on, 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 fplendor of colouring, his gravity and sublime 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. Befides, 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, SATIRA PRIM A. HORATIUS. TREBATIUS, HORATIUS. "Sunt b d UNT quibus in Satira videar nimis acer, ct ultra Legem tendere opus ; fine nervis altera, quidquid Composui, pars effe putat, fimilesque meorum Mille die versus deduci poffe. “Trebati, Quid faciam? praescribe. T. "Quiefcas. H. Ne faciam, inquis, Omnino versus? T. Aio. H. Peream male, fi non Optimum erat: verum nequeo dormire, Ver. 3. Scarce to wise Peter-Chartres] It has been commonly observed of the English, that a Rogue never goes to the Gallows without the pity of the Spectators, and their parting .curses on the rigour of the Laws that brought him thither : and this has been as commonly ascribed to the good nature of the people. But it is a mistake. The true cause is their hatred and envy of power. Their compassion for Dunces and Scoundrels (when exposed by great writers to publie contempt, either in juitice to the age, or in vindication of their own Characters) has the fame source. They cover their envy to a superior genius ia lementing the severity of his Pen. HORAR Safe from the Bar, thePulpil & theThrone, Yet touchd and shamid byRidicule alone dp:t Jatires, Part: SA T I R E I. To Mr. FORTESCUE. PT .P. HERE are (I scarce can think it, but am told) P. Not write? but then I think, Ver. 7. Tim'rous by nature, of the Rich in awe,] The delicacy of this does not so much lie in the ironical application of it to himself, as in its seriously characterising the Person for whose advice he applies. VER. 12. Not write? &c.] He has omitted the most hu. mourous part of the answer, Peream male, fi non Optimum erat, and has loft the grace, by not imitating the conciseneli, of verum nequeo dormire, |
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