deserves the Bays.
We grant a Genius shines in _Jaffeir's_ Part,
And _Roman Brutus_ speaks a Master's Art.
But still we often Mourn to see their Phrase
An Earthly Vapour, or at Mounting Blaze.
A rising Meteor never was design'd,
T'amaze the sober part of Human kind.
Were I to write for Fame, I would not chuse
A Prostitute and Mercenary Muse.
Which for poor Gains must in rich Trappings go,
Emptily Gay, magnificently Low,
Like Ancient _Rome's_ Religion, Sacrifice and Show.
Things fashion'd for amusement and surprize,
Ne'er move the Head, tho' they divert the Eyes.
The Mouthing Actors well-dissembled Rage,
May please the Young _Sir Foplings_ on the Stage.
But, disingag'd, the swelling Phrase I find
Like _Spencer's_ Giant sunk away in Wind.
It grates judicious Readers when they meet
Nothing but jingling Verse, and even Feet.
Such false, such counterfeited Wings as these,
Forsake th' unguided Boy, and plunge him in the Seas.
_Lee_ aim'd to rise above great _Dryden's_ Height,
But lofty _Dryden_ keeps a steddy Flight.
Like Daedalus, he times with prudent Care
His well-wax'd Wings, and Waves in Middle Air.
The Native Spark, which first advanc'd his Name,
By industry he kindled to a Flame.
The proper Phrase of our exalted Tongue
To such Perfection from his Numbers sprung.
His Tropes continu'd, and his Figures fine,
_All of a Piece throughout, and all Divine._
His _Images_ so strong and lively be,
I hear not Words alone, but Substance see;
Adapted Speech, and just Expressions move
Our various Passions, Pity, Rage and Love.
I weep to hear fond _Anthony_ complain
In _Shakespear's_ Fancy, but in _Virgil's_ Strain.

Tho' for the Comick, others we prefer,
Himself[5] the Judge; nor do's his Judgment Err.
But Comedy, 'tis Thought, can never claim
The sounding Title of a Poem's Name.
For Raillery, and what creates a Smile
Betrays no lofty Genius, nor a Style.
That _Heav'nly Heat_ refuses to be seen
In a Town-Character and Comick Mien.

[5] See Preface to _Aurengzebe_.

If we would do him right, we must produce
The _Sophoclean Buskin_; when his Muse
With her loud Accents fills the list'ning Ear,
And _Peals_ applauding shake the Theater.

They fondly seek, Great Name, to blast thy Praise,
Who think that Foreign Thanks produc'd thy Bays.
Is he oblig'd to _France_, who draws from thence
By _English_ Energy, th