115 The ftream of Vice impetuous drives along, And Mercy courts, and Justice frowns in vain, 120 Undaunted storms the batt'ry of his pride, 125 And awes the Brave that Earth and Heav'n defy'd. 130 But with the friends of Vice, the foes of SATIRE, All truth is Spleen; all juft reproof, Ill-nature. Well may they dread the Mufe's fatal skill; Well may they tremble when she draws her quill : Her magic quill, that, like ITHURIEL's fpear, 135 Reveals the cloven hoof, or lengthen'd ear: Bids Vice and Folly take their nat'ral fhapes, Turns Ducheffes to ftrumpets, Beaux to apes; Drags the vile Whisperer from his dark abode, 'Till all the Dæmon starts up from the toad. 140 O fordid maxim, form'd to fcreen the vile, That true good-nature still must wear a smile! In frowns array'd her beauties ftronger rise, fe; When love of Virtue wakes her fcorn of Vice: Where Juftice calls, 'tis Cruelty to fave; 145 And 'tis the Law's good-nature hangs the Knave. Who combats Virtue's foe is Virtue's friend; Then judge of SATIRE's merit by her end : To Guilt alone her vengeance ftands confin'd, The object of her love is all Mankind. 150 Scarce more the friend of Man, the wife muft own, Ev'n ALLEN's bounteous hand, than SATIRE's frown: 160 Oft in unfeeling hearts the shaft is spent: Tho' ftrong th' example, weak the punishment. They least are paid, who merit Satire most : Folly the Laureat's, Vice was Chartres' boast : Then where's the wrong, to gibbet high the name Of Fools and Knaves already dead to shame? Oft SATIRE acts the faithful Surgeon's part; Gen'rous and kind tho' painful is her art: With caution bold, fhe only ftrikes to heal; Tho' folly raves to break the friendly steel. Then fure no fault impartial SATIRE knows, Kind ev'n in Vengeance, kind to Virtue's foes, Whofe is the crime, the fcandal too be theirs ; The Knave and Fool are their own Libellers. 165 PART II. 170 ARE nobly then: But conscious of your trust, As ever warm and bold be ever just : Nor court applaufe in these degen'rate days: The Villain's cenfure is extorted praise. 180 But chief, be fteady in a noble end, And fhew Mankind that Truth has yet a friend, "Tis mean for empty praise of wit to write, 175 As Foplings grin to fhow their teeth are white : To brand a doubtful folly with a smile, Or madly blaze unknown defects, is vile: "Tis doubly vile, when, but to prove your art, To fix an arrow in a blameless heart. O loft to honour's voice, O doom'd to shame, Thou Fiend accurft, thou Murderer of Fame ! Fell Ravisher, from Innocence to tear That name, than liberty, than life more dear! Where fhall thy baseness meet its just return, Or what repay thy guilt, but endless scorn? And know, immortal Truth fhall mock thy toil: Immortal Truth fhall bid the shaft recoil; With rage retorted, wing the deadly dart; And empty all its poifon in the heart. 185 190 With caution next, the dang'rous pow'r apply; An eagle's talon asks an eagle's eye: Let SATIRE then her proper object know, 195 Lo Shaftf'ry rears her high on Reafon's throne, We therefore fee a Fool, because we smile. 205 Lo, gay fhe fits in Laughter's dimpled cheek: 210 And courts the fpruce Freethinker and the Beau. But all can read the language of grimace. Hence mighty Ridicule's all-conqu❜ring hand 215 Shall work Herculean wonders thro' the Land: Bound in the magic of her cob-web chain, You, mighty WARBURTON, fhall rage in vain, 7 In vain the trackless maze of Truth you scan, 220 But you, more fage, reject th' inverted rule, 225 Beware the mad Advent'rer: bold and blind Tho' diftant Times may rise in SATIRE's page, 230 235 240 |