Contemns each furly Academic foe, And courts the fpruce Freethinker and the Beau. 215 But all can read the Language of grimace. 220 But you, more fage, reject th' inverted rule, 225 That truth is e'er explor'd by Ridicule; On truth, on falfehood let her colours fall, 230 Let clear-ey'd Reason at the helm prefide, Bear to the wind, or ftem the furious tide; 235 Then Mirth may urge, when Reason can explore, 240 Tho' diftant Times may rife in SATIRE's page, Ere Lewdness the stain'd garb of Honour wore, Vice flutter'd, in the plumes of Freedom drefs'd; Be ever, in a just expreffion, bold, Yet ne'er degrade fair SATIRE to a Scold: Let no unworthy mien her form debase, But let her smile, and let her frown with grace; 250 255. In mirth be temp'rate, temp'rate in her spleen; 260 Her beauties half-conceal'd the more furprize, 265 And keener luftre fparkles in her eyes. Then be your line with sharp encomiums grac❜d: Style Clodius honourable, Bufa chaste. Dart not on Folly an indignant eye: To bind the Tyger in fo weak a chain. 270 Nay more: when flagrant crimes your laughter move, The Knave exults: to fmile is to approve. The Mufe's labour then fuccess shall crown, When Folly feels her smile, and Vice her frown. 275 Know next what Measures to each Theme belong, And fuit your thoughts and numbers to your fong: On wing proportion'd to your quarry rise, And stoop to earth, or foar among the skies. 280 Thus when a modish folly you rehearse, Free the expreffion, fimple be the verse. In artless numbers paint th' ambitious Peer 285 290 Not fo when Virtue by her Guards betray'd, Spurn'd from her Throne, implores the Mufe's aid: When crimes, which erft in kindred darkness lay, Rife frontless, and infult the eye of day; 296 Indignant Hymen veils his hallow'd fires, Hot from Cocytus rears her baleful head : 300 When private Faith and publick Truft are fold, When fell Corruption dark and deep, like fate, When Giant-Vice and Irreligion rife, 305 On mountain'd falfe-hoods to invade the Skies: Then warmer numbers glow thro' SATIRE's page, And all her fmiles are darken'd into rage; On eagle-wing she gains Parnaffus' height, Then keener indignation fires her eye; 310. Then flash her lightnings, and her thunders fly; Wide and more wide her flaming bolts are hurl'd, Till all her wrath involves the guilty World. 315 320 Yet SATIRE oft affumes a gentler mien, And beams on Virtue's friends a smile ferene: She wounds reluctant; pours her balm with joy; Glad to commend where Worth attracts her eye. But chief, when Virtue, Learning, Arts decline, She joys to fee unconquer'd Merit shine; Where bursting glorious, with departing ray, True Genius gilds the close of Britain's Day: With joy the fees the stream of Roman art From MURRAY's tongue flow purer to the heart: Sees YORKE to Fame, e'er yet to Manhood known, And just to ev'ry virtue, but his own: 326 Hears unftain'd CAM with generous pride proclaim A SAGE'S, CRITIC's, and a POET's name: Beholds, where WIDCOMBE's happy hills ascend, Each orphan'd Art and Virtue find a friend: TO HAGLEY's honour'd Shade directs her view; And culls each flow'r, to form a Wreath for You. 330 But tread with cautious ftep this dang'rous ground, Befet with faithlefs precipices round: |