In grave Quintilian's copious work, we find
The jufteft rules, and cleareft method join'd:
Thus useful arms in magazines we place,
All rang'd in order, and difpos'd with grace;
Nor thus alone the curious eye to please,
But to be found, when need requires, with ease.
Thee, bold Longinus! all the Nine infpire,

And blefs their Critic with a Poet's fire.
An ardent judge, who zealous in his truft,
With warmth gives fentence, yet is always juft;
Whose own example ftrengthens all his laws,
And is himself that great Sublime he draws.
Thus long fucceeding Critics justly reign'd,
Licence reprefs'd, and ufeful laws ordain'd.
Learning and Rome alike in empire grew,
And Arts ftill follow'd where her Eagles flew.

From the fame foes, at laft, both felt their doom,
And the fame age faw Learning fall, and Rome.
With Tyranny, then Superftition join'd,

As that the body, this enflav'd the mind;
Much was believ'd, but little understood,
And to be dull was conftru'd to be good;

VER.677. The Mufes fure Longinus did infpire.
VER. 691. All was belied, but nothing underflood.
Between Verfe 692 and 693;

Vain Wits and Critics were no more allow'd,
When none but Saints had licence to be proud.

A

A fecond deluge learning thus o'er-run,
And the Monks finish'd what the Goths begun.

At length Erafmus, that great, injur'd name,
(The glory of the Priesthood, and the shame!)
Stem'd the wild torrent of a barb'rous age,
And drove those holy Vandals off the stage.

But fee! each Mufe, in Leo's golden days,

695

Starts from her trance, and trims her wither'd bays! 700
Rome's ancient Genius, o'er its ruins spread,

Shakes off the duft, and rears his rev'rend head.
Then Sculpture and her fifter-arts revive;
Stones leap'd to form, and rocks began to live;
With sweeter notes each rifing Temple rung;
A Raphael painted, and a* Vida fung.
Immortal Vida! on whofe honour'd brow
The Poet's bays and Critic's ivy grow:
Cremona now fhall ever boast thy name,
As next in place to Mantua, next in fame!

But foon by impious arms from Latium chas'd,
Their ancient bounds the banish'd Mufes pass'd;
Thence arts o'er all the northern world advance;
But critic learning flourish'd most in France:
The rules, a nation born to serve, obeys;
And Boileau still in right of Horace fways.
But we, brave Britons, foreign laws defpis'd,
And kept unconquer'd, and unciviliz'd,

705

710

715

* M. Hieronymus Vida, an excellent Latin Poet, wo writ an Art of Poetry in verfe. He flourish'd in the time of Leo the tenth.

Fierce for the liberties of wit, and bold,
We ftill defy'd the Romans, as of old.

Yet fome there were, among the founder few
Of those who lefs prefum'd, and better knew,
Who durft affert the juster ancient caufe,
And here reftor'd Wit's fundamental laws.

720

Such was the Mufe, whofe rules and practice tell, 725 Nature's chief Mafter-piece is writing well.

*

Such was Rofcommon

-not more learn'd than good,

With manners gen'rous as his noble blood:

To him the wit of Greece and Rome was known,
And ev'ry author's merit but his own.

Such late was Walb,-the Mufe's judge and friend,
Who juftly knew to blame or to commend ;
To failings mild, but zealous for defert;
The clearest Head, and the fincereft Heart.
This humble praise, lamented Shade! receive,
This praise at least a grateful Mufe may give :
The Mufe, whofe early voice you taught to fing,
Prefcrib'd her heights, and prun'd her tender wing,
(Her guide now loft) no more attempts to rife,
But in low numbers fhort excurfions tries:

739

735

740

Content, if hence th' unlearn'd their wants may view,
The learn'd reflect on what before they knew:
Careless of cenfure, not too fond of fame ;
Still pleas'd to praise, yet not afraid to blame;
Averfe alike to flatter, or offend;

745

Not free from faults, nor yet too vain to mend.

*Efay on Poetry, by the Duke of Buckingham.

Nolueram, Belinda, tuos violare capillos;
Sed juvat hoc precibus me tribuisse tuis.

MARTIAL.

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