The works of the English poets. With prefaces, biographical and critical, by S. Johnson

PART III. The History of Satire. Roman Satirifts, Lucilius,
Horace, Persius, Juvenal, ver. 357, &c. Causes of the Decay
of Literature, particularly of Satire, ver. 389. Revival of
Satire, 401. Erasmus one of its principal Restorers, ver. 405.
Donne, ver. 411. The Abuse of Satire in England, during
the licentious Reign of Charles II. ver. 415. Dryden,
ver. 429. The true Ends of Satire pursued by Boileau in
France, ver. 439. and by Mr. Pope in England, ver. 445.

-PART

PART I..

ATE gave the word: the cruel arrow sped;
And Pope lies number'd with the mighty Dead!

Resign'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, (Unconscious Britain!) slumbers o'er her wound.

Exulting Dulness ey'd the setting Light,

And flapp'd her wing, impatient for the Night:
Rous'd at the signal, Guilt collects her train,
And counts the Triumphs of her growing Reign:

With inextinguishable rage they burn;
And Snake-hung Envy hisses o'er his Urn:
Th' envenom'd Monsters spit their deadly foam,
To blaft the laurel that furrounds his Tomb.

But You, O Warburton! whose eye refin'd
Can see the greatness of an honest mind;
Can see each Virtue and each Grace unite,
And taste the Raptures of a pure Delight;
You visit oft his awful Page with Care,
And view that bright assemblage treasur'd there;
You trace the Chain that links his deep design,
And pour new lustre on the glowing Line.
Yet deign to hear the efforts of a Muse,
Whose 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

Pleas'd if from hence th' unlearn'd may comprehend, And reverence His and Satire's generous End.

In every breast there burns an active flame, The Love of Glory, or the Dread of Shame: The Paffion One, though various it appear, As brighten'd into Hope, or dimm'd by Fear. 'The lisping Infant, and the hoary Sire,

And Youth and Manhood feel the heart-born fire:
The Charms of Praise the Coy, the Modest woo,

And only fly, that Glory may purfue:
She, Power refittless, rules the wife and great;
Bends ev'n reluctant Hermits at her feet;

Haunts the proud City, and the lowly Shade,
And sways alike the Sceptre and the Spade.

Thus Heaven 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 sent him from the Skies:
With raptures hears corrupted Passion's call,
Still proudly prone to mingle with the stall.
As each deceitful Shadow tempts his view,
He for the imag'd Substance quits the true;
Eager to catch the visionary Prize,
In quest of Glory plunges deep in Vice;
Till madly zealous, impotently vain,
He forfeits every Praise he pants to gain.
Thus ftill imperious Nature plies her part;
And ftill her Dictates work in every heart.
Each Power that sovereign Nature bids enjoy,
Man may corrupt, but Man can ne'er destroy.

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The works of the English poets. With prefaces, biographical and ..., Volume 46