H O R A с Е

I Τ Ε
I MIT A T E D.

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TH

son;

HE occasion of publishing these Imitations was

the Clamour raised on some of my Epistles. An Answer from Horace was both more full, and of more Dignity, than any I could have made in my own per

and the Example of much greater Freedom in so eminent a Divine as Dr. Donne, seemed a proof with what indignation and contempt a Christian may treat Vice or Folly, in ever so low, or ever so high a Station. Both these Authors were acceptable to the Princes and Ministers under whom they lived. The Satires of Dr. Donne I versified, at the desire of the Earl of Oxford while he was Lord Treasurer, and of the Duke of Shrewsbury, who had been Secre of State: neither of whom looked upon a Satire on Vicious Courts as any Reflection on those they served in. And indeed there is not in the world a greater error, than that which Fools are so apt to fall into, and Knaves with good reason to encourage, the mistaking a Satirist for a Libeller; whereas to a true Satirist nothing is so odious as a Libeller, for the same reason as to a man truly virtuous nothing is so hateful as a Hypocrite.

“ Uni aequus Virtuti atque ejus Amicis.”

WHOEVER expects a Paraphrase of Horace, or a. faithful Copy of his genius, or manner of writing, in these IMITATIONS, will be much disappointed. Our Author uses the Roman Poet for little more than his canvas: And if the old design or colouring chance to fuit his purpose, it is well; if not, he employs his own, without scruple or ceremony. Hence it is, he is so frequently serious where Horace is in jeft; and at ease where Horace is disturbed. In a word, he regulates his movements no further on his Original, than was necessary for his Concurrence in promoting their common plan of Reformation of manners.

Had it been his purpose merely to paraphrase an ancient Satirist, he had hardly made choice of Horace : with whom, as a Poet, he held little in common, befides a comprehensive knowledge of life and manners, and a certain curious felicity of expression, which consists in using the simplest language with dignity, and the most ornamented, with ease. For the rest, his harmony and strength of numbers, his force and splendor of colouring, his gravity and sublimity of sentiment, would have rather led him to another model. Nor was his temper less unlike that of Horace, than his talents. What Horace would only smile at, Mr. Pope would treat with the grave severity of Persius : and what Mr. Pope would strike with the caustic lightning of Juvenal, Horace would content himself in turning into ridicule.

If it be asked then, why he took any body at all to imitate, he has informed us in his Advertisement: To which we may add, that this sort of Imitations, which are of the nature of Parodies, adds reflected grace and splendor on original wit. Besides, he deemed it more modest to give the name of Imitations to his Satires, than, like Despreaux, to give the name of Satires to Imitations.

BOOK

BOOK II.

SATIRE I.

To Mr. FORTESCUE.

P.
THERE are (I scarce can think it, but am told)

a There are, to whom my Satire seems too bold :
Scarce to wise Peter complaisant enough,
And fomething faid of Chartres much too rough.
☆ The lines are weak, another 's pleas'd to say, 5
Lord Fanny spins a thousand such a day.
Timorous by nature, of the Rich in awe,
CI come to Council learned in the Law:
You 'll give me, like a friend both fage and free,
Advice; and (as you use) without a Fee.
F. d I'd write no more.

P. Not

10

HORATIUS.

TREBATIUS.

HORATIUS.

"Sunt quibus in Satira videar nimis acer, et ultra

UNT
Legem tendere opus;

b fine nervis altera, quidquid
Composui, pars effe putat, fimilefque meorum
Mille die versus deduci poffe. Trebati,
Quid faciam? praefcribe.

T Quiefcas.

H. Ne faciam, inquis, Omnino versus ?

T. Aio.

life. 15

P. Not write ? but then I think,
c And for my soul I cannot sleep a wink.
I nod in company, I wake at night,
Fools rush into my head, and so I write.

F. You could not do a worse thing for your
Why, if the nights seem tedious-take a wife :
f Or rather truly, if your point be rest,
Lettuce and cowslip wine; “ Probatum eft.”
But talk with Celsus, Celsus will advise
Hartshorn, or something that ihall close your eyes.
g Or, if you needs must write, write Cæsar's Praise,
h You'll gain at least a Knighthood, or the Bays.
P. What? like Sir i Richard, rumbling, rough, and

fierce, With Arms and George and Brunswick crowd the

verse, Rend with tremendous sound your ears afunder, 25 With Gun, Drum, Trumpet, Blunderbuss, and Thunder ?

Or

20

e

H. Peream male, fi non
Optimum erat :

verum nequeo

dormire.

T. f Ter uneti
Transnanto Tiberim, fomno quibus est opus alto;
Irriguumve mero sub noctem corpus habento.

8 Aut si tantus amor scribendi te rapit, aude
Cæsaris invicti res dicere, h multa laborum
Praemia laturus.

H. Cupidum, Pater optime, vires
Deficiunt : i neque enim quivis horrentia pilis