ia L/ 'e9T6- / THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES THE AGE of GENIUS! SATIRE on the TIMES. IN A POETICAL EPISTLE TOA FRIEND. BY THOMAS BUSBY. LONDON: Printed for Harrison and Co. N° 18, Patemofter-Row. MDCC I.XXXVI. 9j J PREFACE. | Am not unaware that fome of the fentiments in the following Pages will prove difcordant to prevailing opinions; but as every author does, or is Juppojed to, deliver his own thoughts, thefe are preferred under that title. If the Poem poheiTes merit, that merit will be it's oim index with real judges, and furvive all the attacks of falfe criti- ciiln: if, on the contrarv, it mould be fouud deili- tute, inflead of tranfmitting it's author's name to pofterity, it will as certainly link into oblivion ; a circumftance which every unfuccefsful writer, not as void of underftanding as of literary talents, will deem the more tolerable fate. 773J & T H E AGE of GENIUS! AN EPISTLE TO A FRIEND. TJOU, my dear friend, whom art and talents grace, J: ~ Which only to your principles yield place; Who by your own know genius' real flame, And, in your own, enjoy a well-earn V fame ; You, liiTning to my temporary fong, 5 Shall judge, and tell me if I'm right or wrong. When our grave grandiires talk of thofe rare times, Ere modern follies fprung,- or modern crimes ; B When [ 6 ] When all were chaftely honeft, greatly good; Untempted, or temptation {till withstood; 10 When patriotifmin^tf/r/fl/.s' found fupport, And Virtue at St. James's kept her court ; When nought but for the public good was done ; Ere kings believ'd the many made for one; When viewing in their King the common weal, 1 5 The many felt for one a loyal zeal ; When ev'ry heart beat Amor Patrice, And Britain' sjlrength was Britain's liberty; Ere lower ranks were mingled with the higher. Or trade to diflipation dar'd afpire ; 20 Ere linfey-woolfey gowns were thrown afide, To deck, in lace and luftring, female pride ; Ere old men wore their hair, when young ones wigs ; Ere cits kept country boxes, and their gigs ; When lords and ladies honour d their degree, 2 5 All things and men, what me7t and things mould be : When you hear this; when alfo you reflect, All times, in turn, partake the fame refpeel; That [ 7 ] That juft like living poets, prefent days, Whate"er their merit, know no prefent praife ; 30 That, pad and gone, like works of authors dead, Times are extoll'd whofe worthies wanted bread: When you reflection this, tho? griev d the while, The folly cannot chufe but make you fmile! But yet, again, (diftinction's line to draw) 35 Tho' dotage thus to preach, we know no law Binds us to think pafl times/***; virtues had, Or, having few, that thefe are not as bad. Some faults, fome foibles, certainly we have; Some fools, fome coxcombs — 'here and there, a knave. 40 Some few erroneous notions now prevail : Thefe let us weigh, my friend, in Reafon's fcale. The times have been when genius was fo rare, The learn'd would revrence, and the ign'rant/^n?, If beaming from above the blefling fell, 45 And bade fome fav'rite happily excel : The [ s ] lan with virtue anc Was prais'd by all, and by the wife admir d ; Beholding in the gift it's SACRED SOURCE, All honour'd, cherifh'd, and cenfefs'd it's force : 50 From hcav'n alone it carrie, and came to few, Nor from the fteril root of labour grew, Of genius now (blefb age i) the c r . . ? lot! All think they have it — iiay, who has it no In courts it mines, in fenatcs, and Xh&fchooh, 55 And clears the world of dunces and of fools ! Spreads, flourishes, and favours uiiccnfln'd ; One common benefit to all mankind ! In this opinion young and old abide, What genius is, is all they can't decide. 60 Some, at the moft, a knack conceive it all ; Or well to write, or well to catch a ball, An, equal object of their admiration, As Jure a title 'to their approbation : Thefe undertake to prove it only toil, 65 Denying iverjity of foil ; Nature [ 9 ] Nature, with them, has no distinction made, And fruit mufl follow Application's fpade: While others, (and by much the greater fart) Tho' they allow it not depends on art, 70 By labour fill aver it may be gain'd ; Or fomething very fimilar attain'd. Hence, of all maxims, which more trite than this * Study the more, if Nature is remifs ?' Guided by this., the million's led away ; 75 Guided by this, hear what the million fay ! — 1 Art thou not bleft with Genius labour free? 1 By labour then, at leaft, a Genius be ; ' PraBice makes perfeB — Naturey?/// is kind, { If to her offers we're not idly blind. \ ■ 80 i Nature is coy but to be fu'd with Art ; 1 Then be it thine to act the fuitor's part. ' Still as {he frowns, more ardent court her fmile,. ' And feek her favours at the hand of Toil.. C Has [ io ] < Has ihe with /paring hand fupplied thy cup? 85 * Pour in from Learning s, then, 2nd. f 11 it up t * The more thou add'fl to what was giv'n before, f Be fure in future, fhe will give the more ; * In fhape of Genius v/ill her bleilings fhow'r ; * Shew what in her s and what in Learnings pow'r ; 90 1 Prove that to Knowledge Wit is Hill allied, 4 That Labour s fuit is never long denied, < That learning all deficiencies fupplies, 4 And teaches e'en the loeakeji to be wife. < Then labour— thus thou full amends malt make 95 * For natural defects.' O grofs miftake! From toil, I grant, fome aid we may expecl, But ne'er fhall conquer natural defecl. Strive as we may, endeavour all we can To counter-aft, and vary Nature s plan, 100 Still, fpite of all, (lie keeps her fov 'reign way, Nor yields to Art the honour of \\zrftvay. Nature to Art gave birth— and fay, (IrAlfte The Jlave commence of whom flic caus'd to be f 'Gainfl [ » ] 'Gainft her own wifdom mail (he prove a tool, ioc And mar her purpofe to indulge a. fool? The bulk of Life's affairs afk no great parts, And little or of fciences or arts : Labour, mere labour, is the grand demand ; Some things the Wmuft do, but more the hand. no The humbkjl tenement Content enjoys, In raifiiig, many labourers employs ; While amplejl piles Ambition can erect, Afk in defgning but one architect. 'Cause moft are mallow, fay we Nature fails ? 1 20 Her wifdom, rather fay, as much prevails Where her ftream oozes thro' the narrowejl fouls, As where in fullejl tides her bounty rolls. 'Tis not (he Jinks, becaufe fhe lifts not all-, Shefeems indeed, but only feems, to fall : 1 To one, great end diversifies creation, Supports and governs by fubordination ; Here [ " ] Here hicrli, there low ; now calm, and now a dorm ; Various in means, in purpofe uniform : Each rule of Nature's an un&rrwg rule ; 130 And when fhe makes> me always means a fool. What if each age ten thoufand Pitts produce, And gives no R s for common ufe ? Some two or three can chaunt the Cockpit note,. But Government three hundred wants to vote : 135 What's a whole Cabinet, tho' e'er fo wife y Devoid of P s for timely lyes f In this great town, (region of worldly cares f) What thoufands thrive by only vending wares ! While many a fon of Genius, and ol Science, 140- la richejl merit finds a. poor reliance ! Seo*/W the world the obfervation hold— The way of dulnefs is the way of gold. The reafon's plain— all— craft fmen, '%uires, and kings- Need more of common than ingenious things. 145 t\ poem [ '3 ] A poem, fong, or picture, now and then, May ftrike the fancied tajle of dulleft men : But vulgar lux'ries come in confant-p\ay ; Drefs and good-living triumph ev.ry day. Since then, of life's conveniencics, the fum 150 Mufl from mere mduflry, not Genius, come, Dame Nature, in her wifdom, has thought fit, To give to moil a plenteous lack of wit ; To ftint them to their neceffary light, Keep to it's proper bound their mental fight, 155 That, only feeing their own narrow courfe, (As blinkers help to guide the packer's horfe) They may not to eccentric objeEls ftray, But keep the beate?i tenor of their way. Did Genius fall the lot of evry one, 1 60 How wou'd the bus'nefs of the world be done ? If all were wits, who'd wreath the poet's bays ? Originals, who furbifh up old plays 9 D What [ '4 ] What H ts pillage for us Gallic fc en es f And what become of all our Magazines f 1 65. All frjl-rate artifts, who'd fupply the town With, fir 'iking liheneffes at Half -a-cr onion f Our dramatifts, all Sheridans and Colmans,. Our players, Kings and Kembles, Popes and Holmans ; Who fhou'd enrich the ftage with Fontainbleata f. 1.70 What D s fpeak fo well with half a nofe £ Or if, in mufic> Genius favour* d all,, Who fet the yearly jingle of Vauxhall ?; To hotch-potch poetry ; give airs hotch-potch,. Coin Engli/h jargon, and baptize it Scotch?' f-7'S New fet this month, it's fond compofer's pride \ By the cloy'd public, next month, fet afde.. All Stanleys, Arnolds, Battifhills,. and Cooks,. What fhou'd we do for H — ns, and for H — ks ? Could all compofc, what D — ys fhou'd compile ? 1.8a What D — es do great things, in a little file - r Difplay their tiny parts in alterations^ New fet old tunes, and fpin out variations? Ail [ *5 1 AIT parfons, learned hifhops y who wou'd preach f- All qualified \ who condefcend to teach ? 185. If all great lazvyers, lifted to the bar, What leffer rogues fhou'd bid their neighbours jar ? Into their minds the legal frenzy pour ; Or, found fomented, ftill foment the more ? All at the top, the. top. who fhall fupport ? 19c Who drive the fheep up to the Jleeclng court ? If all phyfcians r who's to mix the drug ?. What the grave face, wife w/V,.well-practis'd fhrug,. If ftill no apothecary adds his part, . T r enforce the recipe, and reach the heart ? 195 Say, what the ufe of fur eft precepts giv'n, If ftill in vain the patient ftghs — for heavn f Each has his part in what his talents fuit\ 'This fhou'd defign, and that but execute : This fort the feed, by thofe the earth be till'd ; 2CO That give the plan, and thefe the ftructure build, Each [ '6 ] Each of one chain is but a different link, Whether his tafk to execute, or think : Each in his office bears fome ufeful part ; And toil's as indifpenfable as art. 205 Pity all fee not Nature' s plain dejign ; Not keep their ftation in the me?ital line : By lefs'ning links the varying chain is bound, In mazy turnings winds and winds around ; Hence, meeting ', leaft with greateft will compare, 210 Nor know how many circles off 'they are. By force of application all will draw BleiTings from Nature againfl Nature's law ; * Still toil and teaze, as, by downright affault, They'd make her mend, by puniJJjing her fault : 215 But thus attack'd, fhe fortifies her rules, And fools, Jlill plodding, grow the duller fools. E'en Pope, who modejlly imputes to care, The charms that in his verfe mine evry where, Proves [ '7 ] Proves, in his very compliment to toil, 220 Such flow rs cou'd only fpring in fuch a foil. O happy Bard! Ah, how much happier yet, Had but due f jades oppos'd the lights of wit ! Hadft thou for thine the plan of Nature chofe, And fhewn the nettle to commend the rofe ! 225 J uft giv'n the f ample to the rule you drew, And been contented not to over-do / Why by redundant toil are plain things forc'd, And from their own Jimplkity divorc'd ? Whether the fubjed:, reptiles, gods, or men, 230 Why all things blazon where you turn your pen ? To theflrfl luflre fee all parts afpire, And own e'en beauty , imreliev d, may tire. Think a whole year beams out one fcene of flown. Warm funs, foft airs, and amaranthine bow'rs ; 235 E And [ 18 ] And fay, if flow'rs, it funfhine, and foft airs r And all the charms the loveliefi feafon wears, Can yield the tranfport of returning fpr in g, Shaking new fragrance from freJJj-fcented wing, When Earth, reliev'd from ftorms and freezing ikies,. 24c* Feels from her womb a new creation rife 5 When Summer follows with maturing fun, And takes of Spring the tajk fhe had begun \ When Autumn's pencil, varying ftill the fcene, Ripens the fruit, re-paints the changing green y 245 When Winter, with a rougher, bolder hand, Heaves the fwell'd flood, or whitens er the land : When thefe in Nature's fapient order roll ; Oppos'd, th.o join d; tho' fev'ral, one great whole! Strike the chartnd eye, and teach th' enraptur d heart, 250 To feel what circling feafon s can impart ! Great DRYDEN view! fee Art not rule, but aidy The objeSls Nature's, Art's the light and Ji bade : See [ '9 ] See them in due fub ordination join ; As that frikes out, this p erf e& the defign. 255 Still as each thought fupplies the various rhyme, Th' according flile it's nature fuits, and clime. If it demand a bright and burning fun, Their blazing courfe the vivid numbers run : Would this but dazzle f Should lefs force infpire ? 260 Lefs glowing language fheds it milder fire : Would it in cooler made more grace receive ? A foft recefs the faint expreffons give : Does it, quite plain, a lowly flation afk ? The homely line performs it's humble tafk .* 265 Would it more nat'ral in the medium flow ? The verfe acco?nmodates ; nor high, nor low : While, noble ! it in higher fph ere wou'd fhine, He elevates it in a file divine / See Nature s pencil, in the hand of Art y -> 270 Nature s own fpirit to the work impart x And the bold figures, living I from the canvas fart! See [ 20 I See Learning's body kindled all to foul ! See the bright flame of Genius wrap the whole ! And fay, had Nature this great foul denied, 275 If Toil the infpiration had fupplied ? Most minds, by Nature botmd to fuch a line, Only within that fphere can ever fhine : Nay, even there, peep out in rays fo f nail, We cannot, fairly, fay they fhine at all. 280 Some, like the Sun, whole worlds are form'd to light ; Shine evry where, and ev'ry where are bright : Others, if o'er their boundaries they rove, Sink, and extinguishing, mere meteors prove. For a fliort fpace fome roll their tra?ifient fife, 285 Juft kindle to afajh, and then — expire ! Some a long courfe in Nature's medium fhine, Nor yet to deaden, nor to blaze, incline. Thefe, independent, in themfehes are bright ; Thofe form'd but to reflect: another's light : 290 Some, [ M ] Some, like fierce comets, rapid move, and far j Like them, again, returning regidar ; Relume their fire at Relaxation s fun, And then again as wide a circuit run, When we a fpark wou'd rouze to aEiive flame, 293 We only need to fa?i and feed the fame : Once rais'd, the more we heap the kindling pyre, Sparks thicker rife, and fiercer flames afpire ; Catch at each part, their growing vigour raife, And fpread, and burft into an univerfal blaze! 300 Not fo the mind — A fpark found only there, We lefs muft heap, and with a ?iicer care : The mental fpark but fuch a pile will light, Bear but fuch chafing, and but hum fo bright. The fuel duly meafurd to it's pow'r, 305 It faintly glimmering, may exift it's hour j Illumine all it's little pyre around, And, by it's own, mew -kindred J "parks their bound, F But [ a ] But if, ambitious,) it woixdfpread, (Behold ! Behold the fate of tittle f parks too bold !) 31Q Stifled by what it vainly ftrives to light. It's rafhnefs brings it's own eternal night.. Good Doctor Dormant, whom in youth wc knew, Had fome final 'I fpir 'it, {omefnall Genius too ; And with proportion d learning promis'd fair,. 315 To do fome credit to the paft'ral care : Nay, pow'rs beyond mofi parfons might have reach'd, And kept awake his audience while he preach d\ Or, (greater latitude of praife to take) Had preach'd as tho' he were himfelf awake : 320 Bat, lo! with erudition overcharged, And nothing but his waif and wig enlarg'd, With letter d lumber, heap'd and heap'd about, Self-knowledge quench d, knowledge of men find out : Nay, Learning s f elf , prefs'd down by it's own weight 325 Too clofe to kindle, or irradiate, The [ =3 ] The fpark that in due time had fomewhat fhone, Inftead of brighter ; quite obfcure is grown ; And for fome judgment, fpirit, and ideas, Only a huge, dead flock of words appears. 330 And now I hear fome pedants fay — c What, then, * Is Genius all that's to diftinguifh men ? * Shall Wit o'er Learning dare to mount his feat ? 1 Illiterate Wit the f acred Sifters greet ?' No — Genius e'er fo great, I ftill confefs, 335 Can never know, alone, it's happinefs : As flames unfed, muft traniiently expire, So without learning muft the mental fire : Nay, as more bright, more general the flame, More fuel muft fupply and feed the fame j 340 E'en fo the mind the wider it expands, More knowledge for it's maintenance demands. Genius and Learning, in each other bleft, In him a manly ftrength, in her confefs'd That [ H ] That pliant Modefty which heightens beauty, 345 And adds to charms of frame, the grace of duty ; Which points, yet delicately points, the way ; So rules, by yielding me preferves her fway ; While Genius triumphs with a genrous pride, And, while he's guided, feems to lead his guide— 350 Learning with Wit, thus happily combin'd, Will, mufti yield models of the nob left kind ; The parents by their progeny be known ; Their blended qualities exalted fhewn : Learning by Wit infpir'd, to Wit gives aid, 355 While Wifdom, fmiling, owns the league (he made. Where is the man who learning wou'd explode f We only reafon 'gainft the genral mode ; The dealing it to geniufes and fools, By equal portions, and unvaried rules. 3 6 ° It's prefent influence, let us then furvcy ; See who it aids, and who it leads aft ray ; iiow [ *5 ] How oft but fills the gap of youthful years, And then for trade, or pleafure, difappears : Yet how more frequent holds up human pride, 365 And follies, nature, unprovoK d, wou'd hide. Among the fons of Literature , how few Up to the fountain-head the ftream purfue ! Or, to the fountain-head purfuing, yet How fewer tafte the fenfe, or feel the wit ! 370 How many with the dregs become unfound ? (For where the fpring fo clear but dregs are found ? Where dregs, my friend, more plenteous found than here, Tho' drawn by you, no fpring is found fo clear) How ma?iy, with their learning, error drink, 375 And make the brink of knowledge, folly s brink ; At ■evry draught fome wholefome though c reprefs^ And only fuck in pride and idle?iefs ! Some are to barbarifm fofrong inclin'd By nature, they can never be refin'd ; 380 G Or [ =6 3 Or arts, or letters, teach them what you will, You only give to vice new fioivrs and jkill : Bound or to frailty s, or to folly j fide,. Or vice, or folly ', ftill their conducl: guide ; While each accomplishment bellows the art, 385 Abler to play the fop's or villain s part. With fome fmall parts, but more of vulgar pride y (The common bafs of each fault befide) They ?iot without fuccefs to ftudy bend, (If that's fuccefs which ferves not Virtue s end) 390 New vices, with each new acquirement, mew ; Or as in blow ledge, fo in pertnefs grow ; Bid Confidence break down each decent fence,. And Learning hold the torch to Info/ence. For learning heav'n ccu'd never thefe defign, 395 Since worfe than vain, our efforts to refine.. Their native, grofs deformity of foul, (As fubterraneous vapours harmlefs roll) Beneath the veil of ignorance might lie Unvcticd, nor offend th' efcaping eye. 400 But [ *7 ] But, meant by erudition to be grac'd, And in the light of literature mifplacd. Each fault's not only brought to public view. But what expofes magnifies it too. So when grofs matter in the earth is pent, 405 Th' exhaling beams of Phoebus give it vent ; Draw it from darknefs to the open day, (From where, confind, it inoffenjive lay) And as it iflues from the teeming earth, Not merely give the fulphur fecond birth, 410 But as it, fuming, hovers o'er the ground. Spread it, by rarefaction, all around* Some boys, at mojl^ leem only fent to fchooly To compliment the univerfal rule ; jfuft thro' a certain courfe of fludy run,. 415 jfuft to return to where they firjl begun : Acquire a little with a deal ofpain> For bus'nefs to refign it all again ; Juft [ 28 ] Tuft as their Jtftersy in their maiden lives, Learn mufic — to forget it when they're wives, 420 Behold them, tolerable fcholars made, Throw by their booh to make a way for trade : At certain age, fee them of courfe begin To let out learning, \o let commerce in ; Till from all lit'rature's attractions wean'd, 425 And lofing e'en the little they had glean'd, In fpite of all their Greek, and all the praife Acquir'd by mifconjlruing Latin plays, They turn out juft as wife, and jufr. as bright, As thofe who've only learn'd to read and write. 430 Agat the goldfmith, when he firft left fchool, Could translate Virgil, and was no fmall fool ; Nay, was fo good a Grecian, that, 'tis faid, Homer with decent jluency he read. But now with other things that head is fill'd, 435 Than who dole Helen, or who HeElor kill'dj The [ *9 ] The narrow cell but for one tenant made, Could not contain both litrature and trade. TraAzsJkilfulhand foon therefore op'd a door For Learning's quicldy-difappearing ftore ; 440 Drew from his head what knowledge it might hold, Nezvfumift'd, and trepan?i , d y the fkull With gold. Now Traffic holds the feat where Learning fate, And now a diamond cajket is that pate; Where Homer fhot but an ideal blaze, 4-45 Now real brilliants dart congenial rays : Where gold in golden verfe cou'd only flow ', There Jlerling gold fupplies \t\folid glow : No more a place there Greece or Troy maintain, No longer burden his now alter d brain; 450 If any Troy, Troy-weight now bears the fway ; And Greece, that conquer d Troy, to gold gives way. These zfmallfew 1 — The greater, wifer part, Difplay their talents in a bolder ftart ! H To [' 3° J To brighter objects than dull commerce turn; 455 For nobler wreaths than Crczfus dare to burn ! Retain their learning, and-, befure, forget Their bmnefs, left the world forget their taft .*■ 'Moneft Guildhall's patriots, or Coachmaker's (marts, Unwind their learning, and difplay their parts. . 46.0. No matter whether trade goes-ill or well 5 ' ' \ ' Enough for them, that they in prate excel ! And, ftrange to fay ! no few of modern failures Originate at Paul's, or Merchant-Taylor's. Cits, fcholars now and rhetoricians grown, 46 5 Claim more than ancient titles for their own. Once* all their care to be well foak'd and fed ; The belly fill d, ftill empty went the head: Carelefs of praife at council each took part ; Nor got, the day before, his fpeech by heart. 470 Cool, if not rational, he /poke his fay ; And equal orators bore equal /way. No [ 3' ] No third of lettcr'd reputation yet Had e'en begot th* idea of city-wit ; No brawling knew they loud as at the bar; 475 No blows uncivil bred a civil-war : Each talk'd and doz d in turn, and that was all ; No pens and ink yet flew about the Hall : No neighbour to defpoil his neighbour fought, But all departed with the wigs they brought ; 480 No heads furcharg'd in rajh difpute then mix'd, Like Shrovetide cocks on leaden bafis fix'd ; In weight of belly each his ballaft found, And, light at top, erectly kept his ground. But this no more ! — We muft not now, alack! 485 Seek the decorum of a cent'ry back : All learned now, and confequently wits. Fall curelefs into ftrong-conceited fits ; For liberty, and dear diurnal fame, Rum to debate with more than patriot flame : 490 To [ 3* ] To Council call'd, fo furioufly engage, They fcarce at table fhew a greater rage ! At Merchant-Taylor s bred, Hardwareman cries— ' Shall we than men of Paul's be deem'd lefs wife ?' Or, bred at Paul's — ' Shall we in knowledge yield, 1 And give to Merchant-Taylor" s men the field ? — ' Here ! where's my gown, lamp, paper, ink, and pen ? ' Sleep is for private, not for public, men : * To my dear country I'll this night devote, ' To-morrow's fpeech indite, and get by rote.' By his wife queftion'd why he keeps from bed — * England ' s f aha t ion, child, is in my head ! ( How we may rife, her Genius whifpers ftill ; 1 But all depends upon my care and fkill : ' Britanriia calls! and I muft do her will.' So when poor Crifpin, crazy for the praife Of pulpit eloquence, to preach effays ; His 'pre?itice clerk ; his cobling-Jlool his ftage ; Flies to the fields with taber?mcle rage ! 495 500 505 With [ 33 ] With Rowland's fkill creels the orbs of fight, Or turns them, ravif/d I on the inward light ! Forgets Will's flioulders are but flefh and bone, Or thinks at home he's hammering on his Jlone ; Now faith, all-faving faith > proclaims aloud ! Now deals damnation on the trembling crowd \ Afk'd why for preaching he deferts his fall, (Bred at Moorfields, or Tot'nam) hear him bawl, 1 Becaufe as how I feels I has a call /' 5io Si5 Say moderns what they will, we ftill mail find All knowledge but the vefture to the mind ; That, howe'er fine the cloth y or rich the lace-, No blockhead 'j wear will ever give it grace : While Genius 1 e'er fo coarfely clad, {fill fhews A manner ! and does credit to his cloaths. But as the mob no nice diftinctions make, Exterior glare for Quality miftake, While Quality herfelf in plain array, PaiTes unnotic d thro* the public way ; 520 525 Since [ 3+ ] Since only Ta/le can ever draw the line, 'Tween where the trappings, where the manners mine y 530 Where from within, no rays the Graces fhoot, Where Elegance but afks a better fuit, So few difcern th' i?ifuperable fence, 'Tween only ignorance and — want of fenfe. Who're deeply learned, mujl be deeply wife, 535 Wifdom in theory ', not praSlice, lies : Who know the right, are wife, e'en in the wrong ; Tho' weak their conduEl, ftill their judgment ftrong. Who little know ; that little e'er fo well Employ 'd, each d er-cha?g d blockhead fhall excel 54c His boldeft, happieji effort : and by fhewing The diff'rence between doing and but knowing, Secure the plaudits due to native me?~it, Andfeize the palm which Genius fhou'd inherit. Some we both know, who, train'd in Folly's walk, 545 Blunder thro' life, and while they're /tumbling, talk Of [ 35 ] Of reSlitude ; and place all human reafon In words fo join d, things done in fuch a feafon ; In knowing right from wrong, tho' all their life Is with that knowledge one continual flrife : 550 Their doSlrines tell how eafy 'tis to preachy Their lives how hard to pra&ife what they teach. 4 Who know the right, can do the right at will \ f Knowledge the pow'r, the virtue and the fkill. 4 Who can return, have privilege to {tray ; 555 4 Nor do they err who know the better way. 4 To knows the fenfe — they're wife who wifdomy^? — ■ * To know what's right, is in the right to be /' And is it then enough we wifdom view ? Is to dijlinguijjj all we have to do ? 560 Will merely feparating wrong from right, Teach to refrain from that, in this delight i Is it enough we hear but Reafon 's voice ? No judgment neceffary to direel our choice # No [ 36 ] . . "No grace, no fenfe, no talents wanting ftill, 565 To do, as well as underjland her will ? Merely the good and ill to juftly paint, Diilinguifnes the preacher, not the faint : To know true wit fromfalfe, and only know it, May form the critic, but ne'er made a poet. 570 When to confirm his virtue 2iiA his knowledge, His imfpoiTd fon Sir Tradewell fent to college, And found, at his return, his education But pedantry, and /#/? Unlefs firft qualified— as-pimp, or whore- Yet on occafion too, (loop eerfo low, If with the lordly view to make themfo — 620 When [ 39 ] When thus my lord inftruc~ts his heir to run The courfe of guilty ere manhood's is begun j To drink, to rake, feduce, and throw the dice, With ev'ry other fafhionable vice ; To make his claim to his eft ate more clear, 625 To all his follies makes him too the heir j Adts wilfully in Reafon's contradiction ; Not only errs, but errs 'gainftfelf-conviSrion ; Nor claims the want of knowledge for defence — What is it — tell me — but the want offenfef 630 Survey the times, you'll find the dulleft elves Have flill the heft opinion of themfelves : Tho' void of underftanding, as of wit. In blejfed f elf -conceit they're happy yet\ That fuccedaneum all defects fupplies ; 6$ 5 With common fenfe and that, they all are wife : Nor only wife — Conceit provides them wit j At council aids my lord, as well as cit : By ** [ 4° ] By Cit, nor Lord, nor Parliament, nor Hafl, Monopolize! — but full enjoy' d by all. 640 Evry profellion feels alike it's aid, And Jon s of rhetoric fpring foomfom of trade : All now too bright for Traffic s occupations, Ruin from their own, and feize the upper ftations : By dint of confidence, or dint of gold, 645 Ufurp the heights Ability mould hold : While Merit once dethrond, they keep her down - y And, howe'er ill it fits them, wear the crown. Tho' long, long fled the time fince hold Pretence Firfl with his Jlrong, invulnerable fence, 65c Guarded fond Inclination 'gainft th' attack Of fe arching Diffidence, ((till free to rack The bread of Genius ; to inflict thofe pains, RefervM, alas ! for all who're curft with brains ; Thofe poignant wounds which f eruptions merit feels, 655 Which fcarce the world's jufl co?nme?idatiQ?i heals;) Tho* [ 4' ] Tho' long, long gone the day fince Dulnefs knew (If eer fhe did) the pangs which ftill accrue From felf-critique — yet never, fare, till nozi\ Did Confidence fuch ai?iple field allow 670 To Vanity — Once in his own fmall way To be the firir, and bear mechanic fway, Compafs'd the craftfman s wifh ; nor did he drive By any but his native pow'rs, to thrive : Now Emulation wild, and pajl all bound, 675 Soars to the Jkies, difdainful of the ground ; While all [tor foreign fame outrageous grown) Would mount on any pinions but their own. The Cooper fcans the planets, knows their fcope, Bends pliamt nature as he bends a hoop ; 680 Gallantly gives to Venus Saturns moons, And proves by gravity we raife balloons ! The Carpenter, turn'd architect, defigns / S y harangues ; Dunces commence Divines ! Th' Apothecary makes Cafialian dofes ! 685 And Madan turns Mufician, and compofes ! L As f 42 ] As fome peculiar whim each coxcomb draws Aiide, fo diff'rent accidents the caufe : Unconfcious, thefe at firft are led aftray ; Th$fe, of themfehes ambitious, Jlart away ! 690 Some later catch this fever of conceit , Others in infancy imbibe it's heat. What parent but admires his children's babble. And fenfe and humour hears in all they gabble f Between papa and company hemm'd in, 695 How Dicky's wit provokes the circling grin ! And if 'mongft all the rattle of a day, One random repartee fhou'd break it's way, Which the child neither means nor under/lands. What laughing plaudits I and what clap of hands ! 'joo How oft the table bids the joke refound ! Thcflanding bye-word of a whole year round / Does he, in fome mere, wanton whimfey, fnatch The pencil, and around the vfrixikotf cratch — « What C 43 ] . What rijing genius dawns in evry Jiroke ! 705 A painter born ! — See here — fee there f — Look) look ! Let him go on, and 'gad ! 'tis all fa well, No artift livin? but he fhall excel, Shou'd he proceed, and take to Humour s fchool. To what he'll be, your Rowlandfon s a fool ; 71©- Or if for portraits, foon mail Romney yield, And even Gainjborough give up the field : For hiftory f Still fhall he top the befl ; To Reynolds' force join all the truth of Wefl /' Or does he draw the bow acrofs the kit, 715 And, eha?ice-direcled, fome known paf&ge hit, Enough ! c The boy has nfurpriz'mg ear t ' Has he not, fpoufe ?' — c Indeed he has, my dear ! * What may we not expect from fuch a fon f — ' At leaft, a Cramer, or a Salomon / 720 * A mailer he fhall have, whate'er the cojl j c A downright fn fuch genius fhou'd be lofl I Perhaps [ 44 ] Perhaps grown up, (his earlier years all fpent In thofe vile tricks which fpeak a vicious bent In nature ; and by which we all forefee By what the boy is, what, the man will be ;) Perhaps, tho' mean in parts, for trade too proud, (In pride as well as aunmrig 'bove the crowd) He bends to ftudy ; and, thro' want of time, But nczv andthen repeats a former crime : (While at his heart vice ft ill retains it's root, And but retires more vigorous to moot, When rip 'ning years fhall all it's flrength difplay Full-grown, nor for inking from the eye of day) Perhaps, (for Dulnefs is to Toil allied, As Craft tp Dulnefs, or as both to Pride ;) Perhaps he labours, and as fierce a zeal For virtue, as for learning, feems to feel : Ne'er from his books, but, plodding day and nighj - (As wond'rous good, as he is wond'rous bright) Makes his dup'd father think now all is right : 2 5 73° 735 740 Who [ 45 ] Who, fimph man! unknowing Nature $ rules, And how me qualifies her choiceft fools ; Who not amorigft the brightefi wits Eimfelf, Confounds with wifs each /sar^, each artful elf; 745 - Sees wifdom in the knave, and firfl-rate farts. Where wz/er wot fee only mcanefl arts ; Finds Genius where but Av'rice' talons lurk, By Knavry fharp ned for Difioncur's work — Knav'ry ! which wife men hate, the dull adore, 75Q Comprizing all the fool, and fome thing more : Vile, abjetf: Knav'ry! -ever on. the watch For what by meaneft methods he may catch ; Whom he may bed ficr prize, whofe wit defeat, (For no?w fo keen but whom a knave (hall cheat) 755 Whofe /6ot/W c^// he fafely mail deprive Of it's befl fweets, and leave a ruin d hivb : Whofe loofend nefl mail offer to repair, And keep together with a guardian care ; Friend-like, reftore the feathers that are flown, . 760 While, Lawyer-like, he's feathering his own M His [ 4<5 ] His father, worfe than ign'rant here, nay even Deeming this Knav'ry Genius, thinking Heaven Has blejl him with a fon whofe fprightly pranks Speak brilliant talents, and demand his thanks, 765 For fame great, due return, employs his fearch — What? — Dick mall be a — pillar of the Church. Hence, and from other caufes not more wife, The place of Wifdom many a knave fupplies : Hence groan the arts beneath an over-fock; 770 Hence fcience feels the weight of many a block : Hence daily thofe are taught t'afTume the pallet, Whofe minds, f elf -led, had rofe but to the mallet. Hence by themfelves, fome politicians made, Whom wifer Nature only meant for trade : 775 Hence cowards by commiiTions rank with braves ; While fools, made Lawyers, think they rife to Knaves : I [ence authors, with nor wit, nor fenfe, their own ; Critics with brains of lead, and hearts of ftone : Hence [ 47 ] Hence Nature's great decorum is annoy'd, Hence half her wifdom, in effeSl, deftroy'd : And, by admitting each pretendiitg fool, Arts, arms, religion, turn'd to ridicule ! 780 O friend ! whofe ear I have detain'd too long ; Whofe judgment bids me tremble for my fong ! You, at whofe bar I have the Age arraign'd, (And, tho' in rhime, yet feelingly complain'd) Say, am I right ? or is my fubjedl feign'd ? Is letter d Dulnefs ftill for Dulnefs known P Is Genius rais'd to Reputation s throne ? Are highefl pofls to wifeji heads affign'd, The low to talents of an humbler kind f Are blockheads in their native zvalks content ? Is Merit cherifh'd by Encouragement ? Say this, obedient I each word retraSl, Retiounce my fentiments, and yield to faff. — But if you think with me, with me confefs, Folly but 7nore herfelf in Wifdom s drefs j 785 790 795 That [ • 4« ] That focls mfewefi iccrds find beil dtfgvife. And, c: ; '} / - fihnce^ may fecm 7-^7//)' a-yV ; 800 But if, in fpite of Naturfa fpite of Fats, They will be bujy, and they will be greet ; Will dfon? to heights beyo?td 'their ilretch of thought, Will preach and ste^/S what iirft: they fhou'd be taught ; If, loir to all the little fenfe they i>tfiv, 805 They will exhibit more than Nature gave ; Will, rujhing from their fphere, to heights arife, By Reafon held as Sacred to the Wife ; Then, joining jw, convince the erring elves, The more they'd raife y the more theyy?;;^ themfelves ; 810 Yes — tell each coxcomb — tell him to his face, The fool's bejl knowledge is to hiozv his place! FINIS, University of California SOUTHERN REGIONAL LIBRARY FACILITY 405 Hllgard Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90024-1388 Return this material to the library from which it was borrowed. QL NON-I I998 JUN t ! 2 , QUE 2 WKS FROM DM PD 5E1 DUE 2 WKS f ROM UCLA ACCESS 3E Interlibrary Loan 11630 University Box 951 575 Los Angeles, CA Form ] m 1 9 2003 DECEIVED Research Library 90095-1575 THE T^KARY ITNIVEBSFTYO >R Rnsby — - &a . h3h9 B59a 1 1 II II II II II II L 006 340 599 7 D 000 742 344 5 University Souther Librai