
 Virg. JEn. vi. P.
 
 THE RAPE OF THE LOCK 135 
 'Tis but their Sylph, the wife Celeftials know, 
 Tho' Honour is the word with Men below. 
 
 Some nymphs there are, too conicious of their 
 
 face, 
 
 For life predeftin'd to the Gnomes embrace. 8a 
 Thefe fwell their profpects and exalt their pride, 
 When offers are difdain'd, and love deny'd : 
 Then gay Ideas croud the vacant brain, 
 While Peers, and Dukes, and all their fwceping train, 
 And Garters, Stars, and Coronets appear, 85 
 
 And in foft founds, Your Grace falutes their ear. 
 'Tis thefe that early taint the ferrule foul, 
 Inftrudl the eyes of young Coquettes to roll, 
 Teach Infant-cheeks a bidden blufh to know, 
 AndJittle hearts to flutter at a Beau. 90 
 
 Oft, when the World imagine women ftray, 
 The Sylphs thro' myftic mazes guide their way, 
 Thro' all the giddy circle they purfue, 
 And old impertinence expel by new. 
 What tender maid but muft a victim fJI 95 
 
 To one man's treat, but for another's ball ? 
 When Florio fpeaks what virgin could withftand, 
 If gentle Damon did not fqueeze her hand ? 
 With varying vanities, from ev'ry part, 
 Theyfliift the moving Toyfhop of their heart ; 
 
 K 4 Where 
 
 VER. 78- fbo" HOHOW is (be wrJ with Men le/o*v.] 
 Earody of Homer. 
 
 VER-79- tneuiciouiiftbtirface,] i.e. too fettfblc 
 
 of their beauty.
 
 136 THE RAPE OF THE LOCK. 
 
 Where wigs with wigs, with fwcrd-knots fword- 
 knots ftrive, i o i 
 
 Beaux banifh beaux, and coaches coaches drive. 
 This erring mortals Levity may call, 
 Oh blindto truth ! the Sylphs contrive it all. 
 
 Of thefe am I, who thy protection claim, xoj 
 A watchful fprite, and Ariel is my name. 
 Late, as I rang'd the cryftal wilds of air, 
 In the clear Mirror of thy ruling Star 
 I faw, alas ! fome dread event impend, 
 Ere to the main this morning fun defcend, 1 10 
 But heav'n reveals not what, or how, or where : 
 Warn'd by the Sylph, oh pious maid, beware ! 
 This to difclofe is all thy guardian can : 
 Beware of all, but moft beware of Man ! 
 
 He faid j when Shock, who thought (he flept 
 too long, 115 
 
 Leap'd up, and wak'd his miftrefs with his tongue. 
 'Twas then Belinda, if report fay true, 
 Thy eyes firft open'd on a Billet-doux ; 
 Wounds, Charms, and Ardors, were no fooner read, 
 But all the Vifion vanilh'd from thy head. 1 20 
 
 And 
 
 VER: 108. In the clear Mirror] The Language of the 
 PEatonilts, the writers of the intelligible world of Spi- 
 rits, etc. P. 
 
 IMITAT IONS. 
 VER. 101. 
 
 Jam dypeus clypeis, umtrone refeUitur umbo y 
 
 Enfe minax tnfif, peje $es et cufpide cu/pis, t!c> Stat,
 
 THE RAPE OF THE LOCK. 137 
 
 And now, unveil'd, the Toilet ftands difplay'd, 
 Each filver Vafe in myftic order laid. 
 Firft, rob'd in white, the Nymph intent adores, 
 With head uncover'd, the Cofmetic pow'rs. 
 A heav'nly Image in the glafs appears, 1 25 
 
 To that (he bends, to that her eyes (he rears ; 
 
 HI- 
 VE R.I 2 1. Andnonu t uirvtird t ct(^\ The translation of 
 thefe verfes, containing the defcription of the toilette, by 
 our Author's friend Dr. Parnelle, defervejfor their hu- 
 mour, to be here inferted. P. 
 
 Et nunc dileftum fpeculum, pro more reteflum, 
 Emicat in menfa, quae fplendet pyxide deuia : 
 Turn primum lympha, fe purgnt Candida is'ympha, 
 Jamque fmemenda, ccelcftis imago videnda, 
 Nuda caput, bellos retincr, regit, implet ccllos. 
 Hacc ftupet explorans, ecu cultus numen adorans. 
 Inferior claram Pythonifia apparet ad aram, 
 Fertque tibi caute, dicatque Supcrbia. ! lautc. 
 Dona venufta ; oris, quse cundis, plena laboris, 
 Excerpta explorat, dominamque deanique decorat. 
 Pyxide devota, fe pandit hie India tota, 
 EC tota ex ilk trnnfpirat Arabia cifta ; 
 Teftudo hie fleftit, dum fe mea Leibiapeait ; 
 Atque elephas lente, te pettit Lefbia dente ; 
 Hunc maculis noris, nivei jacet ille coloris. 
 Hie jacet ct munde, munaus muliebru abunde , 
 Spinula refplendens sris longo ordine pcndeiu,, 
 Pulvis fuavis odore, et epiftola fuavis amore. 
 Induit arma ergo Veneris pulchcrrima virgo ; 
 Pulchrior in pnfens tempus de tempore crefcenj ; 
 Jam reparat rifus, jam furgit gratia vifus, 
 Jam promit cultu, mirac'Ii latcntia vultu ; 
 Pigmina jam mifcet, quo plui fua Purpura glifcet, 
 Et geminans bellis fplendet mage fulgor ocellis. 
 Stant Lemures muti, Nymphae intentique falut:. 
 Hie figit Zonam, capiti local ille Coronam, 
 Ha:c manicis formam, plicis dat et altcra normain 
 Et tibi vel Betty, tibi vel nitidiffima Ltttjf 
 Gloria faftorum tcmerc conceditur horum.
 
 i 3 S THE RAPE OF THE LOCK. 
 
 Th' inferior Prieftefs, at her altar's fide, 
 
 Trembling, begins the facred rites of Pride. 
 
 Unnumber'd treafures ope at once, and here 
 
 The various ofPrings of the world appear ; i 30 
 
 From each {he nicely culls with curious toil, 
 
 And decks the Goddefs with the glitt'ring fpoil. 
 
 This cafket India's glowing gems unlocks, 
 
 And all Arabia breathes from yonder box. 
 
 The Tortoife here and Elephant unite, 135 
 
 Trans form'd to combs, the fpeckled, and the white. 
 
 Here files of pins extend their fhining rows, 
 
 Puffs, Powders, Patches, Bibles, Billet-doux. 
 
 Now awful Beauty puts on all its arms ; 
 
 The fair each moment rifes in her charms, 140 
 
 Repairs her fmiles, awakens ev'ry grace, 
 
 And calls forth all the wonders of her face j 
 
 Sees by degrees a purer blufli arife, 
 
 And keener lightnings quicken in her eyes. 
 
 The bufy Sylphs furround their darling care, 145 
 
 Thefe fet the head, and thofe divide. the hair, 
 
 Some fold the ileeve, whilft others plait the gown $ 
 
 And Betty's prais'd for labours not her own. 
 
 VER. 145. The bufy Sylphs, etc.] Antient Traditions of 
 the Rabbi's relate, that fcveral of the,fallen Angels be- 
 came amorous of Women, and particulaBy fome; among 
 the reft Afael, who lay with Naamah, the wife of Noah, 
 or of Hum i and who continuing impenitent, ftill pre- 
 fides over the Women's Toilets. Ikrefiu Rabbi in 
 Gcuef. vi. 2. P. 
 
 TBE
 
 THE 
 
 RAPE of the LOCK. 
 
 CANTO II. 
 
 NO T with more glories, in th' etherial plain, 
 The Sun firft rifes o'er the purpled main, 
 Than, ifluing forth, the rival of his beams 
 Launch'd on the bofom of the filver Thames. 
 Fair Nymphs, and well-dreft Youths around her 
 {hone, 5 
 
 But ev'ry eye was fix'd on her alone. 
 On her white breaft a fparkling Crofs fhe wore, 
 Which Jews might kifs, and Infidels adore. 
 Her lively looks a fprightly mind difclofe, 
 Quick as her eyes, and as unfix'd as thofe : 10 
 
 Favours to none, to all (he fmiles extends ; 
 Oft fhe rejects, but never once offends. 
 Bright as the fun, her eyes the gazers flrike, 
 And, like the fun, they fhine on all alike. 
 Yet graceful eafe, and fweetnefs void of pride 15 
 Might hide her faults, if Belles had faults to hide : 
 If to her fhare fome female errors fall, 
 Look on her face, and you'll forget 'cm all. 
 
 This 
 VARIATIONS. 
 
 VER.. 4. Launch" don the bofom} From hence theporm 
 continues, in the firll Edition, to v. 46. 
 
 The reft the winds difpcrs'd in empty air , 
 all after, to the end of this Canto, bciii acdi:ioi.aU P.
 
 i 4 o THE RAPE OF THE LOCK. 
 
 This Nymph, to the deflruition of mankind, 
 Nourifh'd two Locks, which graceful hung behind 
 In equal curls, and well confpir'd to deck 11 
 
 With fhining ringlets the fmooth iv'ry neck. 
 Love in thefe labyrinths his flaves detains, 
 And mighty hearts are held in {lender chains. 
 With hairy fpringes we the birds betray, 25 
 
 Slight lines of hair furprize the finny prey, 
 Fair trefles man's imperial race infnare, 
 And beauty draws us with a Angle hair. 
 
 Th' advent'rous Baron the bright locks admir'd ; 
 He faw, he wilh'd, and to the prize afpir'd. 30 
 Refolv'd to win, he meditates the way, 
 By force to ravifti, or by fraud betray j 
 For when fuccefs a Lover's toil attends, 
 Few afk, if fraud or force attain'd his ends. 
 
 For this, ere Phoebus rofe, he had implor'd 35 
 Propitious hcav'n, and ev'ry pow'r ador'd, 
 But chiefly Love to Love an Altar built, 
 Of twelve vaft French Romances, neatly gilt. 
 There lay three garters, half a pair of gloves j 
 And all the trophies of his former loves ; 40 
 
 With tender Billet-doux he lights the pyre, 
 And breathes three am'rous fighs to raife the fire. 
 Then proftrate falls, and begs with ardent eyes 
 Soon to obtain, and long pofTefs the prize : 
 
 The 
 IMITATIONS. 
 
 VER.Z,. With baby J fringes} In allufion to Ana- 
 creon's manner. 
 
 VER. 28. with a finale hair.] In allufion tO thofe 
 lines of Hudibras, applied to the fame purpofe, 
 And the? it be a tiue fiat Trout t 
 ''Us n.-iih a Jingle hair pull* d out.
 
 THE RAPE OF THE LOCK. 141 
 
 The pow'rs gave car, and granted half his pray'r, 
 The reft, the winds difpen>'d in empty air. 46 
 
 But now fecure the painted veflel glides, 
 The fun-beams trembling on the floating tides : 
 While melting mufic fteals upon the fky, 
 And foften'd founds along the waters die; 50 
 
 Smooth flow the waves, the Zephyrs gently play, 
 Belinda fmil'd, and all the world was gay. 
 All but the Sylph with careful thoughts oppreft, 
 Th' impending woe fat heavy on his bread. 
 He fummons ftrait his Denizens of air; 
 The lucid fquadrons round the fails repair ; 
 Soft o'er the fhrouds aerial whifpers breathe, 
 That feem'd but Zephyrs to the train beneath. 
 Some to the fun their infeft-wings unfold, 
 Waft on the breeze, or fink in clouds of gold ; 
 Tranfparent forms, too fine for mortal fight, 61 
 Their fluid bodies half diflblv'd in light. 
 Loofe to the wind their airy garments flew, 
 Thin glitt'ring textures of the filmy dew, 
 Dipt in the richeft tinclure of the flcies, 65 
 
 Where light difports in ever-mingling dyes, 
 While ev'ry beam new tranfient colours flings, 
 Colours that change whene'er they wave their wings. 
 Amid the circle, on the gilded maft, 
 Superior by the head, was Ariel plac'd ; 70 
 
 His purple pinions op'ning to the fun, 
 He rais'd his azure wand, and thus begun. 
 
 Ye 
 
 IMITATIONS. 
 
 VB R . 45. Tlit pew" rifavt eat ,] Virg. Mn. xi. P. 
 5
 
 i 4 2 THE RAPE OF THE LOCK. 
 
 Ye Sylphs and Sylphids, to your chief give ear, 
 Fays, Fairies, Genii, Elves, and Daemons hear ! 
 Ye know the fpheres and various tafks aflign'd 75 
 By laws eternal to th' aerial kind. 
 Some in the fields of pureft ./Ether play, 
 And bafk and whiten in the blaze of day. 
 Some guide the courfe of wand'ring orbs on high, 
 Or roll the planets thro' the boundlefs fky. 80 
 
 Some lefs refin'd, beneath the moon's pale light 
 Purfue the {tars that ftioot athwart the night, 
 Or fuck the mifts in grofler air below, 
 Or dip their pinions in the painted bow, 
 Or brew fierce tempefts on the wintry main, 85 
 Or o'er the glebe diftil the kindly rain. 
 Others on earth o'er human race prefide, 
 Watch all their ways, and all their actions guide r 
 Of thefe the chief the care of Nations own, 
 And guard with Arms divine the Britifh Throne. 
 
 Our humbler province is to tend. the Fair, 91 
 Not a lefs pleafing, tho' lefs glorious care ; 
 To fave the powder from too rude a gale, 
 Nor let th' imprifon'd eflences exhale ; 
 To draw frefh colours from the vernal flow'rs ; 95 
 To fteal from rainbows e'er they drop in fhow'rs 
 A brighter warn ; to curl their waving hairs, 
 Aflift their blufhes, and infpire their airs ; 
 Nay oft, in dreams, invention we beftow, 
 To change a Flounce, or add a Furbelow. 100 
 This day, black Omens threat the brighteft Fair 
 That e'er deferv'd a watchful fpirit's care j 
 Some dire difafter, or by force, or flight ; 
 But what, or where, the fates have wrapt in night. 
 4 Whether
 
 THE RAPE OF THE LOCK. 143 
 
 Whether the nymph fliall break Diana's Jaw, j j 5 
 Or fome frail China jar receive a flaw ; 
 Or (tain her honour, or her new brocade j 
 Forget her pray'rs, or mifs a mafquerade ; 
 Or lofe her heart, or necklace at a ball j 
 Or whether Heav'n has doom'd that Shock muft 
 fall. IIO 
 
 Hafte then, ye fpirits ! to your charge repair : 
 Theflutt'ringfan be Zephyretta's care; 
 The drops to thee, Brillante, we confign : 
 And, Momentilla, let the watch be thine ; 
 Do thou, Crifpifla, tend her fav'rite Lock ; 115 
 Ariel himfelf Qiall be the guard of Shock. 
 To fifty chofen Sylphs, of fpecial note, 
 We truft th' important charge, the Petticoat : 
 Oftjiave we known that feven-fold fence to fail, 
 Tho' ftiff with hoops, and arm'd with ribs of whale ; 
 Form a ftrong line about the filver bound, 121 
 And guard the wide circumference around. 
 Whatever fpirit, carelefs of his charge, 
 His poft neglecls, or leaves the fair at large, 
 Shall feel fharp vengeance foon o'ertake his fins, 
 Be ftop'd in vials, or transfix'd with pins j 126 
 
 Or plung'd in lakes of bitter wafhes lie, 
 Or wedg'd whole ages in a bodkin's eye: 
 
 Gums 
 
 IMITATIONS. 
 
 VE R. 1 19. c/vfei dominus fcptcinplicis Ajax. Ovid. 
 VER. izi. about tht filler bound] In allufion to the 
 fliield of Achilles, 
 
 'Thus the broad Jhitld ctmpltti tht j'rtift c r/nvn V, 
 With bis /a/I band> aaJ pout 'd tht Ocean r&uni: 
 In living Silver Itirnd tkt ivavtf to roll, 
 Andb(at tht Butkltr*: ver^c, aud bound ihe wlolc.
 
 144 THE RAPE OF THE LOCK. 
 Gums and Pomatums (hall his flight reftrain, 
 While clog'd he beats his filken wings in vain j 
 Or Alum ftyptics with contracting pow'r 1 3 r 
 
 Shrink his thin eiTence like a rivel'd flow'r; 
 Or, as Ixion fix'd, the wretch fhall feel 
 The giddy motion of the whirling Mill, 
 In fumes of burning Chocolate fhall glow, 135 
 And tremble at the fea that froths below ! 
 
 He fpoke ; the fpirits from the fails defcend ; 
 Some, orb in orb, around the nymph extend ; 
 Some thrid the mazy ringlets of her hair ; 
 Some hang upon the pendants of her ear ; 1 40 
 With beating hearts the dire event they wait, 
 Anxious, and trembling for the birth of Fate. 
 
 THE
 
 ( 145 ) 
 THE 
 
 RAPE of the LOCK. 
 
 CANTO m. 
 
 CLOSE by thofe meads, for evercrown'd with 
 flow'rs, 
 
 Where Thames with pride furveys his rifing tow'rs, 
 There ftands a ftru&ure of majeftic frame, 
 Which from the neighb'ring Hampton takes ks 
 
 name. 
 
 Here Britain's ftatefmen oft the fall foredoom 5 
 Of foreign Tyrants, ; nd of Nymphs at home ; 
 Here thou, great ANNA ! whom three realms obey, 
 Doft fometimes counfel take and fometimes Tea. 
 
 Hither the heroes and the nymphs refort, 
 To tafte awhile the pleafures of a Court ; re 
 
 In various talk th' inftruclive hours they paft, 
 Who gave the ball, or paid the vifit laft; 
 One fpeaks the glory of the Britifh Queen, 
 And one defcribes a charming Indian fcreen j 
 A third interprets motions, looks, and eyes ; 1 5 
 At ev'ry word a reputation dies. 
 
 VARIATIONS. 
 
 VER. i. Clofeby tbofe wW/,] The firft Edition con- 
 tinues from this line to v. 24. of this Canto. P. 
 VER. H, 12. Originally in the full Edition, 
 In various talk the chearful hours they palf, 
 Of, who was bit, or who capotted laft. P. 
 
 VOL. I. L Snuff,
 
 146 THE RAPE OF THE LOCK, 
 
 Snuff, or the fan, fupply each paufe of chat, 
 With finging, laughing, ogling, and all that. 
 
 Mean while, declining from the noon of day, 
 The fun obliquely fhoots his burning ray j 2 
 
 The hungry Judges foon the fentence fign, 
 And wretches hang that jury-men may dine ; 
 The merchant from th' Exchange returns in peace, 
 And the long labours of the Toilet ceafe. 
 Belinda now, whom thirft of fame invites, 25 
 Burns to encounter two advent' rous Knights, 
 At Ombre fingly to decide their doom ; 
 And fwells her breaft with conquefts yet to come. 
 Strait the three bands prepare in arms to join, 
 Each band the number of the facred nine. 33 
 
 Soon as fhe fpreads her hand, th' aerial guard 
 Defcend, and fit on each important card : 
 Firft Ariel perch 'd upon a Matadore, 
 Then each, according to the rank they bore ; 
 For Sylphs, yet mindful of their ancient race, 35 
 Are, as when women, wondrous fond of place. 
 
 Behold, four Kings in majefty rever'd, 
 With hoary whifkers and a forky beard j 
 And four fair Queens whofe hands fuftain a flowV, 
 Th' expreffive emblem of their fofter pow'r ; 49 
 Four Knaves in garbs fuccinc~r, a trufty band, 
 Caps on their heads, and halberts in their hand j 
 And particolour'd troops, a (hining train, 
 Draw forth to combat on the velvet plain, 
 
 The 
 VARIATIONS. 
 
 VE R. 24. And the long labours of the Toilet ceafe. "] All 
 that follows of the game at Ombre, was added fince the 
 firft Edition, till v. 105. \vhichconne6led thus, 
 
 Sadden the beard with caps and fpoons is crown 'd. P.
 
 THE RAPE OF THE LOCK. 147 
 
 The fldlful Nymph reviews her force with care : 
 Let Spades be trumps ! fhe faid, and trumps they 
 were. 4 6 
 
 Now move to war her fable Matadores, 
 In (how like leaders of the fwarthy Moors. 
 Spadillio firft, unconquerable Lord ! 
 Led off two captive trumps, and fwept the board. 
 As many more Manillio forc'd to yield, 51 
 
 And march'd a victor from the verdant field. 
 Him Baflo follow'd, but his fate more hard 
 Gain'd but one trump and one Plebeian card. 
 With his broad fabre next, a chief in years, 55 
 The hoary Majefty of Spades appears, 
 Puts forth one manly leg, to fight reveal 'd, 
 The reft, his many-colour'd robe conceal'd. 
 The rebel Knave, who dares his prince engage, 
 Proves the juft victim of his royal rage. 60 
 
 Ev'n mighty Pam, that Kings and Queens o'erthrew 
 Andmow'd down armies in the fights of Lu, 
 Sad chance of war ! now deftitute of aid, 
 Falls undiftinguifti'd by the victor Spade ! 
 
 Thus far both armies to Belinda yield ; 65 
 
 Now to the Baron fate inclines the field". 
 His warlike Amazon her hoft invades, 
 Th' imperial confort of the crown of Spades. 
 The Club's black Tyrant firft her viftim dy'd, 
 Spite of his haughty mien, and barb'rous pride : 
 
 L 2 What 
 
 VER. 47. Now mwe to ivar, etc.} The whole idea of 
 this defcription of a game at Ombre, is taken from Vi- 
 da's description of a game at Chefc, in his poem inut. 
 S',a(C ! .ia Ludut*
 
 j 4 8 THE RAPE OF THE LOCK. 
 What boots the regal circle on his head, 7 1 
 
 His giant limbs, in ftate unwieldy fpread ; 
 That long behind he trails his pompous robe, 
 And, of all monarchs, only grafps the globe ? 
 The Baron now his Diamonds pours apace ; 75 
 Th' embroider'd King who fhows but half his face, 
 And his refulgent Queen, with pow'rs combin'd 
 Of broken troops an eafy conqueft find. 
 Clubs, Diamonds, Hearts, in wild diforder feen, 
 With throngs promifcuous ftrow the level green. 
 Thus when difpers'd a routed army runs, 8 1 
 
 Of Afia's troops, and Afric's fable fons, 
 With like confufion different nations fly, 
 Of various habit, and of various dye, 
 The pierc'd battalions dif-united fall, 85 
 
 In heaps on heaps j one fate o'erwhelms them all. 
 
 The Knave of Diamonds tries his wily arts, 
 And wins (oh {hameful chance !) the Queen of 
 
 Hearts. 
 
 At this, the blood the virgin's cheek forfook, 
 A livid palenefs fpreads o'er all her look ; 93 
 
 She fees, and trembles at th' approaching ill, 
 Juft in the jaws of ruin, and Codille. 
 And now, (as oft in fome diftemper'd State) 
 On one nice Trick depends the gen'ral fate. 
 An Ace of Hearts fteps forth : The King unfeen 
 Lurk'd in her hand, and mourn'd his captive Queen : 
 He fprings to vengeance with an eager pace, 
 And falls like thunder on the proftrate Ace. 
 The nymph exulting fills with fhouts the fky ; 
 The walls, the woods, and long canals reply. i oo 
 
 O thought-
 
 THE RAPE OF THE LOCK. 149 
 
 O thoughtlefs mortals ! ever blind to fate, 
 Too foon deje&ed, and too foon elate. 
 Sudden, thefe honours (hall be fnatch'd away, 
 And curs'd for ever this victorious day. 
 
 For lo ! the board with cups and fpoons is crown'd, 
 The berries crackle, and the mill turns round j i 06 
 On mining Altars of Japan they raife 
 The filver lamp ; the fiery fpirits blaze : 
 From filver fpouts the grateful liquors glide, 
 While China's earth receives the fmoaking tide : 
 At once they gratify their fcent and tafte, 1 1 1 
 
 And frequent cups prolong the rich repafte. 
 Strait hover round the Fair her airy band ; 
 Some, as fhe fipp'd, the fuming liquor fann'd, 
 Some o'er her lap their careful plumcsdifplay'd, 
 Trembling, and confcious of the rich brocade. 1 1 6 
 Coffee, (which makes the politician wife, 
 And fee thro' all things with his half-fhut eyes) 
 Sent up in vapours to the Baron's brain 
 New ftratagems, the radiant Lock to gain. J 20 
 Ah ceafe, rafti youth ! defifl ere 'tis too late, 
 Fear the juft Gods, and think of Scylla's Fate ! 
 
 L 3 Chang'd 
 
 VER. 122. and ttnnk of Sglla'i Fate f] Vide Ovid 
 Metam. viii. P. 
 
 VAR IATIONS. 
 
 VER. 105. Sudden the board, etc.] From hence, the 
 firft Edition continues to v. 134. P. 
 
 IMITATIONS. 
 VER. lot. 
 
 Nefcia mem bowinum f,>ti fortifquc Jutnr<t t 
 Et fervor e moJitm, rebut fublatafec undit f 
 Turno tempus erit, ftagno cum optavtrit evftum 
 Intaflum Pallanta ; tt curnffa/ia ijla ditmqut 
 Qderit Virgf.
 
 150 THE RAPE OF THE LOCK. 
 
 Chang'd to a bird, and fent to flit in air, 
 
 She dearly pays for Nifus' injur'd hair ! 124 
 
 But when to mifchief mortals bend their will, 
 How foon they find fit inftruments of ill ? 
 Juft then, Clarifla drew with tempting grace 
 A two-edg'd weapon from her fhining cafe : 
 So Ladies in Romance aflift their Knight, 
 Prefent the fpear, and arm him for the fight. 1 3 
 He takes the gift with rev'rence, and extends 
 The little engine on his finger's ends j 
 This juft behind Belinda's neck he fpread. 
 As o'er the fragrant fleams (he bends her head. 
 Swift to the Lock a thoufand Sprites repair, 1 35 
 A thoufand wings, by turns, blow back the hair; 
 And thrice they twitch'd the diamond in her ear ; 
 Thrice flie look'd back, and thrice the foe drew 
 
 near. 
 
 Juft in that inftant, anxious Ariel fought 
 The clofe recefTes of the Virgin's thought; 140 
 As on the nofegay in her breaft reclin'd, 
 He watch'd th' Ideas rifing in her mind, 
 Sudden he view'd, in fpite of all her art, 
 An earth'y Lover lurking at her heart. 
 Amaz'd, confus'd, he found his pow'r expired, 
 Refign'd to fate, and with a figh retir'd. 
 
 The 
 
 VARIATIONS. 
 
 VER. 134. In the firft Edition it was thus, 
 As o'er the fragrant fleam fhe bends her head. 
 Firft.he expands the glitt'r-ing fcrfex wide 
 T" inclofe the Lock ; then joins it to divide : 
 The meeting points the facred hair difiever, 
 From the fair head, forever and for ever. v. 154. 
 All that is between was added afterwards. P.
 
 THE RAPE OF THE LOCK. 151 
 
 The Peer now fpreads the glitt'ring Forfex wide, 
 T' inclofe the Lock ; now joins it, to divide. 
 Ev'n then, before the fatal engine clos'd, 
 A wretched Sylph too fondly interpos'd ; i jo 
 
 Fate urg'd the fheers, and cut the Sylph in twain, 
 (But airy fubftance foon unites again) 
 The meeting points the facred hair diflever 
 From the fair head, forever, and for ever ! 154 
 
 Then flafh'd the living lightning from her eyes, 
 And fcreams of horror rend th' affrighted fldes. 
 Not louder (hrieks to pitying heav'n are caft, 
 When hufbands, or when lapdogs breathe their laft j 
 Or when rich China veflels fall'n from high, 
 In glitt'ring duft, and painted fragments lie ! 160 
 
 Let wreaths of triumph now my temples twine, 
 (The Victor cry'd) the glorious Prize is mine ! 
 While fifh in ftreams, or birds delight in air, 
 Or in a coach and fix the Britifh Fair, 
 As long as Atalantis fhall be read, 165 
 
 Or the fmall pillow grace a Lady's bed, 
 While vifits fha.l be paid on folemn days, 
 When num'rous wax-lights in bright order blaze, 
 While nymphs take treats, or aflignations give, 1 69 
 So long my honour, name, and praife fhall live ! 
 
 L 4 What 
 
 VER. 152. But airy fubflance'} See Milton, lib. vi. 
 of Satan cut afundcr by the Angel Michael. P. 
 
 VER. 165. dtalintii] A famous book written about 
 that time by a woman : full of Court, and Party -fcanda! ; 
 and in a loole effeminacy of ilyle and fentiment, which 
 well fuhed the debauched tafte of the better Vulgar. 
 I M I T A T 1 O N S. 
 
 VER. 163, 170. 
 
 Dumjuga mantis aptr, Jtui'ioi dum pifcit amabit, 
 Scmt><r honot, nomenyue tuum laudt/qne mantbunt.
 
 T52 THE RAPE OF THE LOCK. 
 What Time would fpare, from Steel receives itc 
 
 date, 
 
 And monuments, like men, fubmit to fate ! 
 Steel could the labour of the Gods deftroy, 
 And ftrike to duft th' imperial tow'rs of Troy ; 
 Steel could the works of mortal pride confound, 
 And hew triumphal arches to the ground. 176 
 
 What wonder then, fair nymph ! thy hairs fhould 
 
 feel, 
 The conqu'ring force of unrefifted fteel ? 
 
 IMITATIONS. 
 
 ViR.177- 
 
 Jlle quoque tverfus mons eft , etc. 
 
 Quid fad ant crittes, cum ferro talia cedant ? 
 
 Catull. de com. Berenice?. 
 
 THE
 
 ( 153) 
 THE 
 
 RAPE of the LOCK. 
 
 CANTO IV. 
 
 BUT anxious cares the penfivc nymph op- 
 prefs'd, 
 
 And fecret paffions labour'd in her breaft. 
 Not youthful kings in battle feiz'd alive, 
 Notfcornful virgins who their charms furvive, 
 Not ardent lovers robb'd of all their blifs, 5 
 
 Not ancient ladies when refus'd a kifs, 
 Not tyrants fierce that unrepenting die, 
 Not Cynthia when her manteau's pinn'd awry, 
 E'er felt fuch rage, refentment, and defpair, 
 As thou, fad Virgin ! for thy ravifh'd Hair. 10 
 For, that fad moment, when the Sylphs withdrew, 
 And Ariel weeping from Belinda flew, 
 
 Urn- 
 
 VARIATIONS. 
 
 VER. ii. For that fad moment, etc.] All the Iinr<- from 
 hence to the 94th verfe thatdefcribe the houfc of Spleen 
 are not in the firlt Edition ; inllead of them followed 
 only thefe, 
 
 While her rack'd Soul repofe and peace requires, 
 The fierce Thaleftris fans the fifing fires. 
 And continued at the 94th Vcrfc of this Canto. P. 
 
 IMITATIONS. 
 VE*. I. Virg. jEn. iv. At regina gravi, etc. P.
 
 154 THE RAPE OF THE LOCK. 
 Umbriel, a dufky, melancholy fpritc, 
 As ever fully'd the fair face of light, 
 Down to the central earth, his proper fcene, i 
 Repair'd to fearch the gloomy Cave of Spleen. 
 
 Swift on his footy pinions flits the Gnome, 
 And in a vapour reach'd the difmal dome. 
 No chearful breeze this fullen region knows, 
 The dreaded Eaft is all the wind that blows. 2f 
 Here in a grotto, fhelter'd clofe from air, 
 And fcreen'd in fliades from day's detefted glare, 
 She fighs for ever on her penfive bed, 
 Pain at her fide, and Megrim at her head. 
 
 Two handmaids wait the throne : alike in place 
 But differing far in figure and in face. 
 Here ftood 111 nature like an ancient maid, 
 Her wrinkled form in black and white array'd j 
 With ftore of pray'rs, for mornings, nights, and 
 
 noons, 
 
 Her hand is fill'd ; her bofom with lampoons. 30 
 There Affectation, with a fickly mien, 
 Shows in her cheek the rofes of eighteen, 
 Pra&is'd to lifp, and hang the head afide, 
 Faints into airs, and languifhes with pride, 
 On the rich quilt finks with becoming woe, 35 
 Wrapt in a gown, for ficknefs, and for mow. 
 The fair-ones feel fuch maladies as thefe, 
 When each new night- drefs gives a new difeafe. 
 
 A conftant Vapour o'er the palace flies j 
 Strange phantoms rifing as the mifts arife j 40 
 
 Dreadful, as hermit's dreams in haunted fhades, 
 Or bright, as vifions of expiring maids. 
 
 Now
 
 THE RAPE OF THE LOCK. 155 
 
 Now glaring fiends, and fnakes on rolling fpires, 
 Pale fpeclres, gaping tombs, and purple fires: 
 Now lakes of liquid gold, Elyfian fcenes, 4$ 
 
 And cryftal comes, and Angels in machines. 
 
 Unnumber'd throngs on ev'ry fide are feen, 
 Of bodies chang'd to various forms by Spleen. 
 Here living Tea-pots ftand, one arm held out, 
 One bent j the handle this, and that the fpout : 
 A Pipkin there, like Homer's Tripod walks ; 51 
 Here fighs a Jar, and there a Goofe-pye talks ; 
 Men prove with child, as pow'rful fancy works, 
 And maids turn'd bottles, call aloud for corks. 
 
 Safe paft the Gnome thro' this fantaftic band, 
 A branch of healing Spleenwort in his hand. 
 Then thus addrefs'd the pow'r Hail wayward 
 
 Queen! 
 
 Who rule the fex to fifty from fifteen : 
 Parent of vapours and of female wit, 
 Who give th' hyfteric, or poetic fit, 60 
 
 On various tempers a& by various ways, 
 Make feme take phyfic, others fcribble plays ; 
 Whocaufethe proud their vifits to delay, 
 And fend the godly in a pet to pray. 
 A nymph there is, that all thy pow'r difdains, 6j 
 And thoufands more in equal mirth maintains. 
 
 But 
 
 IMITATIONS. 
 
 VER. 51. Homer's Tripod 'walks;} See Horn. Iliad 
 jxviii. of Vulcan's walking Tripods. 
 
 VER. 52. nnJth.rea Goofe-fvt talk-.] Alludes to * 
 real faft, a Lady of d-ilintfion imagin'u herfelf in diii 
 condition. P. *
 
 156 THE RAPE OF THE LOCK: 
 
 But oh ! if e'er thy Gnome could fpoil a grace, 
 
 Or rai(e a pimple on a beauteous face, 
 
 Like Citron-waters matrons cheeks inflame, 
 
 Or change, complexions at a lofing game ; 7* 
 
 If e'er with airy horns I planted 'heads, 
 
 Or rumpled petticoats, or tumbled beds, 
 
 Or caus'd fufpicion when no foul was rude, 
 
 Or difcompos'd the head-drefs of a Prude, 
 
 Or e'er to coftive lap-dog gave difeafe . 75 
 
 Which not the tears of brighteft eyes could cafe : 
 
 Hear me, and touch Belinda with chagrin, 
 
 That fingle act gives half the world the fpleen. 
 
 The Goddefs with a difcontented air 
 Seems to reject him, tho' fhe grants his pray'r. 80 
 A wond'rous Bag with both her hands fhe binds, 
 Like* that where once Ulyfles held the winds j 
 There fhe collects the force of female lungs, 
 Sighs, fobs, and pafilons, and the war of tongues. 
 A Vial next fhe fills with fainting fears, 85 
 
 Soft forrows, melting griefs, and flowing tears. 
 The Gnome rejoicing bears her gifts away, 
 Spreads his black wings, and flowly mounts to day. 
 
 Sunk in Thaleftris' arms the nymph he found, 
 Her eyes dejected, and her hair unbound. go 
 
 Full o'er their heads the fwelling bag he rent, 
 And all the Furies ifiu'd at the vent. 
 Belinda burns with more than mortal ire, 
 And fierce Thaleftris fans the rifing fire. 
 O wretched maid ! fhe fpread her hands, and cry'd, 
 (While Hampton';? echoes, wretched maid ! reply'd) 
 Was it for this you took fuch conftant care 
 The, bodkin, comb, and eflence to prepare ? 
 
 For
 
 THE RAPE OF THE LOCK. 157 
 
 For this your locks in paper durance bound, 
 For this with tort'ring irons wreath 'd around ? i oo 
 For this with fillets ftrain'd your tender head, 
 And bravely bore the double loads of lead ? 
 Gods ! fliall the ravi/her difplay your hair, 
 While the Fops envy, and the Ladies ftare ! 
 Honour forbid ! at whofe unrival'd fhrine 105 
 Eafe, pleafure, virtue, all our fex refign. 
 Methinks already I your tears furvey, 
 Already hear the horrid things they fay, 
 Already feyou a degraded toaft, 
 And all your honour in a whifper loft ! no 
 
 How fhall I, then, your helplefs fame defend ? 
 'Twill then be infamy to feem your friend ! 
 And fhall this prize, th' ineftimable prize, 
 Expos'd thro' cryftal to the gazing eyes, 
 And heighten'd by the diamond's circling rays, 
 On that rapacious hand for ever blaze ? 1 16 
 
 Sooner fhall grafs in Hyde-park Circus grow, 
 And wits take lodgings in the found of Bow j 
 Sooner let earth, air, fea, to Chaos fall, 
 Men, monkeys, 'ap-dogs, parrots, perifh all ! 120 
 
 She faid ; then raging to Sir Plume repairs, 
 And bids her Beau demand the precious hairs : 
 (Sir Plume of amber fnuff-box juftly vain, 
 And the nice conduct of a clouded cane) 
 
 With 
 
 V E R 121. Sir Plume refit irs.] Sir G eorge Brown . lie 
 was the only one of the Party v/ho took the thing fe- 
 rioufly. He was angry, that the Poet fhould make him 
 talk nothing bat nonfenfe ; and, in truth, one could not 
 well blame him.
 
 i^S THE RAPE OF THE LOCK. 
 
 With earneft eyes, and round unthinking face, 1 25 
 
 He firft the fnuff-box open'd, then the cafe, 
 
 And thus broke out " My Lord, why, what the 
 
 " devil ? 
 * Z ds ! damn the lock ! 'fore Gad, you muft he 
 
 " civil ! 
 
 ** Plague bn't ! 'tis pair, a jeft nay prithee, pox ? 
 " Give her the hair" he fpoke, and rapp'd his box. 
 
 It grieves me much (reply'd the Peer again) 
 Who fpeaks fo well fhould ever fpeak in vain. 
 But by this Lock, this facred Lock I fwear, 
 (Which never more fhall join its parted hair; 
 Which never more its honours (hall renew, 1 35 
 Clip'd from the lovely head where late it grew) 
 That while my noftrils draw the vital air, 
 This hand, which won it, fhall for ever wear. 
 He fpoke, and fpeaking, in proud triumph fpread 
 The long-contended honours of her head. 140 
 But Umbriel, hateful Gnome ! forbears not fo $ 
 He breaks the Vial whence the forrows flow. 
 Then fee ! the nymph in beauteous grief appears, 
 Her eyes half-languifhing, half-drown'd in tears ; 
 On her heav'd bofom hung her drooping head, 
 Which, with a figh, flie rais'd $ and thus flie faid : 
 
 For 
 
 VER. 141. Put Umbriel, hateful Gnome! forbears not 
 fo ; He breaks the VitJ whence tbeforroivsfaw.] Thefe 
 two lines are additional ; aod aflign the caule of the 
 different operation on the Paffions of the two Ladies. 
 The poem went on before without that dillinftion, as 
 without any Machinery to the end of the Canto. P. 
 IMITATIONS. 
 
 VER. 133. But by this Lock,'] In allufion to AchiHei T s 
 oath in Homer, II. i. P,
 
 THE RAPE OF THE LOCK. 153 
 
 For ever curs'd be this detefted day, 
 Which fnatch'd my beft, my fav'rite curl away ! 
 Happy ! ah ten times happy had I been, 
 If Hampton-Court thefe eyes had never fecn ! 159 
 Yet am not I the firft miftaken maid 
 By love of Courts to num'rous ills betray'd. 
 Oh had I rather un-admir'd remain'd 
 In fome lone ifle, or diftant Northern land ; 
 "Where the gilt Chariot never marks the way, j^6 
 Where none learn Ombre, none e'er tafte Bohea ! 
 There kept my charms conceal 'd from mortal eye. 
 Like rofes, that in deferts bloom and die. 
 What mov'd my mind with youthful Lords to roam ? 
 O had I ftay'd, and faid my pray'rs at home ! 1 6O 
 'Twas this, the morning omens feem'd to tell, 
 Thrice from my trembling hand the patch-box fell & 
 The tott'ring China fhook without a wind, 
 Nay Poll fat mute, and Shock was moft unkind ! 
 A Sylph loowarn'd me of the threats of fate, 165 
 In myftic vifions, now believ'd too late ! 
 See the poor remnants of thefe flighted hairs ! 
 My hands (hall rend what ev'n thy rapine fparei ; 
 Thefe in two fable ringlets taught to break, 
 Once gave new beauties to the fnowy neck j 170 
 The fifter-lock now fits uncouth, alone, 
 And in its fellow's fate forefees its own ; 
 Uncurl 'd it hangs, the fatal fheers demands, 
 And tempts once more, thy facrilegious hands. 
 Oh hadft thou, cruel ! been content to fcize 1:5 
 Hairs lefs in fight, or any hairs but thefe ! 
 
 THE
 
 160 
 
 THE 
 
 RAPE of the LOCK. 
 
 CANTO V. 
 
 SHE faid : the pitying audience melt in tears. 
 But Fate and Jove had ftopp'd the Baron's ears. 
 In vain Thaleftris with reproach afTails, 
 For who can move when fair Belinda fails ? 
 Not half fo fix'd the Trojan could remain, 5 
 
 While Anna begg'd and Dido rag'd in vain. 
 Then grave ClariiTa graceful wav'd her fan ; 
 Silence enfu'd, and thus the nymph began. 
 
 Say why are Beauties prais'd and honour'd moft, 
 The wife man's paflion, and the vain man's toaft ? 
 
 Why 
 
 VARIATIONS. 
 
 VER. 7. Iben grave ClariJJa, etc.] A new Charafter 
 introduced in the fubfequenr Editions, to open more 
 clearly the MORAL of the Poem, in a parody of the 
 fpeech of Sarpedon to G:aucus in Homer. P. 
 
 IMITATIONS. 
 VE R . Q. Say why are Beauties, etc.~\ 
 
 Why boa ft ive , Gluucus ! our extended reign, 
 Where XanthuS Jtreams enrich the Lycin plain ; 
 Our numerous herds that range tbifrviff/-Jitl/ t 
 jlnd hills 'where vines their purple hu> i>;ji yield ; 
 Our foaming bo~Mli ivji-' purtf ntfl : cro'vjri'd t 
 Our feajh enhanced with mufiisjpnghtly found ; 
 
 Why
 
 THE RAPE OF THE LOCK. 161 
 
 Why de.k'd with all that land and fca afford, 
 Why Angels call'd, and Angel-like ador'd ? 
 Why round our coaches croud the white-glovM 
 
 Beaux, 
 
 Why bows the fide-box from its inmoft rows ? 
 How vain are all thefe glories, all our pains, 15 
 Unlefs good fenfe prelerve what beauty gains : 
 That men may fay, when we the front-box grace, 
 Behold the firft in virtue as in face ! 
 
 Oh ! if to dance all night, and drefs all day, 
 
 Charm'd the fmall-pox, or chas'd old age away ; 
 
 Who would not fcorn what houfewife's cares pro- 
 duce, 
 
 Or who would learn one earthly thing of ufe ? 
 
 To patch, nay ogle, might become a Saint, 
 
 Nor could itfure befuch a fin to paint. 
 
 Why on thofejhores are iue naitb jey fuwfy 'd I 
 ddmir'd as heroes, and as Gods obeyed ; 
 Unlefs great aSsfuterior merit prove, 
 Jln.i vindicate the bounteous povo'rs above f 
 'Tis ours, the dignity they give t to grace j 
 Thefirft in valour, as the firft in place : 
 That vuben with ivond'ring eyes our martial bandi 
 Behold our deeds tranfcending our command), 
 Such, they may cry, deferve the fov reign ftate, 
 Whom thofe that emy, dare not imitate 
 Could all our care elude the gloomy grave, 
 Which claims no lefs the fearful than the bravt, 
 For lujl of fame I Jhauld not v.iinly dart 
 In fighting fields, nor urge thy foul to war. 
 But fence, alas ! ignoble age muft come, 
 Difeafe, and deaths inexorable doom ; 
 The life which others pay, let us bejio<w. 
 And give to fame vahat nvt to nature ow ; 
 Brave tho 1 we full, and honoured if ie /iv:, 
 Or let us glory gain, or ghry give. 
 
 VOL. I. M But
 
 i62 THE RAPE OF THE LOCK. 
 
 But fmce, alas ! frail beauty muft decay, 25 
 
 Curl'd or uncurl'd, fmce Locks will turn to grey 5 
 Since painted, or not painted, all ihall fade, 
 And fhe who fcorns a man, muft die a maid ; 
 What then remains, but well our pow'r to ufe, 
 And keep good-humour ftill whate'er we lofe ? 30 
 And truft me, dear I good-humour can prevail, 
 When airs, and flights, and fcreams, and fcolding 
 
 fail. 
 
 Beauties in vain their pretty eyes may roll ; 
 Charms ftrikc the fight, but merit wins the foul. 
 
 - So fpoke the Dame, but no applaufe enfu'd j 35 
 Belinda frown'd, Thaleftris call'd her Prude. 
 To arms, to arms I the fierce Virago cries, 
 And fwift as lightning to the combat flies. 
 All fide in parties, and begin th' attack ; 
 Fans clap, filks rufsle, and tough whalebones crack ; 
 Heroes and Heroines fhouts confus'dly rife, 41 
 And bafe, and treble voices ftrike the ikies. 
 No common weapons in their hands are found, 
 Like Gods they fight, nor dread a mortal wound. 
 
 So when bold Homer makes the Gods engage, 
 And heav'nly breafts with human paffions rage ; 
 
 'Gainft 
 
 VSR. 4J. S wbtn lott Homer} Homer, II. xx. P. 
 
 V A R 1- A T I O N S. 
 
 VE R . 37. To arms, to arms!~\ From hence the firft Edi- 
 tion goes on to the Conclufion, except a very few fhort 
 infertions added, to keep the Machinery in view to the 
 end of the poenu P. 
 
 I M I T A T 1 O N S. 
 
 VER. 35. So fake the Damt,~\ It is a verfe frequently 
 repeated in Homer after any fpeech, 
 
 So /poke and all the Her ot t apf/utlf<t. P.
 
 THE RAPE OF THE LOCK. 163 
 'Gainft Pallas, Mars j Latona, Hermei arms j 47 
 And all Olympus rings with loud alarms : 
 Jove's thunder roars, heav'n trembles all around, 
 Blue Neptune ftorms, the bellowing deeps refound: 
 Earth (hakes her nodding tow'rs, the ground gives 
 way, 5 i 
 
 And the pale ghoils ftart at the flam of day ! 
 Triumphant Umbriel on a fconce's height 
 Clap'd his glad wings, and fate to view the fight : 
 Prop'd on their bodkin fpears, the Sprites furvey 
 The growing combat, or affift the fray. 56 
 
 While thro' the prefs enrag'd Thaleftris flies, 
 And fcatters death around from both her eyes, 
 A Beau and Witling perifh'd in the throng, 
 One dy'd in metaphor, and one in fong. 60 
 
 ' Oh cruel nymph ! a living death I bear, 
 Cry'd Dapperwit, and funk befide his chair. 
 A mournful glance Sir Fopling upwards caft, 
 " Thofe eyes are made fo killing was his laft. 
 Thus on Mseander's flow'ry margin lies 6$ 
 
 Th' expiring Swan, and as he fings he dies. 
 
 When bold Sir Plume had drawn Clarifla down, 
 Chloe ftepp'd in, and kill'd him with a frown j 
 
 M 2 She 
 
 VARIATION!. 
 
 VER. 53. Triumphant Umbriel] Thcfc four lines add- 
 ed, for the reafon before mentioned. P. 
 
 IMITATION*. 
 
 VER. 53. Triumphant Umbriel} Minerva in like man- 
 
 er, during the Battle of Ulyflcs with the Suitors in 
 
 Odyff. perches on a beam of the roof to behold it. P. 
 
 VER. 64. Tbofe eyes art made fo killing] The words of 
 
 a Song in the Opera of Camilla. P. 
 
 VE R. 6c. Thus en Murunder t flow > y mar fin lits\ 
 Sic ubifata vacant, udit abjeHiu in htrbis. 
 
 Ad vada Maatdri cancinit elbui alar. Ov. Ep. P.
 
 1 64 THE RAPE OF THE LOCK. 
 
 She fmil'd to fee the doughty heroe flain, 
 
 But, at her fmile, the Beau reviv'd again. 70 
 
 Now Jove fufpends his golden fcales in air, 
 Weighs the Mens wits againft the Lady's hair ; 
 The doubtful beam long nods from fide to fide; 
 At length the wits mount up, the hairs fubfide. 
 
 See fierce Belinda on the Baron flies, 75 
 
 With more than ufual lightning in her eyes : 
 Nor fear'd the Chief th' unequal fight to try, 
 Who fought no more than on his foe to die.. 
 But this bold Lord with manly ftrength endu'd, 
 She with one finger and a thumb fubdu'd : . 8p 
 Juft where the breath of life his noftrils drew, 
 A charge of Snuff the wily virgin threw; 
 The Gnomes direct, to ev'ry atom juft, 
 The pungent grains of titillating duft. 
 Sudden, with ftarting tears each eye o'erflows, 85 
 And the high dome re-echoes to his nofe. 
 
 Now meet thy fate, incens'd Belinda cry'd. 
 And drew a deadly bodkin from her fide. 
 (The fame, his ancient perfonage to deck, 
 Her great great grandfire wore about his neck, 90 
 In three feal-rings ; which after, melted down, 
 Form'd a vaft buckle for his widow's gown : 
 Her infant grandame's whiftle next it grew, 
 The bells file jingled, and the whiftle blew; 
 
 Then 
 
 V E R . 71 Now Jtve, etc.] Vid. Homer 11. viii. and 
 Virg. An. xii. P. 
 
 IMITATION ;. 
 
 VER 83. TbeGiremts dretf,] Thefe two lines added 
 for the above mifon. P. 
 
 VER. ?9- Tbcjatne, his ancient f>erfetia%e to deck.~\ In 
 imitation of the progreis of Agamemnon's fceptre in 
 Homer, II. ii. P. 6
 
 THE RAPE OF THE LOCK. 165 
 
 Then in a bodkin grac'd her mother's hairs, 95 
 Which long fhe wore, and now Belinda wears.) 
 
 Boaft not my fall (hecry'd) infultingfoe! 
 Thou by fome other (halt be hid as low. 
 Nor think, to die deje&s my lofty mind: 
 All that I dread is leaving you behind ! ICO 
 
 Rather than fo, ah let me ftill furvive, 
 And burn in Cupid's flames, but burn alive. 
 
 Reftore the Lock ! fhe cries j and all around 
 Reftore the Lock ! the vaulted roofs rebound. 
 Not fierce Othello in fo loud a ftrain 1 05 
 
 Roar'd for the handkerchief that caus'd his pain. 
 But fee how oft ambitious aims are crofs'd, 
 And chiefs contend 'till all the prize is loft ! 
 The Lock, obtain'd with guilt, and kept with pain, 
 In ev'ry place is fought, but fought in vain: 1 10 
 XVith fuch a prize no mortal muft be bleft, 
 So heav'n decrees ! with heav'n who can conteft ? 
 
 Some thought it mounted to the Lunar fphere, 
 Since all things loft on earth are treafur'd there. 
 There Hero's wits are kept in pond'rous vafes, 
 And Beau's in fnuff-boxes and twcczer-cafes. 1 16 
 There T>roken vows, aixl death-bed alms arc found, 
 And lovers hearts with ends of ribband bound, 
 The courtier's promifes, and fick man's pray'rs, 
 The fmiles of harlots, and the tears of heirs, i ;o 
 Cages for gnats, and chains to yoak a flea, 
 Dry'd butterflies, and torncs of cafuiftry. 
 
 But truft the Mufe -file faw it upward rife, 
 Tho' mark'd by none, but quick, poetic eyes : 
 
 M 3 (So 
 
 VER. 114.- ZinceJltbiagshjt'} Vid. Arioite. Canto 
 xxxiv. P.
 
 166 THE RAPE OF THE LOCK. 
 
 (So Rome's great founder to the heav'ns withdrew, 
 
 To Proculus alone confefs'd in view) 1 26 
 
 A fudden Star, it fhot thro' iicjuid air, 
 
 And drew behind a radiant trail of hair. 
 
 Not Berenice's Locks firft rofe fo bright, 
 
 The heav'ns befpangling with difhevel'd light. 130 
 
 The Sylphs behold it kindling as it flies, 
 
 And pleas'd purfue its progrefs thro* the flues. 
 
 This the Beau monde fhall from the Mall furvey, 
 And hail with mufic its propitious ray. 
 This the bleft Lover fhall for Venus take, 135 
 And fend up vows from Rofamonda's lake. 
 This Partridge foon fhall view in cloudlefs fkies, 
 When next he looks thro' Galilaeo's eyes ; 
 And hence th' egregious wizard fhall foredoom 
 7 he fate of Louis, and the fall of Rome. 140 
 
 Then ceafe, bright Nymph ! to mourn thy ra- 
 
 vifh'd hair, 
 
 Which adds new glory to the fhining fphere I 
 Not all the trefles that fair head can boaft, 
 Shall draw fuch envy as the Lock you loft. 
 
 For, 
 
 VER. 137. Tbit Partridge foori\ John Partridge was a 
 ridiculous Star-gazer, who in his Almanacks every year 
 never fail'd to predict the downfal of the Pope, and the 
 King of France, then at war with the Engliih. P. 
 
 VARIATIONS. 
 
 VER. 131. The Sylphs btbold^ Thefe two lines added 
 for the fame reafon to keep in view the Machinery of the 
 Poem. P. 
 
 IMITATIONS. 
 VER. 128. 
 
 Flammiferumque trabeni fpatiofo limit e crinem 
 Stella micat. Ovid.
 
 
 THE RAPE OF THE LOCK. 167 
 For, after all the murders of your eye, 145 
 
 When, after millions flain, yourfelf fhall die ; 
 When thofe fair funs flull fet, as fet they muft, 
 And all thofe trefles (hall be laid in duft, 
 This Lock, the Mufe fliall confecrate to fame, 
 And 'midft the ftars infcribc Belinda's name. 150 
 
 M4 ELEGY
 
 ( iM) 
 
 E L E G Y 
 
 To the M E M o R Y of an 
 
 UNFORTUNATE LADY*. 
 
 WHAT beck'ning ghoft, along the moon- 
 light fhade 
 
 Invites my fteps, and points to yonder glade ? 
 'Tis ihe ! but whv that bleeding bofom gor'd, 
 Why dimly gleams the vifionary fword ? 
 Oh ever beauteous, ever friendly ! tell, 5 
 
 Is it, in heav'n, a crime to love too well ? 
 . To bear too tender or too firm a heart, 
 To at a Lover's or a Roman's part ? 
 Is there no bright reverilon in the fky, 
 For rh ">;~ who greatly think, or bravely die ? 10 
 
 Why bade ye elfe, yePow'rs ! her foul afpire 
 Above the vulgar flight of low defire. 
 Ambition firft fprung from your bleft abodes ; 
 The glorious fault of Angels and of Gods : 
 
 Thence 
 
 * Seethe Duke of Buckingham's verfer, to a Lady de- 
 fgning to rc' : re into a Monaftery compare;! with Mr. 
 Pope's Letters to fe/eral Ladies, p. 206^ She feems to 
 be the fame perfon v/hofe unfortunate death is the fub- 
 ied of this poem. P.
 
 ELEGY. ,f, 9 
 
 Thence to their images on earth it flows, 15 
 
 And in the breafts of Kings and Heroes glows. 
 Moft fouls, 'tis true, but peep out once an age, 
 Dull fullen pris'ners in the body's cage : 
 Dim lights of life, that burn a length of years 
 Ufelefs, unfeen, as lamps in fepulchres ; 2O 
 
 Like Eaftern Kings a lazy ftate they keep, 
 And clofe confin'd to their own palace, fleep. 
 
 From thefe perhaps (ere nature bade her die) 
 Fate fnatch'd her early to the pitying fky. 
 As into air the purer fpirits flow, 25 
 
 And fep'rate from their kindred dregs below j 
 So flew the foul to its congenial place, 
 Nor left one virtue to redeem her Race. 
 
 But thou, falfe guardian of a charge too good, 
 Thou, mean cieferter of thy brother's blood ! 30 
 See on thefe ruby lips the trembling breath, 
 Thefe cheeks, now fading at the blaft of death ; 
 Cold is that breaft which warm'd the world before, 
 And thofe love-darting eyes muft roll no more. 
 Thus, if Eternal juftice rules the ball, 35 
 
 Thus fhall your wives, and thus your chilui-cn fall : 
 On all the line a fudden vengeance waits, 
 And frequent herfcs fhall befiegc your gates. 
 There paflengers fhall ftand, and pointing fay, 
 (While the long fun'rals blacken all the way) 40 
 Lo thefe were they, whofe fouls the Furies fteclM, 
 And curs'd with hearts unknowing how to yield. 
 Thus unlamented pafs the proud away, 
 The gaze of fools, and pageant of a day ! 
 So perifh all, whofe breaft ne'er Icarn'd to glow 
 For others good, or melt at others woe. 46 
 
 What
 
 i;o ELEGY. 
 
 What can atone (oh ever-injur'd made !) 
 Thy fate unpity'd, and thy rites unpaid ? 
 No friend's complaint, no kind domeftic tear 
 Pleas'd thy pale ghoft, or grac'd thy mournful bier; 
 By foreign hands thy dying eyes were clos'd, 5 1 
 By foreign hands thy decent limbs compos'd, 
 By foreign hands thy humble grave adorn'd, 
 By ftrangers honour'd, and by ftrangcrs mourn'd ! 
 What tho' no friends in fable weeds appear, 55 
 Grieve for an hour, perhaps, then mourn a year, 
 And bear about the mockery of woe 
 To midnight dances, and the public mow ? 
 What tho' no weeping Loves thy afhes grace, 
 Nor polifh'd marble emulate thy face ? 6e) 
 
 What tho' no facred earth allow thee room, 
 Nor hallow' d dirge be mutter'd o'er thy tomb ? 
 Yet mail thy grave with rifing flow'rs be dreft, 
 And the green turf lie lightly on thy breaft : . 
 There mall the morn her eai'lieft tears beftov,', 65 
 There the firft rofes of the year mail blow j 
 While Argcls with their filver wings o'erfhade 
 The ground, now facred by thy reliques made-^ 
 
 So peaceful refts, without a ftone, a name, 69 
 What once had beauty, titles, wealth, and fame. 
 How lov'd, how honour'd once, avails thee not, 
 To whom related, or by whom begot ; 
 A heap of duft alone remains of thee, 
 'Tis all thou art, and all the proud fhall be ! 74 
 
 Poets themlelves muft fall, like thofe they fung, 
 Deaf the prais'd ear, and mute the tuneful tongue. 
 Ev'n he, whofc foul now melts in mourful lays, 
 Shall fhortly want the gen'rous tear he pays ; 
 
 i Then
 
 ELEGY. 171 
 
 Then from his cloflng eyes thy form (hall part, 
 And the laft pang (hall tear thee from his heart. 
 Life's idle bufmefs at one gafp be o'er, 
 The Mufe forgot, and thou bclov*d no more !
 
 PROLOGUE 
 
 T O 
 
 Mr. A D D I S O N's Tragedy 
 
 O F 
 
 C A T O. 
 
 TO wake the foul by tender ftrokes of art, 
 To raife the genius, and to mend the heart ; 
 To make mankind, in confcious virtue bold, 
 Live o'er each fcene, and be what they behold : 
 For this the Tragic Mufe firft trod the ftage, 5 
 Commanding tears toftream thro' ev'ry age j 
 Tyrants no more their favage nature kept, 
 And foes to virtue wonder'd how they wept. 
 Our author fhuns by vulgar fprings to move 
 The hero's glory, or the virgin's love ; 10 
 
 In pitying Love, we but our weaknefs mow, 
 And wild Ambition well deferves its woe. 
 Here tears mail flow from a more gen'rous caufe, 
 Such Tears as Patriots (lied for dying Laws: 
 He bids your breafts with ancient ardour rife, 15 
 And calls forth Roman dreps from Bhtifli eyes. 
 
 Virtue
 
 PROLOGUE TO CATO. 173 
 
 Virtue confefs'd in human fhape he draws, 
 What Plato thought, and godlike Cato was : 
 No common object to your fight difplays, 
 But what with pleafure Heav'n itfelf furveys, 20 
 A brave man flruggling in the florins of fate, 
 And greatly falling with a falling ftate. 
 While Cato gives his little Senate laws, 
 What bofom beats not in his Country's caufe ? 
 Who fees him a&, but envies ev'ry deed ? 25 
 
 Who hears him groan, and does not wifh to bleed ? 
 Ev'n when proud Caefar, 'midft triumphal ca- 
 The fpoils of nations, and the pomp of wars, 
 Ignobly vain, and impotendy great, 
 Show'd Rome her Cato's figure drawn in ftate ; 39 
 As her dead Father's rev'rend image paft, 
 The pomp was darken'd, and the day o'ercaft ; 
 The Triumph ceasM, tears gufh'd from ev'ry eye j 
 The World's great V idler pajVd unheeded by; 
 Her laft good man Rejected Rome ador'd, 35 
 
 And honour'd Caefar's Jefs than Cato's fword. 
 
 Britons, attend : be worth like this approv'd, 
 And {how, you have the virtue to be mov'd. 
 W. ith honeft fcorn the firft fam'd Cato view'd 
 Rome learning arts from Greece, whom ihe fubdu'd ; 
 
 Your 
 
 VER. 20. Butvjbat with pleafure] This alludes to a 
 famous pafiage of Seneca, which Mr. Addifpn afterwards 
 ufed as a motto to his play, when it was prinrul. 
 
 VER. 37. Britons, atterd] Mr. Pope had written it 
 , in the fpirit of Poetry and Liberty ; but Mr. Ad- 
 .._j frightend at fo daring an exprffflon, which, lie 
 thought, fquinted at Rebellion, would have it altcr'd, ui 
 the fpirit of Profc and Politics, to attfnd. 
 
 ariff 
 difo
 
 174 PROLOGUE TO CATO. 
 Your fcene precarioufly fubfifts too long 4 t 
 
 On French tranflation, and Italian fong. 
 Dare to have fenfe yourfelves ; aflert the ftage, 
 Bejuftly warm'd with your own native rage: 
 Such Plays alone fhould win a Brit ifli ear, 45 
 
 As Cato's felf had not difdain'd to hear. 
 
 VE 11.46. At Gate fe!f, etc."] This alludes to the fa- 
 mous ftory of his going into the Theatre, and imme- 
 diately coming out again. 
 
 E PI-
 
 ( 175 ) 
 
 EPILOGUE 
 
 T O 
 
 Mr. ROWE'S JANE SHORE. 
 
 Defigncd for Mrs. OLDFIELD, 
 
 PRodigious this ! the Frail- one of our Play 
 From her own Sex fhould mercy find to-day f 
 You might have held the pretty head afide, 
 Peep'd in your fans, been ferious, thus, and cry'd, 
 The Play may pafs but that ftrange creature, Shore, 
 I can't indeed now I fo hate a whore 6 
 
 Juft as a blockhead rubs his thoughtlefs flculf, 
 And thanks his ftars he was not born a fool j 
 So from a fifter fmner you fhaH hear, 
 * How ftrangely you expofe yourfelf, my dear F 
 But let me die, all raillery apart* I f 
 
 Our fex are ftill forgiving at their heart ; 
 And did not wicked cuftom fo contrive, 
 We'd be thebeft, good-natur'd things alive. 
 
 There are, 'ti* true, who tell another tale, 15 
 That virtuous ladies envy while they rail ; 
 Such rage without betrays the fire within j 
 In fome clofe corner of the foul, they fin ; 
 Still hoarding up, moft fcandaloufly nice, 
 Amidft their virtues a referve of vice. 2t 
 
 The godly dame, who flcftily failings damns, 
 Sooldswith hex maid, or with her chaplain crams.
 
 176 EPILOGUE TO JANE SHORE. 
 Would you enjoy foft nights and folid dinners ? 
 Faith, gallants, board with faints, and bed with finners. 
 Well, if our Author in the Wife offends, 25 
 He has a Hufband that will make amends : 
 He draws him gentle, tender, and forgiving, 
 And fure fuch kind, good creatures may be living. 
 In 'days of old, they pardon'd breach of vows, 
 Stern'd Cato's felf was no relentlefs fpoufe : 30 
 Plu -Plutarch, what's his name, that writes his life ? 
 Tells us, that Cato dearly lov'd liis Wife : 
 Yet if a friend, a night or fo, fliould need her, 
 He'd recommend her as a fpechl breeder. 
 To lend a wife, few here would fcruple make, 35 
 But, pray, which of you all would take her back? 
 Tho' with the Stoic Chief our ftage may ring, 
 The Stoic Hufband was the glorious thing. 
 The man had courage, was a fage, 'tis true, 39 
 And lov'd his country but what's that to you ? 
 Thofe ftrange examples ne'er were made to fit ye> 
 
 P.V't the kind cuckold might inftru^c the City : 
 
 I There, many an honeft man might copy Cato, 
 Who ne'er faw naked fword, or look'd in Plato. 
 
 If, after all, you think it a difgracc, 45 
 
 That Edward's Mifs thus perks it in your face } 
 To fee a piece of failing flefh and blood, 
 In all the reft fo impudently good ; 
 Faith, let the modelt Matrons of the town 49 
 Come here in crouds, and flare the ftrumpet down.
 
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