Persians and Greeks like turns of nature found, and the world's victor stood subdued by sound! 380 the power of music all our hearts allow, and what Timotheus was, is Dryden now. 385 Avoid extremes; and shun the fault of such, who still are pleas'd too little or too much: At every trifle scorn to take offence, that always shows great pride, or little sense; those heads, as stomachs, are not sure the best, which nauseate all, and nothing can digest. Yet let not each gay turn thy rapture move; for fools admire, but men of sense approve: as things seem large which we through mist descry, dulness is ever apt to magnify. Some foreign writers, some our own despise; the ancients only, or the moderns prize: 390 395 thus wit, like faith, by each man is apply'd to one small sect, and all are damn'd beside. 400 405 Meanly they seek the blessing to confine, and force that sun but on a part to shine, which not alone the southern wit sublimes, but ripens spirits in cold northern climes; which from the first has shone on ages past, enlights the present, and shall warm the last; tho' each may feel increases and decays, and see now clearer and now darker days. Regard not then if wit be old or new, but blame the false, and value still the true. Some ne'er advance a judgment of their own, but catch the spreading notion of the town; they reason and conclude by precedent, and own stale nonsense which they ne'er invent. Some judge of authors' names, not works, and then nor praise nor blame the writings, but the men. 410 Of all this servile herd, the worst is he as oft the learn'd by being singular; so much they scorn the croud, that if the throng 415 420 425 by chance go right, they purposely go wrong: so Schismatics the plain believers quit, and are but damn'd for having too much wit. Some praise at morning what they blame at night, but always think the last opinion right. A muse by these is like a mistress us'd, this hour she's idoliz'd, the next abus'd; 431 while their weak heads, like towns unfortify'd, 'twixt sense and nonsense daily change their side. Ask them the cause; they're wiser still, they say; and still to-morrow's wiser than to-day. We think our fathers fools, so wise we grow; our wiser sons, no doubt, will think us so. Once school divines this zealous isle o'erspread; 440 who knew most sentences was deepest read: faith, gospel, all seem'd made to be disputed, and none had sense enough to be confuted: Scotists and Thomists, now in peace remain, amidst their kindred cobwebs in Duck-lane. If faith itself has different dresses worn, what wonder modes in wit should take their turn? 445 oft, leaving what is natural and fit, which lives as long as fools are pleas'd to laugh. Might he return, and bless once more our eyes, 450 455 460 465 When first that sun too powerful beams displays, 470 it draws up vapours which obscure it's rays; but ev❜n those clouds at last adorn it's way, reflect new glories, and augment the day. Be thou the first, true merit to befriend; his praise is lost, who stays till all commend. Short is the date, alas, of modern rhymes, and 't is but just to let them live betimes. No longer now that golden age appears, 475 when patriarch-wits surviv'd a thousand years; 480 485 our sons their fathers failing language see, and such as Chaucer is, shall Dryden be. So when the faithful pencil has design'd some bright idea of the master's mind, where a new world leaps out at his command, and ready nature waits upon his hand; when the ripe colours soften and unite, and sweetly melt into just shade and light; when mellowing years their full perfection give, 490 and each bold figure just begins to live; the treach'rous colours the fair art betray, and all the bright creation fades away! Unhappy wit, like most mistaken things, atones not for that envy which it brings; in youth alone it's empty praise we boast, but soon the short-liv'd vanity is lost: Jike some fair flower the early spring supplies, that gaily blooms, but ev'n in blooming dies. 495 What is this wit, which must our cares employ? 500 the owner's wife, that other men enjoy; then most our trouble still when most admir'd, and still the more we give, the more requir'd; 505 whose fame with pains we guard, but lose with ease, sure some to vex, but never all to please; "t is what the vicious fear, the virtuous shun; by fools 't is hated, and by knaves undone! If wit so much from ignorance undergo, ah, let not learning too commence it's foe! of old, those met rewards, who could excel, and such were prais'd who but endeavour'd well; 510 tho' triumphs were to generals only due, crowns were reserv'd to grace the soldiers too. Now, they who reach Parnassus' lofty crown, employ their pains to spurn some others down; 515 and while self-love each jealous writer rules, To what base ends, and by what abject ways, 520 525 530 But if in noble minds some dregs remain, not yet purg'd off, of spleen and sour disdain; discharge that rage on more provoking crimes, nor fear a dearth in these flagitious times. No pardon vile obscenity should find, tho' wit and art conspire to move your mind; but dulness with obscenity must prove as shameful sure as impotence in love. In the fat age of pleasure, wealth, and ease, sprang the rank weed, and thriv'd with large increase: when love was all an easy monarch's care; 536 seldom at council, never in a war: jilts rul'd the state, and statesmen farces writ; nay wits had pensions, and young lords had wit; did all the dregs of bold Socinus drain; 545 where heaven's free subjects might their rights dis lest God himself should seem too absolute: [pute |