But foon by impious arms from Latium chas'd,
Their ancient bounds the banish'd muses paft;
Thence arts o'er all the northern world advance;
But critic learning flourish'd most in France :
The rules, a nation born to ferve, obeys;
And Boileau ftill in right of Horace sways.
But we, brave Britons, foreign laws defpis'd,
And kept unconquer'd, and unciviliz’d,
Fierce for the liberties of wit, and bold,
We still defy'd the Romans, as of old..

Yet fome there were, among the founder few

Of those who lefs prefum'd, and better knew, 25 Who durft affert the jufter ancient cause,

And here reftor'd Wit's fundamental laws.

Such was the mufe, whofe rules and practice tell,

*

Nature's chief mafter-piece is writing well.

Such was Roscommon-not more learn'd than good
With manners gen'rous as his noble blood;

To him the wit of Greece and Rome was known,
And ev'ry authors merit but his own.

Such late was Walsh,-the mufe's judge and friend,
Who justly knew to blame or to commend;

* An essay on poetry by the duke of Buckingham.

Το

To failings mild, but zealous for defert;
The clearest head, and the fincereft heart.
This humble praise, lamented fhade! receive,
This praise at least a grateful muse may give;
The mufe, whofe early voice you taught to fing,
Prefcrib'd her heights, and prun'd her tender wing,
(Her guide now loft) no more attempts to rise,
But in low numbers fhort excurfions tries:
Content, if hence th' unlearn'd their wants may view,
The learn'd reflect on what before they knew:
Careless of cenfure, nor too fond of fame,

Still pleas'd to praise, yet not afraid to blame;
Averfe alike to flatter, or offend,

Not free from faults, nor yet too vain to mend.

THE

THE

RAPE of the LOCK.

ΑΝ

HEROI-COMICAL

POEM.

Written in the year 1712.

Nolueram, Belinda, tuos violare capillos,
Sed juvant hoc precibus me tribuiffe tuis.

MARTIAL.

то

Mrs. Arabella Fermor.

MADAM,

I'

T will be in vain to deny that I have fome regard for this piece, fince I dedicate it to you. Yet you may bear me witness, it was intended only to divert a few young Ladies who have good fenfe and good bu mour enough to laugh not only at their fex's little unguarded follies, but at their own. But as it was communicated with the air of a fecret, it foon found its way into the world. An imperfect copy having been offer'd to a bookfeller, you bad the good nature for my fake to confent to the publication of one more correct: This I was forced to before I had executed half my defign, for the machinery was entirely wanting to compleat it.

The