And fome, too timid to reveal But friends muft feel from friends' fuccefs, Is there a man, whofe genius ftrong, Whose Muse, long hid in chearless night, Whose acting comprehensive mind Who Who freely thinks, and freely speaks, Who bold and open, firm and true, A BAL THE TWO RUBRIC POST S. A DIALOGUE. IN Ruffel-street, enfùed of late, Between two pofts a strange debate. "With authors lac'd from top to toe, "The Dialogues of famous dead, "You know how much they're bought and read. "Suppofe again we raise their ghosts, "And make them chat through us two posts; "A thing's half finifh'd well begun, "So take the authors as they run. "The list of names is mighty fine, "You look down this, and I that line. "Here's POPE and SWIFT, and STEELE and GAY, "And CONGREVE, in the modern way. "Whilft you have thofe, I cannot speak, "But found most wonderful in Greek. VOL. II. 4 "A Dialogue I should adore it, cr "With such a show of names before it." "Modern, your judgment wanders wide,” The antient Rubric ftrait reply'd. "It grieves me much, indeed, to find "And we, as brother oft with brother, Directly into Davies' fhop, "Turn o'er the leaves, and look about "Let Let SWIFT be SWIFT, nor e'er demean "The sense and humour of the DEAN. "E'en let the antients reft in peace, "Nor bring good folks from Rome or Greece "To give a caufe for paft tranfactions, "They never dreamt of in their actions. "I can't help quibbling, brother poft, " 'Twere better we should lay the ghost, "But 'twere a tafk of real merit "Could we contrive to raife their Spirit. "Peace, brother, peace, tho' what you fay, "I own has reafon in its way, "On Dialogues to bear fo hard, "Is playing with a dang❜rous card ; "Writers of rank are facred things, ❝ And crush like arbitrary kings. "Perhaps your sentiment is right, "Heav'n grant we may not fuffer by't. "For fhould friend DAVIES overhear, "He'll publish ours another year." |