Page images
PDF
EPUB

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 excurfions tries:

Content, if hence th' unlearn'd their wants may view,
The learn'd reflect on what before they knew: 740
Careless of cenfure, nor too fond of fame;
Still pleas'd to praise, yet not afraid to blame;
Averse alike to flatter, or offend;

Not free from faults, nor yet too vain to mend.

NOTES.

thor. Mr Dryden had done it very largely in the Dedication to his tranflation of the Eneid; and Dr. Garth in the first Edition of his Dispensary says,

The Tyber now no courtly Gallus fees, But fmiling Thames enjoys his Normanbys; Tho' afterwards omitted, when parties were carried fo high in the reign of Queen Anne, as to allow no commendation to an oppofite in Politics. The Duke was all his life a steddy adherent to the Church of England-Party, yet an Enemy to the extravagant Meafures of the Court in the reign of Charles II. On which account, after having ftrongly patronized Mr. Dryden, a coolness fucceeded between them on that poet's abfolute attachment to the Court, which carried him fome lengths beyond what the Duke could approve of. This nobleman's true character had been very well marked by Mr. Dryden before,

The Mufe's friend,

Himself a Mufe. In Sanadrin's debate

True to his prince, but not a slave of state.

Abf. and Achit.

Our Author was more happy; he was honoured very young with his friendship, and it continued till his death in all the circumstances of a familiar esteem. P.

THE

RAPE of the LOCK.

ΑΝ

HEROI-COMICAL

POEM.

Written in the Year M DDC XII.

то

Mrs. ARABELLA FERMOR.

MADAM,

T will be in vain to deny that I have fome regard for this piece, fince I dedicate it to You. Yet you may bear me witness, 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 copy having been offer'd to a Bookfeller, you had the good-nature for my fake to consent to the publication of one more correct: This I was forc'd to, before I had executed half my defign, for the Machinery 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 Dæmons are made to act in a Poem: For the ancient Poets are in one refpect like many modern Ladies: let an action be never fo trivial in itself, they always make it appear of the utmost importance. These Machines I determined to raise on a very new and odd foundation, the Roficrufian doctrine of Spirits.

I know how disagreeable it is to make ufe of hard words before a Lady; but 'tis fo much the concern of a Poet to have his works understood, and particularly by your Sex, that you must give me leave to explain two or three difficult terms.

The Roficrufians are a people I must bring you acquainted with. The beft account I know of them is in

« PreviousContinue »