With manners generous as his noble blood; Such late was Walsh, the Muse's judge and friend, Who justly knew to blame or to commend: 730 To failings mild, but zealous for desert; The clearest head, and the sincerest heart. This humble praise, lamented shade! receive, This praise at least a grateful Muse may give : The Muse, whose early voice you taught to sing, Prescribed her heights, and pruned her tender wing, 735 (Her guide now lost) no more attempts to rise, But in low numbers short excursions tries : Content, if hence the unlearn'd their wants may view, The learn'd reflect on what before they knew; Careless of censure, nor too fond of fame; 741 Still pleased to praise, yet not afraid to blame; Averse alike to flatter, or offend; Not free from faults, nor yet too vain to mend. DEDICATION ΤΟ MRS. ARABELLA FERMOR. MADAM, T will be in vain to deny that I have bear me witness, it was intended only to divert a few young ladies, who have good sense and good humour enough to laugh not only at their sex's little unguarded follies, but at their own. But as it was communicated with the air of a secret, it soon found its way into the world. An imperfect copy having been offered to a bookseller, you had the good nature for my sake to consent to the publication of one more correct: this I was forced to before I had executed half my design, for the machinery was entirely wanting to complete it. The machinery, Madam, is a term invented by the critics, to signify that part which the Deities, Angels, or Demons, are made to act in a Poem. For the ancient Poets are in one respect like many modern ladies: let an action be never so trivial in itself, they always make it appear of the utmost importance. These machines I determined to raise on a very new and odd foundation, the Rosicrucian doctrine of Spirits. I know how disagreeable it is to make use of hard words before a lady; but 'tis so much the concern of a Poet to have his works understood, |
