Bruyere. I fhall not condefcend to a difcuffion of fuch a fubject. Many paffages, and perhaps trifling or fportive allufions in this work, to perfons and events, are beft defended by the general apology of Horace, " Egp fi rifi quòd ineptus Paftillos Rufillus olet, lividus et mordax videar?" I shall offer no other apology. I would not defcend to fuch minutiæ, if they were not connected with my general defign. Yet Sporus and Lord Fanny must be noticed, as well as Bufo and Atticus. Perhaps fach paffages and allufions as these meet with the leaft indulgence. The works of Pope abound in them. To contemporaries they are pleasing and interefting; and to pofterity they are often curious. But though I ftoop to fuch trifles rather unwillingly, yet I feel they are often neceffary to the full effect and completion of Satire. A Gentleman Usher is not the principal figure in the etiquette of a Court, but he must ftand in his place. As to any fuppofed arrogance or prefumption; a writer, efpecially a poet, will be fometimes warmed with the dignity and importance of his fubject, and may exprefs himself in terms rather ftrong. The "fume fuperbiam” of a poet is feldom feverely examined. It is an extravaganza at moft, and underflood as fuch. Much has been obferved as to the defect of plan in my Poem. I will fay a few words. I with not to vindicate, but to explain myfelf. The object of the whole, is a View of Literature. The Poem itfelf is, "A Converfation on "the various fubjects of Literature, in a very extended "fenfe, as it affects publick order, regulated government, "and "and polifhed fociety." Nothing is introduced which is not, directly or indirectly to the main purpose. It does not appear in the form of an Epiftle, a mock epick, or a didactick poem; but as a converfation in which fubje&s are difcuffed as they rife naturally and eafily: and the notes illuftrate and enforce the general and particular doârines. There is as much method and connection, as is confiftent with what I flate to be my plan, or defign, if you like that word better. There is unity in the defign. Converfation has it's laws, but they are pleafant, not severe restraints. Confuls indeed do not now meet Confuls in Tufculum; and, if I am rightly informed, the fympofiacks at Wimbledon and Holwood have not too much severity of method, or equality in the glaffes. Perhaps "it would be a belying of the age, to put fo much good fenfe together in any one "converfation, as to make it hold out Ateadily, and with plain coherence, for an hour's time (i)." I never defired to exhaust any subject, but to leave matter for the reader's own fuggeftion. I may add that it would be difficult to analyse one of the most finished Satires in our language, I mean Pope's Two Dialogues, or as they are strangely called, the Epilogue to the Satires. I am reprefented as having threatened any perfon who makes enquiry after me . my name. It was not my intention to do 10. I faid, "it will be more than foolish to be very inquifitive." I fay fo ftill; for when the avenue to any knowledge is ftrongly and effectually clofed, who would labour after it fruitlessly? To waste our time to во (i) Shaftesbury's Moralifts, Sect. I. Lo manner of ufe, is not furely one of the difcriminating marks of wisdom. I maintain it boldly; no man has a right to demand either my name or my fituation. It has been obferved on fuch occafions, that "fome might fight, "but others would affaffinate." For I believe I have no real enemies, but the lovers of confufion and the troublers of states. I will acknowledge it, I come armed into their confines, and I come in the darkness of the night. But if I were required or called upon to choose my companion, you know, I am prepared with the anfwer of Diomede. Ει μεν δη έταρον γε κελεύεις μ' αυτον ελέσθαι, Πως αν επειτ' ΟΔΥΣΗΟΣ εγω ΘΕΙΟΙΟ λαθοιμην; Εν πάντεσσι πονοισι (k). If I am forced indeed to defcend into the lower regions of forrow and confufion, among the perturbed fpirits of anarchy and democracy, I fhall hope for the fafe conduct of the Sibyl. She might produce the branch to the ferryman of France and Tartarus. I would with her to exhibit this Poem, as the "Donum fatalis virge, longo poft tempore " vifum." My book is open to all the accumulated feverity of publick criticism, and publick reprehenfion. I fhrink from neither of them. When I am wrong (I have never been so intentionally) I will corre& myself, and I have done fo frequently. In a field fo extenfive, candour, I think, will allow, that my mistakes have not been very numerous. As to my poetry or verfification, it was not written as a vehicle for the notes, but the notes were compofed to accompany (k) Il. 10. v. 242. company the text. I offer the poetry to thofe who are converfant with the ftrength, fimplicity, and dignity of Dryden and Pope, and them alone. I fubmit both my Poems, "The Purfuits of Literature, and The Imperial Epiftle," in this fpirit and with this confidence to the publick. There are men (and women too) who understand But as to the lovers of exotick poetry, I refer them to the Botanick Garden of Dr. Darwin. My plants and flowers are produced and cherished by the natural invigorating influence of the common fun; I have not raised them by artificial heat. approve If the root of a tree is found and vigorous, you ftrengthen the fhoots by repreffing their luxuriance. I and would uphold our facred and civil establishment. I would therefore mark the aberrations and mifcondu& even of men of talents and virtue, who compofe it. I would fhew, that I am strictly impartial. I can cenfure, with discrimination, even where I generally approve, and confider nothing but the intereft of the state upon the whole. It is to misunderstand or to misreprefent me, when it is afferted that I attack alike friends and foes. I attack no man in his individual capacity. I have nothing to do with the vanity or injudicious conduct of friends, but as they affec the community; and I can have no perfonal malignity against those of whom I am perfonally ignorant. But they fhall neither disturb nor overthrow the state of England, civil or religious, if any obfervations of mine can avail. They may wish to know me; but they may depend upon it, I will never give a proof of my spirit at the expence of my understanding. I would I would not have you, or any man, think, that I enter into a defence of my work, as if I thought it required one. No. I have vindicated the authority of our national government and conftitution. in a day of turbulence and terror: I have defended the purity and dignity of religion, and of our facred establishment; I have pleaded the caufe of found literature and true philofophy; I have recalled the public attention to poetry without conceit, and to criticism without affectation; I have endeavoured to fecure to women their honour, focial rank, and happiness, by an attempt to turn the thoughts and hearts of the inhabitants of this ifland from works of obfcenity and indecency, from the morals and manners of atheists and democratick spoilers, to the wisdom of the just; and have boldly invaded the ftrong holds of impiety and anarchy, plebeian or tribunitian. I have done all this; and I have offended many. I have brushed away the infects of literature, whether fluttering or creeping; I have fhaken the little ftems of many a plant, and the flowerets have fallen. I have almost degraded myself by an attention to minute obje&s in the fervice of the publick: and I am called upon to defend myself. No. My countenance is unaltered; my perfeverance is unbroken; the fpirit and tenour of my fpeech is yet the fame. My words are firm. Semel caufam dixi, (vel iterum dicturus), quo femper agere omnia folitus fum, ACCUSATORIO SPIRITU. (?) As to political matters we shall never want Obfervers. I hate deferters of their duty,(m) on any principle whatever. But I fuppofe fome Statesmen think, that there is a laudable. obliquity, and a feasonable fear. For my own part I fhall not (1) Liv. lib. 2. fec. 61. (m) H. of C. Nov. 1797. |