Faith, Justice, Heaven itself now quit their hold 85 When to false fame the captived heart is sold: 90 95 Nor boasts the Muse a vain imagined power, Tho' oft she mourn those ills she cannot cure. 100 The worthy court her, and the worthless fear; Who shun her piercing eye, that eye revere. Her awful voice the vain and vile obey, And every foe to wisdom feels her sway. Smarts, pedants, as she smiles, no more are vain ; Desponding fops resign the clouded cane: Mais de ses faux amis il craint la raillerie, Boileau, Ep. iii. Hush'd at her voice, pert Folly's self is still, 115 And awes the Brave that earth and heaven defied. IMITATIONS. Ver. 110. From poisonous vice, &c.] Alluding to these lines of Mr. Pope: In the nice bee what art so subtly true From poisonous herbs extracts a healing dew? But with the friends of vice, the foes of SATIRE, All truth is spleen; all just reproof, ill-nature. Well may they dread the Muse's fatal skill; Well may they tremble when she draws her quill; Her magic quill, that like ITHURIEL's spear, 135 Reveals the cloven hoof, or lengthen'd ear; Bids Vice and Folly take their natural shapes, Turns duchesses to strumpets, beaux to apes; Drags the vile whisperer from his dark abode, Till all the demon starts up from the toad. 140 145 O sordid maxim, form'd to screen the vile, That true good-nature still must wear a smile! In frowns array'd her beauties stronger rise, When love of virtue makes her scorn of vice: Where justice calls, 'tis cruelty to save; And 'tis the law's good-nature hangs the knave. Who combats virtue's foe is virtue's friend: Then judge of SATIRE'S merit by her end: To Guilt alone her vengeance stands confined, The object of her love is all mankind. Scarce more the friend of Man, the wise must own, Even ALLEN's bounteous hand, than SATIRE's frown: This to chastise, as that to bless, was given; Alike the faithful ministers of Heaven. 150 Oft in unfeeling hearts the shaft is spent: 155 Though strong th' example, weak the punishment. They least are pain'd, who merit Satire most; Folly the Laureat's, vice was Chartres' boast: Then where's the wrong, to gibbet high the name Of fools and knaves already dead to shame? 160 Oft SATIRE acts the faithful surgeon's part; Generous and kind, though painful is her art: With caution bold, she only strikes to heal; Though folly raves to break the friendly steel. Then sure no fault impartial SATIRE knows, 165 Kind even in vengeance, kind to Virtue's foes. Whose is the crime, the scandal too be theirs : The knave and fool are their own libellers. PART II. 170 DARE But chief, be steady in a noble end, 175 180 O lost to honour's voice, O doom'd to shame, 190 With caution next, the dangerous power apply; An eagle's talon asks an eagle's eye: |