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CONTENT S.

PART I.

OF the End and Efficacy of Satire. The Love of Glory and Fear of Shame univerfal, ver. 29. This Paffion, implanted in Man as a Spur to Virtue, is generally perverted, ver. 4 E. And thus becomes the Occafion of the greatest Follies, Vices, and Miferies, ver. 61. It is the Work of Satire to rectify this Passion, to reduce it to its proper Channel, and to convert it into an Incentive to Wisdom and Virtue, ver. 89. Hence it appears that Satire may influence thofe who defy all Laws Human and Divine, ver. 99. An Objection answered, ver. 131.

PART II.

Rules for the Conduct of Satire. Juftice and Truth its chief and effential Property, ver. 169. Prudence in the Application of Wit and Ridicule, whofe Province is, not to explore unknown, but to enforce known Truths, ver. 191. Proper Subjects of Satire are the Manners of prefent Times, ver. 239. Decency of Expreffion recommended, ver. 255. The different Methods in which Folly and Vice ought to be chaftifed, ver. 269. The Variety of Style and Manner which these two Subjects require, ver. 277. The Praife of Virtue may be admitted with Propriety, ver. 315. Caution with regard to Panegyric, ver. 3 9. The Dignity of true Satire, ver. 341.

PART III.

The Hiftory of Satire. Roman Satirifts, Lucilius, Horace, Perfius, Juvenal, ver. 357, etc. Causes of the Decay of Literature, particularly of Satire, ver. 389. Revival of Satire, ver. 401. Erafmus one of its principal Reftorers, ver. 405. Abufe of Satire in England, of Charles II. ver. 415.

Donne, ver. 411. The during the licentious Reign Dryden, ver. 429. The

true Ends of Satire pursued by Boileau in France, vers 439. and by Mr. Pope in England, ver. 445

PARTI.

FATE gave the word: the cruel arrow fped;

And POPE lies number'd with the mighty Dead! Refign'd he fell; fuperior to the dart,

That quench'd its rage in YOURS and BRITAIN'S Heart:

You mourn: but BRITAIN, lull'd in rest profound, s (Unconscious, BRITAIN!) flumbers o'er her wound. Exulting Dulness ey'd the setting Light,

And flapp'd her wing, impatient for the Night:
Rous'd at the fignal, Guilt collects her train,
And counts the Triumphs of her growing Reign: 10
With inextinguishable rage they burn;

And Snake-hung ENVY hiffes o'er his Urn:
Th' envenom'd Monsters fpit their deadly foam,
To blast the Laurel that surrounds his Tomb.

But You, O WARBURTON! whofe eye refin'd 15 Can fee the greatnefs of an honest mind; Can fee each Virtue and each Grace unite, And tafte the Raptures of a pure Delight;

You vifit oft his awful Page with Care,

And view that bright affemblage treafur'd there; 20
You trace the chain that links his deep defign,

And pour new luftre on the glowing Line.
Yet deign to hear the efforts of a Muse,
Whofe eye, not wing, his ardent flight pursues:
Intent from this great Archetype to draw
SATIRE'S bright Form, and fix her equal Law:
Pleas'd if from hence th' unlearn'd may comprehend,
And rev'rence His and SATIRE's gen'rous End.

25

In ev'ry Breaft there burns an active flame,
The Love of Glory or the Dread of Shame :
The Paffion ONE, tho' various it appear,
As brighten'd into Hope, or dimm'd by Fear.
The lifping Infant, and the hoary Sire,

30

And Youth and Manhood feel the heart-born fire:
The Charms of Praise the Coy, the Modest woo,
And only fly that Glory may pursue :

35

She, Pow'r refiftlefs, rules the wife and great;
Bends ev'n reluctant Hermits at her feet;
Haunts the proud City, and the lowly Shade,
And fways alike the Sceptre and the Spade.

Thus Heav'n in Pity wakes the friendly Flame,
To urge
Mankind on Deeds that merit Fame :
But Man, vain Man, in folly only wife,
Rejects the Manna fent him from the Skies:
With raptures hears corrupted Paffion's call,
Still proudly prone to mingle with the stall.
As each deceitful fhadow tempts his view,
He for the imag'd Substance quits the true;
Eager to catch the vifionary Prize,
In queft of Glory plunges deep in Vice;
Till madly zealous, impotently vain,
He forfeits ev'ry Praife he pants to gain,

40

45

50

Thus ftill imperious NATURE plies her part;

And still her Dictates work in ev'ry heart.

Each Pow'r that fov'reign Nature bids enjoy,.

5.5

Man may corrupt, but Man can ne'er destroy ::
Like mighty rivers, with refiftlefs force
The Paffions rage, obftructed in their course;
Swell to new heights, forbidden paths explore,
And drown thofe Virtues which they fea before.

60

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And fure, the deadlieft Foe to Virtue's flame,
Our worst of Evils, is perverted Shame.
Beneath this load, what abject numbers groan,
Th' entangled Slaves to folly not their own!
Meanly by fashionable fear opprefs'd,
We seek our Virtues in each other's breast;
Blind to ourselves, adopt each foreign Vice,
Another's weakness, int'reft, or caprice.
Each Fool to low Ambition, poorly great,
That pines in fplendid wretchedness of ftate,
Tir'd in the treach'rous Chase, would nobly yield,
And, but for fhame, like SYLLA, quit the field:
The Demon Shame paints ftrong the ridicule,
And whispers clofe," the World will call you Fool.”

Behold yon Wretch, by impious fashion driv'n,
Believes and trembles, while he fcoffs at Heav'n.
By weakness strong, and bold thro' fear alone,
He dreads the fneer by shallow Coxcombs thrown;
Dauntless pursues the path Spinoza trod ;
To man a Coward, and a Brave to God.

65

70

75

Faith, Juftice, Heav'n itfelf now quit their hold,
When to false Fame the cap iv'd Heart is fold:
Hence, blind to truth, relentless Cato dy'd;
Nought could fubdue his Virtue, but his Pride.
Hence chafte Lucretia's Innocence betray'd
Fell by that Honour which was meant its aid.
Thus Virtue finks beneath unnumber'd woes,
When Paffions, born her friends, revolt her foes.

IMITATIONS.

VER. 8o. To man a Corvard, etc.]

Vois tu ce Libertin en public intrepide,.

Qui preche contre un Dieu que dans fon Ame il croit?
Il iroit embraffer la Verité, qu'il voit;
Mais de fes faux Amis il craint la Raillerie,
Et ne brave ainfi Dieu que par Poltronnerie.

80

85

BOILLAU, Ep. iii.

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