Thence Arts o'er all the northern world advance,
But Critic-learning flourish'd mest in France;
The rules a nation, born to ferve, obeys;
And Boileau still in right of Horace fways. 715
But we, brave Britons, foreign laws despis'd,
And kept unconquer'd and unciviliz'd;
Fierce for the liberties of wit, and bold,

We still defy'd the Romans, as of old.
Yet fome there were, among the founder few
Of those who lefs prefum'd, and better knew, 721
Who durft affert the juster ancient cause,
And here reftor'd Wit's fundamental laws.
Such was the Mufe, whofe rules and practice tell,
"Nature's chief Mafter-piece is writing well." 725

COMMENTARY.

well as Friend, it gives him a graceful opportunity to add himself to the number of the later Critics; and with a character of his own genius and temper, sustained by that modefty and dignity which it is fo difficult to make confiftent, this performance concludes.

I have given a fhort and plain account of the Essay on Criticifm, concerning which I have but one thing more to acquaint the reader: That when he confiders the Regularity of the plan, the masterly conduct of each part, the penetration into Nature, and the compafs of Learning, fo confpicuous throughout, he fhould at the fame time know, it was the work of an Author who had not attained the twentieth year of his age.

NOTES.

VER. 724. Such was the Mufe-] Essay on Poetry by the Duke of Buckingham. Our Poet is not the only one of his time

Such was Rofcommon, not more learn'd than good,
With manners gen'rous as his noble blood;
To him the wit of Greece and Rome was known,
And ev'ry author's merit, but his own.
Such late was Walsh--the Mufe's judge and friend,
Who justly knew to blame or to commend; 731
To failings mild, but zealous for defert;

The clearest head, and the fincerest heart.
This humble praise, lamented fhade! receive,
This praise at leaft a grateful Muse may give: 735

NOTES.

who complimented this Efay, and its noble Author. Mr. Dryden had done it very largely in the Dedication to his tranflation of the Æneid; and Dr. Garth in the firft Edition of his Difpenfary fays,

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 steady adhe rent to the Church of England-Party, yet an Enemy to the extravagant measures of the Court in the reign of Charles II. On which account, after having ftrongly patronized Mr. Dryden, a coolnefs 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 cha racter 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 flave of state.

Abf. and Achit. Our Author was more happy, he was honoured very young 'with his friendfhip, and it continued till his death in all the circumftanc

The Muse, whose early voice you taught to fing,
Prescrib'd her heights, and prun'd her tender wing,
(Her guide now loft) no more attempts to rise,
But in low numbers short excurfions tries: 739
Content,if hence th'unlearn'd their wants may view,
The learn'd reflect on what before they knew:
Careless of cenfure, nor too fond of fame;
Still pleas'd to praise, yet not afraid to blame;
Averse alike to flatter, or offend;

744

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

THE

RAPE of the LOCK.

AN

HEROI-COMICAL

POEM.

Written in the Year MDCCXII.