Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

mon with him, and fo much admired, that they are in every Body's Mouth, and need not my Commendation. The frequent and continued Applaufes of the Theatre make almoft a whole Nation judge with me, and I fhould be really proud, if a fullen Critick or two were to differ from me, to ftand by Nature, against their Rules; and profefs my felf his Admirer.

If I were to go on to a particular Detail, I might easily prove what I affert; tho' the modeft Apology he makes for himself will fatisfy any reasonable Man. It is not (fays he) given to every body to excel; and I hope there may be fome kind of Praife referved for those who only endeavour after it; if not, I must own my Pretentions that way are upon a very ill Foat. How ever, I believe I fhall never be more folicitous about thefe Matters than they really deferve. I won't deny but that I have the natural Tenderness of a Parent for thefe Children of my Brain; and I don't believe I have Philofophy enough to stand by and fee 'em mifufed and murdered, without any lawful Reafon: But wherever they shall be found

* See the Dedication of his Plays to the Earl of Warwick.

guilty of apparent Treafon against the Laws of Parnaffus, I fhall give 'em up with the Refolution of the first BRUTUS. I believe there might be fomething faid for 'em, if I should take the Liberty of writing Examens, as was done by the elder CORNEILLE upon his own PLAYS. But whatsoever the French thought of these Things, I can't help looking on 'em as an infufferable Piece of Vanity: 'Tis making Trifles Mat ters of the laft Confequence and Importance. And yet Apologies and laboured Difcourfes, have been written upon thefe Occafions, as if the Fate of a Nation depended upon the regular Conduct of a

Poem.

Scilicet id curat Populus.

Tho', by the way, I never heard that the best Writer in Criticifm could raife the Reputation of aPLAY that was funk, by telling the World they ought to have been better pleas'd with it ; or deftroy the Success of one that was well received, by upbraiding Mankind with their Ignorance in thefe Matters. They are thefe Petulancies that fix fo great a Degree of Contempt upon the Names of Author and Poet; and if they did not fall into thefe ridiculous Invectives upon one another, the unlearned World would use 'em all with more Reverence and Refpect. I hope this is. enough:

B 4

4

enough at prefent; but if there fhould be. any farther Occafion, you will find me as ready to defend his Writings, as you will always find me

Your Friend and Servant,

St. James's, Dec. -the 26th, 1718.

S. HALES.

Долорон

A

РОЕМ

To the MEMORY Of

NICHOLAS ROWE, Efq;

I

By Mr. BECKINGHAM.

S then the Summons true! does partial Fate
Retract fo carly what it gave fo late?

Muft the Grave chufe?---Muft ROWE the Tribute pay,
And Merit moulder with the common Clay?
Is the grim Tyrant then fo jealous grown?
Strikes he at human Fame to build his own?
Has not th' infulting Monarch Wreaths enow,
But muft the Robber ftrip the Poet's Brow?

Let

Let Nature in her hoary Years decay,
And mellow Age drop heavily away.
Let the dull, earth-born Populace complain,
And fwell the Triumphs of his gloomy Reign
Slaves born for nothing, or themselves alone,
Die unlamented, as they liv'd unknown;
Let thefe, proud Victor, tremble at thy Nod,
But fpare the Poet for the Publick Good.

Does facred Heat Prophetick, Breafts infpire?
Burns not the Poet's with an equal Fire?
From Heav'n a joint Commiffion can he claims,
His Soul as large, as facred is his Name;
Both univerfal Benefits defign'd,

Both fent to govern, and to fave Mankind;
T'unveil myfterious Truths to human Sight,
And fet the falfe bewilder'd Judgment right,
Inftructed great Ideas to impart,

To warm the Bofom, and enrich the Heart.
Are we not grateful when the Lamp of Day :
Shoots forth a genial Heat, and vernal Ray,
To blefs the honeft Ruftick's Wint'ry Toil,
And bid the careful anxious Florift, fmile?

[ocr errors]

Or in fome Clime, where nearer Beams abound,

And Heats immod❜rate fcorch the cleaving Ground, When fome fierce Channel from the feven-mouth'd Nile Pours forth its Plenty on the Sun-burnt Soil;

Cements with lavish Streams the gaping Earth,

And gives the hidden Treasures timely Birth?

Do

« AnteriorContinuar »