295

Let it to Virtue prove a guide and friend,
Curb tyrants, and the humble good defend!
Loud let it praise the joys that Temperance waits;
Of Juftice fing, the real health of States;
The Laws; and Peace, fecure with open gates!
Faithful and fecret, let it heav'n invoke
To turn from the unhappy fortune's stroke,
And all its vengeance on the proud provoke!

305

The Pipe of old, as yet with brass unbound,
Nor rivalling, as now, the Trumpet's found,
But flender, fimple, and its ftops but few,
Breath'd to the Chorus; and was useful too:
No crouded feats wedg'd clofe, and closer ftill,
Then afking pow'rful blafts their space to fill;
When the thin audience, pious, frugal, chafte,
With modeft mirth indulg'd their fober tafte.
But foon as the proud Victor fpurns all bounds, 310
And growing Rome a wider wall furrounds;
When noontide revels, and the daylight bowl,
Licence on holidays a flow of foul;

A richer ftream of melody is known,
Numbers more copious, and a fuller tone.

315

For what, alas! could the unpractis'd ear

Of rufticks, revelling o'er country cheer,
VOL. III.

E

A motley

Sic prifcæ motumque et luxuriem addidit arti

Tibicen, traxitque vagus per pulpita veftem: 215
Sic etiam fidibus voces crevere feveris,

Et tulit eloquium infolitum facundia præceps;
Utiliumque fagax rerum, et divina futuri,
Sortilegis non difcrepuit fententia Delphis.

Carmine qui tragico vilem certavit ob hircum, 220 Mox etiam agreftes Satyros nudavit, et asper Incolumi gravitate jocum tentavit: eò quod Illecebris erat et gratâ novitate morandus Spectator functufque facris, et potus, et exlex. Verum ita rifores, ita commendare dicaces Conveniet Satyros, ita vertere feria ludo

225

Ne quicunque Deus, quicunqne adhibebitur heros
Regali confpectus in auro nuper et oftro,
Migret in obfcuras humili fermone tabernas :

Aut, dum vitat humum, nubes et inania captet. 230

Effutire

A motley groupe! high, low; and froth, and fcum; Diftinguish but fhrill fqueak, and dronish hum ?The Piper, grown luxuriant in his art,

320

With dance and flowing veft embellishes his part!
Now too, its pow'rs increas'd, the Lyre fevere
With richer numbers fmites the lift'ning ear:
Sudden burfts forth a flood of rapid fong,

Rolling a tide of eloquence along :
Useful, prophetic, wife, the strain divine
Breathes all the fpirit of the Delphick fhrine.

325

He who the prize, a filthy goat, to gain, At first contended in the tragick ftrain, Soon too-tho' rude, the graver mood unbroke,Stript the rough SATYRS, and effay'd a joke : For holiday- fpectators, flufh'd, and wild,

With new conceits, and mummeries, were beguil❜d. Yet fhould the Satyrs fo chastise their mirth, Temp'ring the jeft that gives their fallies birth; 335 Changing from grave to gay, fo keep the mean, That God or Heroe of the lofty scene,

In royal gold and purple feen but late,

May ne'er in cots obscure debase his state,

Loft in low language; nor in too much care 340 To fhun the ground, grafp clouds, and empty air.

Effutire leves indigna tragoedia verfus,

Ut feftis matrona moveri juffa diebus,
Intererit Satyris paulum pudibunda protervís.
Non ego inornata et dominantia nomina folum
Verbaque, Pifones, Satyrorum fcriptor amabo: 235
Nec fic enitar tragico differre colori,

Ut nihil interfit Davufne loquator et audax
Pythias emuncto lucrata Simone talentum,
An cuftos famulufque Dei Silenus alumni.

Ex noto fictum carmen féquar: ut fibi quivis 240 Speret idem; fudet multum, fruftraque laboret Aufus idem: tantum feries juncturaque pollet : Tantum de medio fumtis accedit honoris,

Silvis deducti caveant, me judice, Fauni,

245

Ne velut innati triviis, ac pene forenfes,
Aut nimium teneris juvenentur verfibus umquam,

Aut

With an indignant pride, and coy disdain,
Stern Tragedy rejects too light a vein:
Like a grave Matron, deftin'd to advance.
On folemn feftivals to join the dance,

Mixt with the fhaggy tribe of Satyrs rude,
She'll hold a fober mien, and act the prude.
Ne'er would I, Pifos, in the Sylvan fcene,
Ufe abject terms alone, and phrafes mean;
Nor of high Tragick colouring afraid,
Neglect, too much the difference of fhade!
Davus may jeft, pert Pythias may beguile
Simo of cash, in a familiar ftyle;
The fame low ftrain Silenus would difgrace,
Servant and guardian of the Godlike race.

f

Let me on fubjects known my verse so frame, So follow it, that each may hope the fame; Daring the fame, and toiling to prevail,

345

359.

355

May vainly toil, and only dare to fail!

Such virtues order and connection bring,

360

From common arguments fuch honours spring.

The woodland Fauns their origin should heed, Take no town ftamp, nor feem the city breed ; Nor let them, aping young gallants, repeat Verfes that run upon too tender feet;

E 3

365 Nor