That a true Taste is as rare to be found as a true Ge- That most men are born with fome Tafte, but fpoil'd That we are to study our own Taste, and know the limits Nature the best guide of judgment, ver. 68 to 87. Improved by Art and Rules, which are but methodized Rules derived from the practice of the Ancient Poets, That therefore the Ancients are necessary to be studied by a Critic, particularly Homer and Virgil, ver. 120 Of Licences, and the use of them by the Ancients, ver. Caufes hindering a true Judgment. 1. Pride, ver. 208. Imperfect Learning, ver. 215. 3. Judging by parts, and not by the whole, ver. 233 to 288. Cri- tics in Wit, Language, Verfification, only, 288, 305, 339, &c. to admire, ver. 384. 5. Partiality-too much love to a Sect,-to the Ancients or Moderns, ver. 394. 6. Prejudice or Prevention, ver. 408. 7. Singularity, ver. 424. 8. Inconftancy, ver. 430. 9. Party Spi- rit, ver. 452, &c. 10. Envy, ver. 466. Against Envy, and in praise of Good-nature, ver. 508, &c. Rules for the Conduct of Manners in a Critic. 1. Can- Modefty, ver. 566. Good-breed- ing, ver. 572. Sincerity and Freedom of Advice, ver. 578. 2. When one's Counsel is to be reftrained, ver. 584. Character of an incorrigible Poet, ver. 600. And of an impertinent Critic, ver. 610, &c. Character of a good Critic, ver. 629. The Hiftory of Criticism, and Characters of the best Critics: Aristotle, ver. 645. Horace, ver. 653. Dionyfius, ver. 665. Petronius, ver. 667. Quintilian, ver. 670. Longinus, ver. 675. Of the Decay of Criti- cifm, and its Revival. Erafmus, ver. 693. Vida, ΑΝ AN E S SAY ON CRITICISM. IS hard to fay, if greater want of skill Yet, if we look more closely, we shall find 5 10 15 20 Nature Nature affords at least a glimmering light; The lines, though touch'd but faintly, are drawn right. And fome made coxcombs Nature meant but fools. If Mævius fcribble in Apollo's fpight, There are who judge ftill worse than he can write. } 26 30 35 VARIATIONS. Some Between ver. 25 and 26 were thefe lines, fince omit ted by the Author: Many are spoil'd by that pedantic throng, Who with great pains teach youth to reason wrong. Tutors, like Virtuofos, oft inclin'd By ftrange transfufion to improve the mind, Draw off the fenfe we have, to pour in new; Which yet, with all their skill," they ne'er could do... Ver. 30, 31. In the first edition thus: Those hate as rivals all that write; and others Ver. 32. "All fools," in the first edition: "All fuch" in edition 1717; fince restored. Some neither can for Wits nor Critics pafs, To tell them, would a hundred tongues require, Not only bounded to peculiar arts, But oft' in those confin'd to fingle parts. Like Kings, we lose the conquefts gain'd before, VARIATION. Ver. 63. Ed. 1. But ev'n in thofe, &c. 40 45 50 55 60 65 Each |