'Thence sure a choir employ'd to teach Virtue, might ancient Reverence reach,

2 If those at Westminster so well
Could of celestial glories tell

In hymns; accordant notes the while
Re-echoing through the solemn pile.

He who first sought, in times remote,
The tragic victor's prize, a goat,
Brought on his stage the Satyrs rude,
Provoking smiles in gamesome mood,
Though oft the motley piece was fraught
With serious and impassion'd thought.
Our country we may well believe,
Would not less willingly receive
Such customs, holding all allow'd
Its bards, that gratifies the crowd.

1 Sortilegis non discrepuit sententia Delphis. Carmine qui tragico vilem certavit ob hircum, Mox etiam agrestes Satyros nudavit, et asper Incolumi gravitate jocum tentavit, eo quod Illecebris erat et gratâ novitate morandus Spectator, functusque sacris, et potus, et exlex.

1

But should Reflection timely move

The sober critic to approve,

Chancing such mingled works to see,

The parts would so be found to agree,
And mirth connection so disclose

With gravity, and verse with prose,
That neither king nor prince who speaks
And dresses nobly, when he seeks

Some humble mansion, should debase
With jests too coarse his royal race,

Nor, his familiar manners shewn,
Be scarce again as mortal known.

2 No vice of Tragedy is worse

Than language mean, in prose or verse:

'Verum ita risores, ita commendare dicaces
Conveniet Satyros, ita vertere seria ludo;
Ne quicunque Deus, quicunque adhibebitur heros,
Regali conspectus in auro nuper et ostro,
Migret in obscuras humili sermone tabernas:

Aut, dum vitat humum, nubes et inania captat.
Effutire leves indigna tragoedia versus ;

'As coy reserve the modest maid Shews in the sportive masquerade;

* So conscious dignity is seen

Though boors jest round her, in her mien. 'I would not, though two styles I mix, Dramatic bards, on language fix

Too common, nor my end but half
Attain, content to raise a laugh;
So that no difference be made,
By nice discriminating shade

Of character, between the address
Of3 Francis, or when beadles press,
'Bold Dorothy, and Henry, known
As heir apparent to the throne.

* Ut festis matrona moveri jussa diebus,
* Intererit Satyris paulum pudibunda protervis.
Non ego inornata et dominantia nomina solum,
Verbaque, Pisones, Satyrorum scriptor, amabo:
Nec sic enitar tragico differre colori,

Ut nihil intersit & Davusne loquatur, et audax
Pythias,emuncto lucrata Simone talentum,
An 'custos famulusque Dei 9 Silenus alumni.

Of

If awe of rule the spirit damp

poets, and their genius cramp;

Following the example which our stage

Has furnish'd in a former

age,

Even they could such productions boast,

2

As bards, by Science prompted most,

Might strive to equal, and yet fail:
So much does inborn art avail!

'So much may works, howe'er attack'd
By Taste as barbarous, attract!

* Their language should distinguish clowns From those of lofty birth in towns.

Such, nor does midnight courtship suit, " Nor love-songs warbled to the lute;

'Ex noto fictum carmen sequar: ut sibi quivis Speret idem; sudet multum, frustraque laboret Ausus idem: tantum series juncturaque pollet:

3 Tantum de medio sumptis accedit honoris.

4

* Sylvis deducti caveant, me judice, Fauni,

Ne velut innati triviis, ac pene forenses,

› Aut nimium teneris juvenentur versibus unquam,

'Yet with low ribaldry to excite

A roar of laughter, marks not quite

The bard, less diligent a pack

Of bawlers, as their nuts they crack
O'er the wide gallery, to please,

'Than minds, true merit taught to seize.

Yet, rather than suppose that art

Gives not a grace to every part,

Learn, that Correctness should adorn

Even metre, nor can merit`scorn.

Two syllables, the short first put,

Unite in the Iambic foot

(Long thus entitled) which, too oft Repeated, though its flow is soft,

'Aut immunda crepent ignominiosaque dicta. Offenduntur enim, quibus est equus, et pater et res; Nec, si quid fricti ciceris probat et nucis emptor, Equis accipiunt animis, donantve coronâ.

+ Syllaba longa brevi subjecta, vocatur Iambus, Pes citus: unde etiam trimetris accrescere jussit Nomen Iambeis, cum senos redderit ictus.