Your Horace owns, he various writ, As wild or fober maggots bit: And, where too much the Poet ranted, The fage Philofopher recanted. His grave Epiftles may difprove Yet, free from this poetic madefs, 400 405 410 Next page he fays, in fober fadnefs, 415 Our health or hanging, weal or woe; 420 425 If If Cupid throws a single dart, We make him wound the lover's heart: 430 But, if he takes his bow and quiver; But let your friends in verfe fuppofe, The liver minds his own affair; Elfe we should want both gibe and fatyr; 435 $440 Now gall is bitter with a witness ; 445 And Love is all delight and sweetness. My logic then has loft its aim, If fweet and bitter be the fame : And, he, methinks, is no great scholar, Who can miftake defire for choler. 450 The like may of the beart be faid; Courage and terror there are bred. All thofe, whofe hearts are loofe and low, Start, if they hear but the tattoo : And mighty physical their fear is; 455. For, foon as noife of combat near is, Their heart, defcending to their breeches, But Thofe hours, when they are tir'd with fighting? A father, right to get a child? And Love fhall ftill poflefs the middle. 470 475 Suppofe your Hero were a Lover. Which Death or Conquest muft affwage! 480 He grows difpirited and low; He hates the fight, and fhuns the foe, In fcornful floth Achilles flept; And for his wench, like Tall-boy, wept: Nor would return to war and flaughter; 485 Till they brought back the Parton's daughter. Auguftus preffing, Afia loft: His fails by Cupid's hands unfurl'd, To keep the fair, he gave the world. While England's voice, and Warwick's care, Chang'd peace and power, for rage Only to dry one widow's tears.— France's fourth Henry we may fee A fervant to the fair d'Eftree; 490 and wars, 495 When, quitting Coutras' profperous field, 500 Bold is the critic who dares prove 505 Thefe Heroes were no friends to Love; And bolder he, who dares aver, That they were enemies to war. Yet, when their thought should, now or never, 'Have rais'd their heart, or fir'd their liver; 510 Fond Alma to thofe parts was gone, Which Love more justly calls his own. Examples I could cite you more; But be contented with these four : For, when one's proofs are aptly chosen, 515 Four are as valid as four dozen. One came from Greece, and one from Rome; The other two grew nearer home. For For fome in ancient books delight; Not to be thought expert in both. CANTO UT fhall we take the Mufe abroad, BUT To drop her idly on the road? |