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PART III.

The History of Satire. Roman Satirifts, Lucilius,
Horace, Perfius, Juvenal, 357, etc. Caufes of the
Decay of Literature, particularly of Satire, 389. Re-
vival of Satire, & 401. Erafmus one of its principal
Reftorers, 405. Donne, 411. The Abufe of Satire
in England, during the licentious Reign of Charles II.
415. Dryden, & 429. The true Ends of Satire pur-
Jued by Boileau in France, & 439; and by Mr. Pope in
England, 445.

(v)

PARTI.

ATE gave the Word; the cruel arrow fped;
And POPE lies number'd with the mighty
Dead!

Refign'd he fell; superior to the dart,

That quench'd its rage in YOURS and BRITAIN'S
Heart:

You mourn: but BRITAIN, lull'd in rest profound,
(Unconscious Britain !) flumbers o'er her wound.
Exulting Dulness ey'd the fetting Light,
And flapp'd her wing, impatient for the Night:
Rouz'd at the fignal, Guilt collects her train,
And counts the Triumphs of her growing Reign:
With inextinguishable rage they burn;

And Snake-hung ENVY hiffes o'er his Urn:

Th' envenom'd Monster fpit their deadly foam, To blaft the Laurel that furrounds his Tomb.

But You, O WARBURTON! Whofe eye Can see the greatness of an honest mind

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refin'd

Can fee each Virtue and each Grace unite,
And taste the Raptures of a pure Delight;

You vifit oft his awful Page with Care,
And view that bright Affemblage treasur'd there;
You trace the Chain that links his deep Design,
And

pour new Luftre on the glowing Line.
Yet deign to hear the efforts of a Muse,
Whose eye, not wing, his ardent flight pursues;
Intent from this great Archetype to draw
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SATIRE's bright Form, and fix her equal Law;
Pleas'd if from hence th'unlearn'd may comprehend,
And rev'rence HIS and SATIRE's gen'rous End.

In ev'ry Breast there burns an active flame,
The Love of Glory, or the Dread of Shame: 30
The Paffion ONE, tho' various it appear,

As brighten'd into Hope, or dimm'd by Fear.
The lifping Infant, and the hoary Sire,

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And Youth and Manhood feel the heart-born fire:
The Charms of Praise the Coy, the Modest wooe,
And only fly, that Glory may pursue:
'She, Pow'r refiftlefs, rules the wife and great,
Bends ev'n reluctant Hermits at her feet;

Haunts the proud City, and the lowly Shade,
And sways alike the Scepter and the Spade.

Το

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Thus Heav'n in Pity wakes the friendly Flame, Mankind on Deeds that merit Fame:

urge

But Man, vain Man, in folly only wife,
Rejects the Manna fent him from the Skies:
With rapture hears corrupted Paffion's call, 45
Still proudly prone to mingle with the stall.
As each deceitful fhadow tempts his view,
He for the imag'd Subftance quits the true;
Eager to catch the visionary Prize,
In queft of Glory plunges deep in Vice;
'Till madly zealous, impotently vain,
He forfeits ev'ry Praise he pants to gain.

Thus ftill imperious NATURE plies her part; And still her Dictates work in ev'ry heart.

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Each Pow'r that fov'reign Nature bids enjoy, 55
Man
may corrupt, but Man can ne'er destroy.
Like mighty rivers, with refiftless force
The Paffions rage, obftructed in their course;
Swell to new heights, forbidden paths explore,
And drown thofe Virtues which they fed before.

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