In draughts from nature not unlike, With some just sentiments, will strike The public more than studied sounds, Tinkling, where common thought abounds. To the bless'd Greeks the Muse assign'd Genius and eloquence, their mind No avarice warping, nor their aim
Aught else but the pursuit of fame.
Our English youth of gain are made
Too thoughtful, in this clime of trade. Let Ireland's son be skill'd to tell At what a copy-right will sell, And if it can his pockets fill,
3 When he deducts the printer's bill.
Quam versus inopes rerum, nugæque canorë. Graiis ingenium, Graiis dedit ore rotundo Musa loqui, præter laudem nullius avaris. 'Romani pueri longis rationibus assem Discunt in partes centum diducere. Dicas 2 Filius Albini, 3 si de quincunce remota est Uncia, quid superat ?
Granting 'tis guess'd, we own that he May keep himself from hardships free: But can the soul contract a taint Of interest, and not hope be faint That poems, due to thirst of pelf, Seem worthy, taken from the shelf, 'With type, and hot-press'd page, as fine 'As their exterior gay to shine?
Their pieces poets, or for use, Or entertainment, all produce; Or both; their auditors to mend And gratify, their equal end.
Let all your precepts be concise: If briefly given, your advice
Poteras dixisse triens. Eu!
Rem poteris servare tuam. Redit uncia: quid fit? Semis, An hæc animos ærugo et cura peculi Cum semel imbuerit, speramus carmina fingi 'Posse linenda cedro, et levi servenda cupresso? Aut prodesse volunt, aut delectare poetæ ; Aut simul et jucunda et idonea dicere vitæ. Quidquid præcipies, esto brevis: ut cito dicta
Attention sooner will obtain,
And longer in the mind remain ;
Where largely pour'd, it will not stay, But, as o'erflowing, pass away.
We well should notice what agrees With truth and nature, would we please; Nor dream to find in many, dolts
Whom utter nonsense ne'er revolts. The rueful carnage feign'd by some Rivals the warlike' work of Thumb, Who prized the life of man as dross; Or Chrononhotonthologos.
Grave, moral scenes the pit alike,
And gallery, can with maxims, strike:
Percipiant animi dociles, teneantque fideles. Omne supervacuum pleno de pectore manat. Ficta voluptatis causâ sint proxima veris : Ne, quodcunque volet, poscat sibi fabula credi; Neu' pransa Lamiæ vivum puerum extrahat alvo. 2 Centuriæ seniorum agitant expertia frugis :
At which, by love of pleasure drawn, 'The front-box loungers laugh, or yawn.
That work most merits, which unites Both what improves us, and delights. * This Edwards sells, more proudly bound, This vessels waft the world around;
And this, to authors born obscure,
Can immortality ensure.
But not, in strictness, is required
All excellence, to be admired.
That faults claim pardon, let me own :
For, scarcely tuned, though choice its tone,
'Celsi prætereunt austera poemata Rhamnes. Omre tulit punctum qui miscuit utile dulci, Lectorem delectando, pariterque monendo. * Hic meret æra liber Sostis, hic et mare transit, Et longum noto scriptori prorogat zvum.
Sunt delicta tamen, quibus ignovisse velimus. Nam neque chorda sonum reddit, quem vult manus et
The harmonious string is often found, To send an unexpected sound;
And, even by our fair archers tried, The bow will sometimes carry wide.
But when, in the less perfect lines Prevailing, inspiration shines,
Why should I, because spleen directs, Condemn aloud a few defects,
Though they to casual haste be due, Nor save from human weakness grew?
What then are we to think? As, used To admonition, unexcused
Errs the transcriber; or as keeps
The harper, while his strings he sweeps,
Poscentique gravem persæpe remittit acutum : 'Nec semper feriet, quodcunque minabitur arcus. Verum ubi plura nitent in carmine, non ego paucis Offendar maculis, quas aut incuria fudit, Aut humana parum cavit natura. Quid ergo est? Ut scriptor si peccat idem librarius usque, Quamvis est monitus, veniâ caret; ut citharœdus Ridetur, chordâ qui semper oberrat eâdem ;
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