THE ADVERTISEMENT. HE occafion of publishing these Imitations was the Clamour raised on some of my Epiftles. An Anfwer from Horace was both more full, and of more Dignity, than any I could have made in my own perfon; and the Example of much greater Freedom in so eminent a Divine as Dr. Donne, feemed a proof with what indignation and contempt a Christian may treat Vice or Folly, in ever fo low, or ever so high a Station. Both these Authors were acceptable to the Princes and Ministers under whom they lived. The Satires of Dr. Donne I verfified, at the defire of the Earl of Oxford while he was Lord Treafurer, and of the Duke of Shrewsbury, who had been Secretary of State: neither of whom looked upon a Satire on Vicious Courts as any Reflection on those they served in. And indeed there is not in the world a greater error, than that which Fools are fo apt to fall into, and Knaves with good reafon to encourage, the mistaking a Satirift for a Libeller; whereas to a true Satirift nothing is fo odious as a Libeller, for the fame reafon as to a man truly virtuous nothing is so hateful as a Hypocrite. "Uni aequus Virtuti atque ejus Amicis." WHOEVER WHOEVER expects a Paraphrafe of Horace, or a faithful Copy of his genius, or manner of writing, in these IMITATIONS, will be much disappointed. Our Author ufes the Roman Poet for little more than his canvas: And if the old defign or colouring chance to fuit his purpose, it is well; if not, he employs his own, Hence it is, he is fo frequently without fcruple or ceremony. ferious where Horace is in jeft, turbed. In a word, he regulates his movements no further on his Original, than was necessary for his Concurrence in promoting their common plan of Reformation of manners. and at eafe where Horace is dif Had it been his purpose merely to paraphrase an ancient Satirist, he had hardly made choice of Horace; with whom, as a Poet, he held little in common, befides a comprehenfive knowledge of life and manners, and a certain curious felicity of expreffion, which confifts in ufing the fimpleft language with dignity, and the most ornamented with ease. For the reft, his harmony and ftrength of numbers, his force and fplendor of colouring, his gravity and fublimity of fentiment, would have rather led him to another model. Nor was his temper lefs unlike that cf Horace, than his talents. What Horace would only fmile at, Mr. Pope would treat with the grave severity of Perfius; and what Mr. Pope would ftrike with the cauftic lightning of Juvenal, Horace would content himself in turning into ridicule. If it be asked then, why he took any body at all to imitate, he has informed us in his Advertisement: To which we may add, that this fort of Imitations, which are of the nature of Parodies, adds reflected grace and fplendor on original wit. Besides, he deemed it more modeft to give the name of Imitations to his Satires, than, like Despréaux, to give the name of Satires to Imitations. BOOK BOOK II. SATIRE I To Mr. FORTESCUE. P. HERE are (I fcarce can think it, but am told) PT a There are, to whom my Satire feems too bold: Scarce to wife Peter complaifant enough, And fomething faid of Chartres much too rough. I come to Council learned in the Law: F. I'd write no more. 5 10 P. Not HORATIUS. TREBATIUS. 2 HORATIUS. SUNT quibus in Satira videar nimis acer, et ultra Legem tendere opus; fine nervis altera, quidquid Quid faciam? praefcribe. T. d Quiefcas. H. Ne faciam, inqui Omnino verfus ? T. Aio. P. Not write? but then I think, F. You could not do a worse thing for your life. 15. Why, if the nights feem tedious-take a wife: fOr rather truly, if your point be rest, Lettuce and cowflip wine; " Probatum eft." Hartshorn, or something that shall clofe your eyes. 20 P. What? like Sir Richard, rumbling, rough, and fierce, With Arms and George and Brunswick crowd the verfe, Rend with tremendous found your ears afunder, 25 With Gun, Drum, Trumpet, Blunderbufs, and Thun der? H. Peream male, fi non Optimum erat: e verum nequeo dormire. T. f Ter uncti Tranfnanto Tiberim, fomno quibus eft opus alto; Aut fi tantus amor scribendi te rapit, aude H. Cupidum, Pater optime, vires Deficiunt: neque enim quivis horrentia pilis Or |