And marks, whatever clouds may interpose, Ere An yet his race begins, its glorious clofe; eye like his to catch the diftant goal, Or ere the wheels of verfe begin to roll; On ev'ry scene and subject it surveys : Thus grac'd the man afferts a poet's name, A skilful guide into poetic ground, The flow'rs would fpring where'er fhe deign'd to ftray, And ev'ry muse attend her in her way. Virtue indeed meets many a rhiming friend, And many a compliment politely penn'd; Satyr has long fince done his best, and curst In tales, in trifles, and in children's play; Touch'd with a coal from heav'n, affume the lyre, By flowing numbers and a flow'ry style, Which now and then fweet poetry may cure, Or if to fee the name of idol felf Stamp'd on the well-bound quarto, grace the shelf, Prompt his endeavour, and engage his aim, Debas'd Debas'd to fervile purposes of pride, How are the powers of genius misapplied! To trace him in his word, his works, his ways; Proof of a trifling and a worthlefs mind. A. Hail Sternhold then and Hopkins hail! B. Amen. If flatt'ry, folly, luft employ the pen, If acrimony, flander, and abuse, Give it a charge to blacken and traduce; Though Butler's wit, Pope's numbers, Prior's ease, With all that fancy can invent to please, Adorn the polish'd periods as they fall, One Madrigal of their's is worth them all. A. 'Twould thin the ranks of the poetic tribe, To dash the pen through all that you profcribe. B. No matter-we could fhift when they were not, And should no doubt if they were all forgot. THE THE PROGRESS OF ERROR. Si quid loquar audiendum. HoR. LIB. 4. Od. 2. ING mufe (if fuch a theme, fo dark, fo long, SIN May find a mufe to grace it with a fong) By what unfeen and unfufpected arts, The ferpent error twines round human hearts; Tell where she lurks, beneath what flow'ry fhades, Take, |