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If wit fo much from ign'rance undergo,
Ah let not learning too commence its foe!
Of old, thofe met rewards who could excel,
And fuch wereprais'd who but endeavour'dwell:
Tho' triumphs were to gen'rals only due,
Crowns were referv'd to grace the foldiers too.
Now, they who reach Parnaffus' lofty crown
Employ their pains to fpurn fome others down;
And while felf-love each jealous writer rules,
Contending wits become the sport of fools;
But still the worst with most regret commend,
For each ill author is as bad a friend.

To what base ends, and by what abject ways,
Are mortals urg'd through facred luft of praife!
Ah! ne'er fo dire a thirft of glory boait,
Nor in the critic let the man be loft.
Good nature and good fense must ever join:
To err is human; to forgive, divine.

But if in uoble minds fome dregs remain,
Not yet purg'd off, of fpleen and four difdain,
Difcharge that rage on more provoking crimes,
Nor fear a dearth in these flagitious times.
No pardon vile obfcenity should find,
Tho' wit and art confpire to move your mind;
But dulnefs with obscenity muft prove
As fhameful fure as impotence in love.
In the fat age of pleasure, wealth, and cafe,
Sprung the rank weed, and thriv'd with large
increase:

When love was all an eały monarch's care;
Seldom at council, never in a war,
Jilts rul'd the state, and statesmen farces writ;
Nay,wits had penfions, and young lords had wit:
The fair fat panting at a courtier's play,
And not a maik went unimprov`d away;
The modeft fan was lifted up no more;
And virgins fmil'd at what they blush'd before.
The following licence of a foreign reign
Did all the dregs of bold Socinus drain;
Then unbelieving priests reform'd the nation,
And taught more pleafant methods of falvation;
Where Heaven's free fubjects might their rights
dispute,

Left God himself should feem too abfolute:
Pulpits their facred fatire learn`d to spare,
And vice admir'd to find a flatt'rer there!
Encourag'd thus, wit's Titans brav'd the fkies,
And the prefs groan'd with licens'd blafphemies.
These monsters, critics! with your darts engage,
Here point your thunder, and exhauft your rage!
Yet fhun their fault, who, fcandalously nice,
Will needs mistake an author into vice:
All feems infected that th' infected spy,
As all looks yellow to the jaundic'd eye.
Learn then what morals critics ought to fhew,
For 'tis but half a judge's talk to know.
'Tis not enough, tafte, judgment, learning, join;
In all you speak, let truth and candour thine:
That not alone what to your fenfe is due
All may allow, but feek your friendship too.
Be filent always when you doubt your fenfe;
And fpeak, tho' fure, with feeming diffidence:
Some pofitive, perfifting fops we know,

Who, if once wrong, will needs be always fo;

But you with pleasure own your errors pal
And make each day a critique on the lait.

'Tis not enough your counsel still be tru
Blunttruthsmoremifchief thannicefalfehood
Men must be taught as if you taught them
And things unknown propos'd as things fo
Without good-breeding, truth is difapprov
That only makes fuperior sense belov'd.

Be niggards of advice on no pretence;
For the worst avarice is that of fenfe.
With mean complacence ne'er betray your
Nor be fo civil as to prove unjuft.
Fear not the anger of the wife to raise;
Those best can hear reproof who merit pra

'Twere wellmightcriticsftillthis freedom
But Appius reddens at each word you fpe
And ftares tremendous, with a threat`ning
Like fome fierce tyrant in old tapestry.
Fear moft to tax an honourable fool,
Whofe right it is, uncenfur'd, to be dull
Such, without wit, are poets when they pl
As without learning they can take degree
Leave dang'rous truths to unfuccefsful f
And flatt'ry to fulfome dedicators,
Whom, when they praife, the world belie
Than when they promise to give fcribbling
'Tis beft fometimes your cenfure to reftr
And charitably let the dull be vain :
Your filence there is better than your fpi
For who can rail fo long as they can wri
Still humming on,their drowsy courfe they
And lafh'd fo long, like tops, are lafh'd
Falfe fteps but help them to renew the ra
As, after ftumbling, jades will mend their
What crowds of thefe, impenitently bold
In founds and jingling fyllables grown o
Still run on poets in a raging vein,
Ev'n to the dregs and fqueezings of the
Strain out the laft dull droppings of their
And rhyme with all the rage of impoten
Such fhameless bards we have; and yet 'ti
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
And always lift'ning to himself appears.
All books he reads, and all he reads atlai
From Dryden's Fables down to Durfey's
With him, most authors steal their works,
Garth did not write his own Difpenfary.
Name a new Play, and he's the Poet's trie
Nay,thew'dhisfaults,but when would Poets
No place fo facred from fuch fops is barr
Nor is Paul's church more fafe than Paul's c
yard:

Nay, fly to altars; there they'll talk you
For Fools ruth in where Angels fear to tr
Diftruftful fenfe with modeft caution ipe
It ftill looks home, and thort excurfions m
But rattling nonfenfe in full vollies break
And never shock'd, and never turn'd af
Burfts out, refiftlefs, with a thund'ring

But where's the man who counfel can b
Still pleas'd to teach, and yet not proud to

Un

Unister by favour or by spite; ...poffefs'd, nor blindly right; dwell-bred,andtho'well-bredfincere, old, and humanly fevere; Sararend his faults can freely shew, ly praife the merit of a foe? At with a tale exact, yet unconfin'd; wedge both of books and human kind; verie; a foul exempt from pride! praifs, with reafon on his fide? were Critics; fuch the happy few kome in better ages knew. tagyrite first left the thore, tils, and durft the deeps explore, "urely, and difcover'd far, light of the Mæonian Star. rate long unconfind and free, and proud of favage liberty,

Stemm'd the wild torrent of a barb'rous age,
And drove those holy Vandals off the ftage.

But fee! each Mufe, in Leo's golden days,
Starts from her trance,andtrimsherwither'd bays;
Rome's ancient Genius, o'er its ruin spread,
Shakes off the duft, and rears his rev'rend head.
Then Sculpture and her fifter-arts revive;
Stone's leap'd to form, and rocks began to liver
With fweeter notes each rifing temple rung ;
A Raphael pointed, and a Vida fung.
Immortal Vida! on whofe honour'd brow
The Poet's bays and Critic's ivy grow,
Cremona now fhall ever boat thy name;
As next in place to Mantua, next in fame!

But foon by impious arts from Latium chas'd, Their ancient bounds the banish'd Mufes pafs'd; Thence Arts o'erall the northern world advance, But Critic-learning flourish'd molt in France: shaws, and flood convinc'd; 'twas fit, The rules a nation, born to ferve obey, obeys; ard Nature thould prefide o'er Wit | And Boileau still in right of Horace fways. charms with graceful negligence, But we, brave Britons, foreign laws defpis'd, * method talks us into fente; And kept unconquer'd and unciviliz'd; afiend, familiarly convey Fierce for the liberties of wit, and bold, tions in the eal:eft way. We ftill defied the Romans, as of old. reme in judgment as in wit, Yet fome there were, among the founder few centure, as he boldly writ; Of thofe who lefs prefum'd, and better knew, Both coolnefs, tho' he fung with fire; Who durft affert the jufter ancient caufe, teach but what his Works infpire. And here reitor'd Wit's fundamental laws; take a contrary extreme; Such was the Mufe whofe rules and practice tell, "Nature's chief Mafter-piece is writing well.' Such was Rofcommon, not more learn'd than good,

with fury, but they write with

Horace more in wrong translations critics in as wrong quotations. s Homer's thoughts refine, nxauties forth from ev'ry line! in gay Petronius please; ning, with the courtier's cafe. tilian's copious work we find and cleareft method join'd: s in magazines we place, order, and difpos'd with grace; ale the eye than arm the hand; t, and ready at command. Longinus! all the Nine inspire, their Critic with a Poet's fire.

ige, who, zealous in his truft, gives fentence, yet is always juft; *example ftrengthens all his laws; ef that great fublime he draws. acceeding Critics juftly reign'd, red, and useful laws ordain'd.

Rome alike in empire gw, follow'd where the Eagles flew: me foes, at laft, both felt their

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With manners gen'rous as his noble blood;
To him the wit of Grece and Rome was known,
And ev'ry Author's merit but his own.
Such late was Walth, the Mufe'sjudge and friend,
Who juttly knew to blame or to commend:
To failings mild, but zealous for defert;
The clsareft head, and the fincereft heart.
This humble praife, lamented fhade! receive,
This praife at least a grateful Muse may give.
The Mufe whofe early voice you taught to fing,
Prefcrib'dherheights,and prun'dhertenderwing,
(Her guide now loft) no more attempts to rife,
But in low numbers fhort excurfions tries: [view;
Content, if hence th' unlearn'd their wants may
The learn'd reflect on what before they knew:
Careless of cenfure, nor too fond of fame;
Still pleas'd to praife, yet not afraid to blame:
Averle alike to flatter, or offend;
Not free from faults, nor yet too vain to mend.

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Slight is the fubje&t, but not so the praise,
If She infpire, and He approve my lays.

[pel
Say what strange motive, goddefs! could com-
A well-bred Lord t' affault a gentle Belle?
O fay what ftranger caufe, yet unexplor'd,
Could make a gentle Belle reject a Lord?
In tasks fo bold can little men engage?
And in foft bofoms dwells fuch mighty rage?
Sol thro' white curtains fhot a tim'rous ray,
And op'd thofe eyes that muft eclipfe the day:
Now lap-dogs gave themfelves the roufing fhake;
And fleepless lovers, juft at twelve, awake:
Thrice rung the bell, the flipper knook'd the
ground,

And the prefs'd watch return'd a filver found.
Belinda ftill her downy pillow prefs'd,
Her guardian Sylph prolong'd the balmy ref-
'Twas He had fummon'd to her filent bed
The morning-dream that hover'do'er herhead
A youth more glitt'ring than a birth-night beau,
That even in lumber caus'd her cheek to glow,
Seem'd to her ear his winning lips to lay,
And thus in whifpers faid, or feem'd to fay:
Fairest of mortals, thou diftinguith'd care
Of thoufand bright inhabitants of air!
If e'er one vifion touch thy infant thought,
Of all the Nurfe and all the Priest have taught,
Of airy elves by moonlight thadows feen,
The fiver token, and the circled green,
Or virgins vifited by Angel-pow'rs, [flow'rs!
With golden crowns, and wreaths of heavenly
Hear and believe thy own importance know,
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 fhall ftill believe.
Know then, unnumber'd fpirits 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,
And view with icorn two pages and a chair.
As now your own, our beings were of old,
And once inclos'd in woman's beauteous mould;
Thence, by a foft tranfition, we repair
From earthly vehicles to thefe of air.

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Know further yet-whoever fair and c Rejects mankind, is by fome fylph embra For fpirits, freed from mortal laws, with Affume what fexes and what shapes they What guards the purity of melting maid In courtly balls and midnight mafquerad Safe from the treach`rous friend,the daring The glance by day, the whifper in the da When kind occafion prompts their warm d When mufic foftens, and when dancing t 'Tis but their fylph, the wife celeftials kr Tho' honour is the word with men below.

Some nymphs there are, too conscious c For life predeftin'd to the gnomes' embr Thefe fwell their profpects and exalt thei When offers are difdain'd, and love deal Then gay ideas crowd the vacant brain, While peers, and dukes, and all their fw And garters, ftars, and coronets appear, And in foft founds "your grace" falutes the 'Tis thefe that early taint the female foul, Inftruct the eye of young coquette's to r Teach infant-checks a bidden bluth to k And little hearts to flutter at a beau.

Oft, when the world imagine women f The fylphs thro' myftic mazes guide thei Thro' all the giddy circle they pursue, And old impertinence expel by new. What tender maid but muft a victim ful To one man's treat, but for another's ba When Florio fpeaks, what virgin couldwit. If gentle Damon did not fqueeze her hu With varying vanities, from ev'ry part, They fhift the moving toy-fhop of their Where wigs with wigs, with fword-knots knots ftrive,

Beaux banith beaux, and coaches coaches
This erring mortals levity may call;
Oh blind to truth! the Sylphs contrive i

Of thefe am I, who thy protection cia
A watchful sprite, and Ariel is my name
Late as I rang'd the cryftal wilds of air,
In the clear mirror of thy ruling ftar
I faw, alas! fome dread event impend,
Ere to the main this morning fun defcer
But heaven reveals not what, or how, or
Warn'd by thy Sylph, oh pious maid, be

Beware of all, but most beware of man

1

He faid; whenShock, who thought the f Leap'd up, and wak'd hismiftrefswithhist 'Twasen, Belinda, if report fay true, Thy eyes firft open'd on a biliet-doux; Wounds, charms, and ardours, were no But all the vifion vanish'd from thy head

Think not,when woman's tranfient breath is fled, This to difclofe is all thy guardian can :
That all her vanities at once are dead;
Succeeding vanities fhe still regards,
And, tho' the plays nomore, o'erlooks the cards.
Her joy in gilded chariots, when alive,
And love of ombre, after death furvive;
For when the fair in all their pride expire,
To their firft elements their fouls retire:
The fprites of fiery termagants in flame
Mount un, and take a falamander's name.
Soft vielding maids to water guide away,
And fip, with nymphs, their elemental tea.
The graver prude finks downward to a gnome,
I fearch of mischief ftill on earth to roam.
The light coquettes in fylphs aloft repair,
And port and flutter in the fields of air.
7

And now, vnveil'd, the toilet stands dif Each filver vafe in myftic order laid. First, rob'd in white, the nymph intent a With head uncover'd, the cofmetic pow A heavenly image in the glafs appears; To that the bends, to that her eyes the Th' inferior prieftefs, at her altar's fide, Trembling, begins the facred rites of pr

Unnu

"treasures ope at once, and here
rings of the world appsar;
nicely culls with curious toil,
Ategoddefs with the glitt'ring spoil.
India's glowing gems unlocks,
Aza breathes from yonder box:
e here and elephant unite, [white:
to combs, the fpeckled and the
pas extend their fhining rows,
x patches, bibles, billet-doux.
auty puts on all its arms;
moment rifes in her charms,
nes, awakens ev'ry grace,
all the wonders of her face:
a purer bluth arife,
Ightning quicken in her eyes.
ps furround their darling care;
arte lead, and thofe divide the hair,
feeve,whilst others plait the gown;
Apprais'd for labours not her own.

CANTO II.

more glories, in th' ethereal plain, ris o'er the purpled main, forth, the rival of his beams the bofom of the filver Thames. and well-dreft youths, around her et was fix'd on her alone. [fhone; beat a sparkling crofs fhe wore, ight kits, aud Infidels adore. oks a fprightly mind difclofe, eyes, and as unfixt as those: De, to all the fmiles extends; but never once offends. in her eyes the gazers ftrike, an, they fhine on all alike. le, and fweetnefs void of pride, faults,if belles had faults to hide: Ame female errors fall,

, and you'll forget them all. to the deftruction of mankind, Locks, whichgraceful hungbehind and well confpir'd to deck aglets the fmooth iv'ry neck. byrinths his slaves detains, atarts are held in flender chains. inges we the birds betray; of hair furprife the finny prey; man's imperial race enfnare, draws us with a fingle hair. trous Baronthebrightlocksadmir'd; with'd, and to the prize afpir'd. twin, he meditates the way, ravih, or by fraud betray; accefs a lover's toil attends, 4tand or force attain'd his ends. tre Pha bus rofe, he had implor'd >Heaven, and ev'ry pow'r ador'd; Leve-to Love an altar built tad French romances, neatly gilt. free garters, half a pair of gloves; trophies of his former loves: billet-doux he lights the pyre, as three am'rous fighs to raife thefire:

Then proftrate falls, and begs with ardent eyes
Soon to obtain, and long poffefs the prize.
The pow'rs gave ear, and granted half his pray'r;
The reft, the winds difpers'd in empty air.

But now fecure the painted veffel glides,
The fun-beams trembling on the floating tides;
While melting mufic steals upon the fky,
And foften'd founds along the waters die;
Smooth flow the waves, theZephyrs gently play;
Belinda fmil'd, and all the world was gay.
All but the Sylph-with carefulthoughtsoppreft,
Th' impending woe fat heavy on his breaft.
He fummons ftraight his denizens of air,
The lucid fquadrons round the fails repair:
Soft o'er the throuds aërial whispers breathe,
That feem'd but Zephyrs to the train beneath.
Some to the fun their infect wings unfold,
Waft on the breeze, or fink in clouds of gold;
Transparent forms, too fine for mortal fight,
Their fluid bodies half diffolv'd in light.
Loofe to the winds their airy garments flew,
Thin glitt'ring textures of the filmy dew,
Dipp'd in the richest tincture of the fkies,
Where light difports in ever-mingling dyes;
While ev'ry beam new tranfient colours flings,
Colours that change whene'er they wave their
Amid the circle on the gilded maft, [wings.
Superior by the head, was Ariel plac'd;
His purple pinions op'ning to the fun,
He rais'd his azure wand, and thus begun:

Ye Sylphs and Sylphids, to your chief give ear:
Fays, faries, genii, elves, and dæmons hear!
Ye know the fpheres and various talks affign'd
By laws eternal to th' aërial kind.
Some in the fields of open æther play,
And balk and whiten in the blaze of day:
Some guide the courfe of wand'ringorbs on high,
Or roll the planets through the boundless sky:
Some,lefs refin`d, beneath the moon's pale light,
Partie the ftars that fhoot across the night,
Or fuck the mifts in groffer air below,
Or dip their pinions in the painted bow,
Or brew fierce tempelts on the wint'ry main,
Or o'er the glebe ditil the kindly rain:
Others on earth o'er human race pretide,
Watch all their ways, and all their actions guide:
Of thefe the chief the care of nations own,
And guard with arms divine the British throne.

Our humbler province is to tend the Fair,
Not a lefs pleafing, tho' lefs glorious care;
To fave the powder from too rude a gale,
Nor let th' imprifon'd effences exhale;
To draw fresh colours from the vernal flow'rs;
To fteal from rainbows,ere they drop in thow'rs,
A brighter wafh; to curl their waving hairs,
Affift their blushes, and infpire their airs;
Nay oft, in dreams, invention we bestow,
To change a flounce, or add a furbelow.

This day black omens threat the brightest fair
That e'er deferv'd a watchful fpirit's care;
Some dire difafter, or by force, or flight,
But what,or where,the fates have wrapt in night.
Whether the nymph shall break Dina's law,
Or fome frail China jar receive a flaw;

Or ftain her honour, or her new brocade;
Forget her pray'rs, or miís a masquerade;
Or lofe her heart, or necklace, at a ball; [fall.
Or whether Heaven has doom'd that Shock muft
Hafte then, ye fpirits! to your charge repair:
The flutt'ring fan he Zephyretta's care;
The drops to thee, Brillante, we confign;
And, Momentilla, let the watch be thine;
Do thou, Crifpissa, tend her fav`rite Lock;
Ariel himfelt thall be the guard of Shock.

To fifty chofen Sylphs, of special note,
We trust the important charge, the Petticoat:
Oft have we known that feven-fold fence to fail,
Tho' ftiff with hoops, and arm'd with ribs of
Form a strong line about the filver bound, [whale:
And guard the wide circumference around.

Whatever fpirit, careless of his charge, His poft neglects, or leaves the fair at large, Shall feel fharp vengeance foon o'ertake his fins, Be ftopp'd in vials, or transfix'd with pins; Or plung'd in lakes of bitter washes lie, Or wedg'd whole ages in a bodkin's eye: Gums and pomatums fhall his flight restrain, While clogg'd he beats his filken wings in vain: Or alum typtics with contracting pow'r, Shrink his thin effence like a fhrivell'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, 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; With beating hearts the dire event they wait, Anxious, and trembling for the birth of Fate.

CANTO III.

CLOSE by those meads, for ever crown'd with flow`rs, [tow'rs, Where Thames with pride furveys his rifing There ftands a structure of majestic frame, Which from the neighb'ring Hampton takes

its name.

Here Britain's ftatesmen oft the fall foredoom
Of foreign tyrants, and 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 pleasures of a court;
In various talk the inftructive hours they pafs'd,
Who gave the ball, or paid the vifit laft;
One fpeaks the glory of the British Queen,
And one defcribes a charming Indian fcreen;
A third interprets motions, looks, and eyes;
At ev'ry word a reputation dies.

Snuff, or the fan, fupply each pause of chat;
With finging, laughing, ogling, and all that.
Meanwhile, declining from the noon of day,
The fun obliquely thocts his burning ray;
The hungry fudges foon the fentence fign,
And wretches hang, that jurymen may dine;
The merchant from th' Exchange returns in
And the long labours of the toilet ceale. [peace,

Belinda now, whom thirst of fame invites, Burns to encounter two advent'rous knig At ombre fingly to decide their doom; And fwells her breast with conquefts yet toc Straight the three bands prepare in arms to Each band the number of the facred nine. Soon as the fpreads her hand, th' aërial g Defcend, and fit on each important card; First Ariel perch'd upon a matadore, Then each according to the rank they bo For Sylphs. yet mindful of their ancient Are, as when women, wond'rous fond of

Behold. four kings in majefty rever'd, With hoary whiskers and a forky beard; [t And four fair queens whofe hands iu Th' expreffive emblem of their fofter pow Four knaves in garbs fuccinct, a trufly ba Caps on their heads, and halberts in their And party-coloured troops, a fhining tr Drawn forth to combat on the velvet plai

The fkilful nymph reviews her force with Let Spades be trumps! the faid, and trump

were.

Now move to war her fable matadores, In fhow like leaders of the swartry Moor Spadillo firft, unconquerable lord! Led off two captive trumps,and fwept the As many more Manillo forc'd to yield, And march'd a victor from the verdant ! Him Bafto follow'd, but his fate more ha Gain'd but one trump, and one Plebeian With his broad fabre next, a chief in yea The hoary Majefty of Spades appears, Puts forth one manly leg, to fight reveal The reft his many-colour'd robe conceal": The rebel Knave, who dares his prince en Proves the juft victim of his royal iage. E'en mighty Pam, that Kings and Queens threw,

And mow'd down armies in the fights of Sad chance of war! now deftitute of aid, Falls undiftinguifh'd by the victor Spade

Thus far both armses to Belinda yield Now to the Baron fate inclines the field. His warlike Amazon her host invades, Th' imperial confort of the crown of Spac The Club's black tyrant firft her victim d Spite of his haughty mien, and barb'rous p What boots the regal circle on his head; His giant limbs, in ftate unwieldy fpread That long behind he trails his pompous re And, of all monarchs, only graips the gl

The Baron now his Diamonds pours a Th embroider'd Kingwhothewsbuthalf his And his refulgent Queen, with pow'rs Of broken troops an eaty conqueft find. [L Clubs, Diamonds, Hearts, in wild diforder With throngs promifcuousftrow the level Thus when difpers'd a routed army runs, Of Afia's troops, and Afric's feeble fons, With like confufion diff'rent nations fly, Of various habit, and of various dye; The pierc'd battalions difunited fall In heaps on heaps; one fate o'erwhelms ther

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