But when you find that vigorous heat abate,
Leave off, and for another summons wait.
Before the radiant fun, a glimmering lamp,
Adulterate metals to the sterling stamp,
Appear not meaner, than mere human lines,
Compar'd with those whose inspiration shines :
These nervous, bold; those languid and remifs ;
There, cold salutes; but here, a lover's kiss.
Thus have I seen a rapid, headlong tide,
With foaming waves the passive Soane divide;
Whose lazy waters without motion lay,
While he, with eager force, urg'd his impetuous way.

The privilege that ancient poets claim,
Now turn'd to license by too just a name,
Belongs to none but an establish'd fame,
Which scorns to take it---
Absurd expressions, crude, abortive thoughts,
All the lewd legion of exploded faults,
Base fugitives to that asylum fly,
And sacred laws with infolence defy.
Not thus our heroes of the foriner days,
Deserv'd and gain’d their never-fading bays ;
For I mistake, or far the greatest part
Of what some call neglect, was study'd art.
When Virgil seems to trifle in a line,
'Tis like a warning-piece, which gives the sign
To wake your fancy, and prepare your fight,
To reach the noble height of some unusual flight.
I lose my patience, when with saucy pride,
By.untun'd ears I hear his numbers try'd.

Reverse

Reverse of nature ! shall such copies then
Arraign th' originais of Maro's pen!
And the rude notions of pedantic schools
Blaspheme the sacred founder of our rules!

The delicacy of the nicest car
Finds nothing harsh or out of order there.
Sublime or low, unbended or intense,
The fund is still a comment to the sense.

A skilful ear in numbers fhould preside,
And all disputes without appeal decide.
This ancient Rome and elder Athens found,
Before mistaken stops debauch'd the sound.

When, by impulte from heaven, Tyrtæus sung, In drooping foldiers a new courage sprung; Reviving Sparta now the light maintain’d, And what two generals loft a poet gain’d. By secret influence of indulgent kies, Einpire and poefy together rise. True poets are the guardians of a state, And, when they fail, poitend approaching fate. For that which Rome to conquest did inspire, Was not the Vestal, but the Muses' fire ; Heaven joins the blessings : No declining age E’er felt the raptures of poetic rage.

Of many faults, rhyme is (perhaps) the cause ; Too strict to rhyme, we flight more useful laws, For that, in Greece or Rome, was never known, Till by barbarian deluges o’erflown : Subdued, undone, they did at last obey, And change their own for their invaders' way.

a

But when you find that vigorous heat abate,
Leave off, and for another summons wait.
Before the radiant fun, a glimmering lamp,
Adulterate metals to the sterling stamp,
Appear not meaner, than mere human lines,
Compar'd with those whose inspiration shines :
These nervous,

old; thofe languid and remiss ;
There, cold falutes; but here, a lover's kiss.
Thus have I seen a rapid, headlong tide,
With foaming waves the passive Soane divide;
Whose lazy waters without motion lay,
While he, with eager force, urg'd his impetuous way.

The privilege that ancient poets claim,
Now turn'd to license by too just a name,
Belongs to none but an establish'd fame,
Which scorns to take it---
Absurd expressions, crude, abortive thoughts,
All the lewd legion of exploded faults,
Bafe fugitives to that asylum flv
And sacred laws with infol
Not thus our heroes of the
Deserv'd and gain'd their
For I mistake, or far the
Of what some call neglect,
When Virgil seems to trifle
'Tis like a warnir
To wake

fa
To reach the noi
I lose my patien
By.untun'd ears

ROSCOMMON'S POEMS.

Reverse of nature ! shall such copies then
Arraign th' originals of Maro's pen!
And the rude notions of pedantic schools
Blasphere the facred founder of our rules!

The delicacy of the nicest car
Finds nothing harsh or out of order there.
Sublime or low, unbended or intense,
The fund is still a comment to the sense.

A skilful ear in numbers should prefide,
And all disputes without appeal decide.
This ancient Rome and elder Athens found,
Before mistaken stops debauch'd the sound.

When, by impulic from heaven, Tyrtæus fung,
In drooping soldiers a new courage sprung;
Reviving Sparta now the fght maintain’d,
And what two generals lof a poet gain'd.
By secret influence of indulgent skies,
Empire and poefy together rife.
poets are the guardians of a state,

they fail, portend approaching fate.
ome to conquest did inspire,
*** the Muses' fire ;

declining age

a

The first great work (a talk perform'd by few)
Is, that yourself may to yourself be true :
No mask, no tricks, no favour, no reserve ;
Diffect your mind, examine every nerve.
Whoever vainly on his strength depends,
Begins like Virgil, but like Mævius ends.
That wretch (in spite of his forgotten rhymes)
Condemn'd to live to all succeeding times,
With

pompous nonfenfe and a bellowing found
Sung lofty Ilium, tumbling to the ground.
And (if my Muse can through past ages see)
That noisy, nauseous, gaping fool was he ;
Exploded, when with universal scorn,
The mountains labour'd and a mouse was born.

Learn, learn, Crotona's brawny wrestler cries,
Audacious mortals, and be timely wife !
'Tis I that call, remember Milo's end,
Wedg’d in that timber, which he strove to rend.
Each

poet with a different talent writes,
One praises, one instructs, another bites.
Horace did ne'er aspire to Epic bays,
Nor lofty Maro ftoop to Lyric lays.
Examine how your humour is inclin’d,
And which the ruling passion of your

mind Then, seek a poet who your way does bend, And choose an author as you choose a friend, United by this sympathetic bond, You grow familiar, intimate, and fond ; Your thoughts, your words, your styles, your souls agree, o longer his interpreter, but he.