* The Maxim will hardly be difprov'd by Fac"l or Hiftory, either in rcfpe£l of Philofophers themlelves, or others who were the great Genius s or Mafters in the Liberal Arts. The Characters of the two belt Roman Poets are well known. Thole of the antient Tragedians no lefs. And the great Epick Mailer, thoofan obfeure and remoter Age, was ever pre- fum'd to be far enough from a vile or knavilh Character. The Roman as well as the Grecian Orator was true to his Country; and died in like manner a Martyr for its Liberty. And thofc Hifiorians who are of higheft value, were either in a private Life approv'd good Men, or noted fuch by their Aclions in the Pnblick. As for Poets in particular (fays the learned and wile Strabo) " Can we poffibly imagine, that " the Genius, Power, and Excellence of a real Poet conlilts in ought " elfe than the juft Imitation of Life, in form'd Difcourfe and Num- k' bers? But how fhou'd he be that juft Imitator of Life, whilll he hiinfelf 41 knows not its Meafures, nor how to guide himfelf by Judgment and tl Underftanding? For we have not furely the fame Notion of the Poet's ** Excellence as of the ordinary Craftfman's, the Subjecl of whofe Art " is fenfelefs Stone or Timber, without Life, Dignity, or Beauty: whilll " the Poet's Art turning principally on Men and Maimers, he has his " Virtue and Excellence, as Poet, naturally annex'd to human Excel- 41 lence, and to the Worth and Dignity of Men. Infomuch that 'tis- " impolfible he fhou'd be a great and worthy Poet, who is not firft 'a tl worthy and good Man.'' Ov yag Sru <paf/.sv tsj» run riowrijii a^ri.v <•% y> rixlovw r> ^u>Mtuv, &:c. » SI TOojrjra avH^;v>clut ty) rS 'Av^uttS' xj a% o»ov Tt aya&ov yina^ou <s:owt%v, (av taf-ciTtgov ytvrdQivl(z. avfya. uyaQov. Lib. i. See be- /owpag. 278, 337. and 350, 351. in the Notes. And V O L. III.
BUT ADVICE to an Author.
BUT having enter'd thus ferioufly into the Concerns of Authors, and (hewn their chief Foun- dation and Strength, their preparatory Difci- pline, and qualifying Method of Self -Examina- tion; 'tis fit, ere we difclofe this Myjiery any fur- ther, we fhou'd confider the Advantages or Dif- advantages our Authors may poffibly meet with, from abroad: and how far their Genius may be deprefs'd or rais'd by any external Caufes, arifing from the Humour or Judgment of the World.
Whatever, it be which influences in this refpect, mud proceed either from the Gran- dees and Men in Power, the Criticks and Men of Art, or the People themfelves, the com- mon Audience, and mere Vulgar. We Ihall begin therefore with the Grandees, and pretended Maf- ters of the World: taking the liberty, in favour of Authors, to beftow fome Advice alfo on thefe high Perfons; if poffibly they are difpos'd to receive it in fuch a familiar way as this.
O2 PART SECT. I.
AS ufual as it is with Mankind to acl abfo- lutely by Will and Pleafure, without re- gard to Counfel, or the rigid Method of Rule and Precept; it mufl be acknowledg'd never- thelefs, that the good and laudable Cuftom of a/king Advice, is (till upheld, and kept in fafhi- on, as a matter of fair Repute, and honour- able Appearance: Infomuch that even Mo- narchs, and abfolute Princes themfelves, dif- dain not, we fee, to make profefiion of the Practice.
'Tis, I prefume, on this account, that the Royal Perfons are pleas'd, on publick Occafi- ons, to make ufe of the noted Style of W E and US. Not that they are fuppos'd to have any Converfe with Themfelves, as being endow'd with the Privilege of becoming Plural, and enlarging their Capacity, in the manner above defcribd. Single and abfolute Perfons in Government, I'm ADVICE to an Author. 211 I'm fenfible, can hardly be confider'd as any- other than Jingle and cibfolute in Morals. They have no Inmat e-Gontxou\ev to cavil with 'em, or difpute their Pleafure. Nor have they, from any Practice abroad, been able at any time to learn the way of being free and familiar with themfelves,fl£/w/72£. Inclination and Will in fuch as thefe, admit as little Reflraint or Check in private Meditation as in publick Company. The World, which ferves as a Tu- tor to Perfons of an inferior rank, is fubmif- five to thefe Royal Pupils; who from their ear- lier! days are us'd to fee even their Injlrudors bend before 'em, and hear every thing ap- plauded which they themfelves perform.
For fear therefore, left their Humour mere- ly, or the Caprice of fome Favourite, fliou'd be prefum'd to influence 'em, when they come to years of princely Difcretion, and are ad- vanc'd to the Helm of Government; it has been efteem'd a neceffary Decency to fum- raon certain Advifers by Profejfwn, to affift as Attendants to the Jingle Per/on, and be join'd with him in his written Edicls, Proclamations, Letters-Patent, and other Inftruments of Re- gal Power. For this ufe, Privy-Counfellors have been erecled; who being Perfons of confider- able Figure and wife Afpecl, cannot be fup- pos'd to ftand as itatues or mere Cyphers 212 A D VICE to an Author, in the Government, and leave the Royal Acts erroneoufly and falfly defcrib'd to us in the Plural Number; when, at the bottom, zfingle Will or Fancy was the fole Spring and Motive.
Foreign Princes indeed have mofl of 'em that unhappy Prerogative of acting unadvifedly and wilfully in their national Affairs: But 'tis known to be far otherwife with the legal and jufl Princes of our Ifland. They are fui round- ed with the befl of Counfellors, the Laws. They adminifler Civil Affairs by Legal Of- ficers, who have the Direction of their Pub- lick Will and Confcience: and they annually receive Advice and Aid, in the mofl effectual manner, from their good People. To this wife Genius of our Constitution we may be juflly faid to owe our wifeft and beft Princes; whofe High Birth or Royal Education cou d not alone be fuppos'd to have given 'em that happy Turn: fince by experience we find, that thofe very Princes, from whofe Conduct the World abroad, as well as We at home, have reap'd the greateft Advantages, were fuch as had the mofl controverted Titles; and in their youth had flood in the remoter Profpects of Regal* Power, and liv'd the nearefl to a private Life.
Other ADVICE to an Author. 213 Other Princes we have had, who tho dif- ficult perhaps in receiving Counfel, have been eminent in the Practice of applying it to others. They have lifted themfelves Advifers in form, and by publishing their admonitory Works, have added to the number of thofe, whom in this Treatife we have prefum'd to criticize. But our Criticifm being withal an Apology {ox Au- thors, and a Defence of the literate Tribe; it cannot be thought amifs in us, to join the Rpyal with the Plebeian Penmen, in this com- mon Caufe.
Twou'd be a hard Cafe indeed, fhou'd the Princes of our Nation refufe to countenance the induftrious Raceof^w//zon; lince their Roy- al Anceftors, and PredeceiTors, have had fuch Honour deriv'd to 'em from this Profeflion. 'Tis to this they owe that bright Jewel of their Crown, purchasd by a warlike Prince; who having affum'd the Author, and effay'd his Strength in the polemick Writings of the School- Divines, thought it an Honour on this account to retain the Title of Defender of the Faith.
Another Prince, of a more pacifick Na- ture and fluent Thought, fubmitting Arms and martial Difcipline to the Gown; and canfiding in his princely Science and profound Learn- ing, made his Style and Speech the Nerve and. Sinew of his Government. He gave us his Works full of wife Exhortation and Advice to his Royal Son, as well as of Inftruction to his good People; who cou'd not without admira- tion obferve their ^/for-Sovereign, thus ftu- dious and contemplative in their behalf. 'Twas then, one might have feen our'Nation growing young and docile, with that Simplicity of Heart, which qualify'd 'em to profit like ^Scho- lar- People under their Royal Preceptor- For wi$h abundant Eloquence he graciouily gave Leffons to his Parliament, tutor'd his Minifters, and edify'd the greateft Church-men and Divines themfelves; by who fe Suffer age heobtamd the higher! Appellations which cou'd be merited by the acuteft Wit, and trueft Underftanding. From hence the Britijh Nations were taught to own in common a Solomon for their joint Sovereign, the Founder of their latecompleat- ed Union. Nor can it be doubted that the pious Treatife of Self-Difcoiirfe afcrib'd to the fucceeding Monarch, contributed in a great meafure to his glorious and never-fading Ti- tles of Saint, and Martyr.
However it be, I wou'd not willingly take upon me to recommend this Author -Charac- ter to our future Princes. Whatever Crowns or ADVICE to an Author. 215 or Laurels their renown'd Predeceffors may have gather'd in this Field of Honour; I fhou'd think that for the future, the fpeculative Pro- vince might more properly be committed to private Heads. 'Twou'd be a fufficient En- couragement to the learned World, and a fure Earnefl of the Increafe and Flourifhing of Let- ters in our Nation, if its Sovereigns wou'd be contented to be the Patrons of Wit, and vouch - fafe to look gracioufly on the ingenious Pupils of Art. Or were it the Cuftom of their Prime- Miniflers, to have any fuch regard; it wou'd of it-felf be fufficient to change the Face of Affairs. A fmall degree of Favour wou'd in- fure the Fortunes of a diftrefs'd and ruinous Tribe, whofe forlorn Condition has help'd to draw Difgrace upon Arts and Sciences, and kept 'em far off from that Politenefs and Beauty, in which they wou'd foon appear, if the afpi- ring Genius of our Nation were forwarded by the lead Care or Culture.
There fhou'd not, one wou'd think, be any need of Courtfhip or Perfiiafion to engage our Grandees in the Patronage of Arts and Let- ters. For in our Nation, upon the foot Things ftand, and as they are likely to continue; 'tis not difficult to forefee that Improvements will be made in every Art and Science. The Muses Muses will have their Turn; and with or without their Maecenas's will grow in Credit and Efleem; as they arrive to greater i'erFec- tion. and excel in every kind. There will a- rife fuch Spirits as wou'd have credited their Court-Patrons, had they found any fo wife as to have fought 'em out betimes, and contri- buted to their rifing Greatnefs.
'Tis fcarce a quarter of an Age fmce fuch a happy Balance of Power was fettled between our Prince and People, as has firmly fecur'd our hitherto precarious Libertys, and remov'd from us the Fear of Civil Commotions, Wars and Violence, either on account of Religion and Worfhip, the Property of the Subjecl, or the contending Titles of the Crown. But as the greateft Advantages of this World are not to be bought at eafy Prices; we are ftill at this moment expending both our Blood and Trea- fure, to fecure to our -felves this ineflimable Purchafe of our Free Government and National Conjliiution. And as happy as wre are in this Euablifhment at home; we are flill held in a perpetual Alarm by the Afpecl of Affairs a- broad, and by the Terror of that Power, which ere Mankind had well recover'd the Mifery of thofe barbarous Ages confequent to the Roman Yoke, has again threaten'd the World with a Uni- ADVICE to an Author. 217 Univerfal Monarchy, and a new Abyfs of Ig- norance and Superftition.
The British Muses, in this Dinn of Arms, may well lie abject and obfcure; efpe- cially being as yet in their mere Infant-State. They have hitherto fcarce arriv'd to any-thing of Shapelinefs orPerfon. They lifp as in their Cradles: and their Hammering Tongues, which nothing befides their Youth and Rawnefs can excufe, have hitherto fpoken in wretched Pun and Quibble. Our Dramatick Shakespear, our Fletcher, Johnson, and our Epick Milton preferve this Style. And even a lat- ter Race, fcarce free of this Infirmity, and aim- ing at a falfe Sublime, with crouded Simile, and mix'd Mataphor, (the Hobby-Horfe, and Rattle of the Muses) entertain our raw Fancy, and unpractis'd Ear; which has not as yet had lei- fure to form it-felf, and become * truly muficaL But thofe reverend Bards, rude as they were, according to their Time and Age, have provided us however with the richefl Ore. To their eternal Honour they have withal been the firft of Europeans, who fince the Go- thick Model of Poetry, attempted to throw off the horrid Difcord of jingling Rhyme. They have 218 ADVICE to an Author.
have afferted antient Poetick Liberty, and have happily broken the Ice for thofe who are to follow 'em; and who treading in their Foot- fleps, may at leifure polifh our Language, lead our Ear to finer Pleafure, and find out the true Rhythmus, and harmonious Numbers, which alone can fatisfy a jufl Judgment, and Mufe? like Apprehenfion.
'Tis evident, our natural Genius fliines a- bove that airy neighbouring Nation; of whom, however, it muft be confefs'd, that with truer Pains and Induury, they have fought Politene.fi, and fludy'cl to give the Muses their due Body and Proportion, as well as the natural Orna- ments of Correclnefs, Chaftity, and Grace of Style. From the plain Model of the Antients, they have rais'd a noble * Satirijh In the Epick Kind their Attempts have been lefs fuccefsful. In the Dramatick they have been fo happy, as to raife their Stage to as great Perfection, as the Genius of their Nation will permit. But the high Spirit of Tragedy can ill fubfifl where the Spirit of Liberty is wanting. The Genius of this Poetry confifts in the lively Reprefentation of the Diforders and Mifery of the Great; to the end that the People and thofe of a lower Condi- tion may be taught the better to content them- felves with privacy, enjoy their fafer State, * BoiLLAU.
and ADVICE to an Author. 219 and prize the Equality and Juflice of their Guardian Laws. If this be found agreeable to the juft Tragic k Model, which the Antients have deliver'd to us; 'twill eafily be conceiv'd how little fuch a Model is proportion'd to the Capacity or Tafte of thofe, who in a long Se- ries of Degrees, from the loweft Peafant to the high Slave of Royal Blood, are taught to ido- lize the next in Power above em, and think nothing fo adorable as that unlimited Great- nefs, and tyrannick Power, which is rais d at their own Expence, and exercis'd over them/elves.
'Tis eafy, on the other hand, to apprehend the Advantages of our Britain in this par- ticular; and what effecl its eflablifh'd Liberty wTill produce in every thing which relates to Art; when Peace returns to us on thefe happy Conditions. 'Twas the Fate of Rome to have fcarce an intermediate Age, or fmgle Period of Time, between the Rife of Arts and Fall of Liberty. No fooner had that Nation begun to lofe the Roughnefs and Barbarity of their Manners, and learn of Greece to form their Heroes, their Orators and Poets on a right Mo- del, than by their unjuft Attempt upon the Liberty of the World, they juftly loll their own. With their Liberty they loft not only their Force of Eloquence, but even their Style and Language it-felf. The Poets who after- wards wards arofe among them, were mere unnatural and forc'd Plants. Their Two moftaccomplifh'd, who came laft, and closd the Scene, were plainly fuch as had feen the Days of Liberty, and felt the fad Effects of its Departure. Nor had thefe been ever brought in play, other- wife than thro' the Friend (hip of the fam'd Maecenas, who turn'd a * Prince naturally cruel and barbarous to the Love and Court- fhip of the Muses. Thefe Tutor eJJ'es form'd in their Royal Pupil a new Nature. They taught him how to charm Mankind. They were more to him than his Arms or mlitary Virtue; and, more than Fortune herfelf, affined him in his Greatnefs, and made his ufurp'd Dominion fo inchanting to the World, that it cou'd fee without regret its Chains of Bondage firmly riveted. The corrupting Sweets of fuch a poifonous Government were not indeed long- liv'd. The Bitter foon fucceeded. And, in the iflue, the World was forc'd to bear with pa- tience thofe natural and genuine Tyrants, who fucceeded to this fpecious Machine of Ar- bitrary and Univerfal Power.
And now that I am fall'n unawares into fuch profound Refleclions on the Periods of Government, and the Flourifhing and Decay of Liberty and Letters; I can't be contented ,f Infra, p. 269, 270. in the Notes.
to ADVICE to an Author. 221 to confider merely of the Inchantment which wrought fo powerfully upon Mankind, when firft this Univerfal Monarchy was eflabliOYd. I mufl wonder full more, when I coniider how after the Extinction of this Caesarean and Claud ian Family, and a (hort Interval of Princes rais'd and deflroy d with much Dis- order and publick Ruin, the Romans fhou'd regain their perifhing Dominion, and ret-rieve their finking State, by an after-Race of wife and able Princes fucceffively adopted, and ta- ken from a private State to rule the Empire of the World. They were Men who not only pofTefs'd the military Virtues, and fupported that fort of Difcipline in the higheft degree; but as they fought the Intereft of the World, they did what was in their power to reftore Liberty, and raife again the perifhing Arts, and decay'd Virtue of Mankind. But the Seafonwas now pad! The fatal Form of Government was become too natural: And the World, which had bent under it, and was become flavifh and dependent, had neither Power nor Will to help it-felf. The only Deliverance it cou'd expecl, was from the mercilefs hands of the Barbarians, and a total DiiTolution of that enor- mous Empire and defpotick Power, which the beft Hands cou'd not preferve from be- ing deflruclive to human Nature. For even Barbarity and Gotkicifm were already enter d into 222 A D VIC E to an Author.
into Arts, ere the Savages had made any Im- preffion on the Empire. All the advantage which a fortuitous and almoft miraculous Suc- ceffion of good Princes cou'd procure their highly favour' d Arts and Sciences, was no more than to preferve during their own time thofe * perilhing Remains, which had for a- while with difficulty fubfifled, after the Decline of Liberty. Not a Statue, not a Medal, not a tolerable Piece of Architecture cou'd (hew it- felf afterwards. Philofophy, Wit and Learn- ing, in which fome of thofe good Princes had themfelves been fo renown'd, fell with them: and Ignorance and Darknefs overfpread the World, and fitted it for the Chaos and Ruin which enfu'd.
WE ARE now in an Age when Liberty is once again in its Afcendent. And we are our-felves the happy Nation, who not only enjoy it at home, but by our Greatnefs and Power give Life and Vigour to it abroad; and are the Head and Chief of the European League, founded on this Common Caufe. Nor can it, I prefume, be jullly fear'd that we ihou'd lofe this noble Ardour, or faint under the glorious Toil; tho, like antient Greece, we fhou'd for fucceeding Ages be contending with ADVICE to an Author. 223 with a foreign Power, and endeavouring to re- duce the Exorbitancy of a Grand Monarch. 'Tis with us at prefent, as with the Roman People in thofe * early Days, when they wanted only repofe from Arms to apply themfelves to the Improvement of Arts and Studys. We fhou'd, in this cafe, need no ambitious Monarch to be allurd, by hope of Fame or fecret views of Pow- er, to give Penfions abroad, as well as at home, and purchafe Flattery from every Profedion and Science. We fhou'd find a better Fund within ourfelves; and might, without fuch Af- fiftance, be able to excel, by our own Virtue and Emulation.
Well it wou'd be indeed, and much to the Honour of our Nobles and Princes, wou'd they freely help in this Affair; and by a judicious Application of their Bounty, facilitate this hap- py Birth, of which I have ventur'd to fpeak in a prophetick Style. 'Twou'd be of no fmall advantage to 'em during their Life; and wou'd more than all their other Labours procure 'em an immortal Memory. For they mud remem- ber that their Fame is in the hands of Penmen; and that the greateft Aclions lofe their Force, * Serus enim Gr<zcis admovit acumina Charlis; Et poji Punka Bella quietus, qu&rere capit, Quid Sophocles et Thejpis et JEfchyliis utile fervent.
Hor. Epift. I. Lib. 2.
Vol. I. P and and perifh in the cuftody of unable and mean Writers.
Let a Nation remain ever fo rude or bar- 'barous, it mull have its Poets, Rhapfoders, Hijlo- riographers, Antiquarys of fome kind or other, vvhofe bufmefs it will be to recount its remark- able Tranfac~lions, and record the Achieve- ments of its Civil and Military Heroes. And tho the Military Kind may happen to be the furtheu remov'd from any acquaintance with Letters, or the Muses; they are yet, in reality, the molt interefled in the Caufe and Party of thefe Remembrancers. The greater! mare of Fame and Admiration falls naturally on the amid Wor- thy's. The Great in Council are fecond in the Muses Favour. But if worthy poetick Geni- us's are not found, nor able Penmen rais'd, to rehearfe the Lives, and celebrate the high Ac- tions of great Men, they mult be traduc'd by fuch Recorders as Chance prefents. We have few modern Heroes, who like Xenophon or Caesar can write their own Commentary's. And the raw Memoir-Writings and unform'd Pieces of modern Statefmen, full of their interefted and private Views, will in another Age be of little fervice to fupport their Memory or Name; fince already the World begins to ficken with the Kind. 'Tis the learn'd, the able, and dif- interefled Hijlorian, who takes place at lad. And when ADVICE to an Author. 225 when the fignal Poet, or Herald of Fame is once heard, the inferior Trumpets (ink in Silence and Oblivion.
But fuppofing it were poflible for the Hero or State/man, to be absolutely unconcern'd for his Memory, or what came after him; yet for the prefent merely, and during his own time, it muft be of importance to him to ftand fair with the Men of Letters and Ingenuity, and to have the Character and Repute of being favour- able to their Art. Be the illuftrious Perfon ever fo high or awful in his Station; he muft have Descriptions made of him, in Verfe, and Profe, under feign'd, or real Appellations. If he be omitted- in found Ode, or lofty Epick; he muft be fung at leaft in Doggrel and plain Ballad. The People will needs have his Effigies; tho they fee his Perfon ever fo rarely: And if he refufes to fit to the good Painter, there are others who, to oblige the Publick, will take the Defign in hand. We {hall take up with what prefents; and rather than be without the illuf- trious Phyfiognomy of our great Man, fhall be contented to fee him portraitur'd by the Artift who ferves to illuftrate Prodigys in Fairs, and adorn heroick Sign-Pojls. The ill Paint of this kind cannot, it's true, difgrace his Excellency; whofe Privilege it is, in common with the P 2 Royal 226 ADVICE to an Author.
Royal I flue, to be rais'd to this degree of Honour, and to invite the PafTenger or Traveller by his fignal Reprefentative. Tis fuppos'd in this Cafe, that there are better Pictures current of the Hero; and that (itch as thefe, are no true or favourable Representations. But in another fort of Limning, there is great danger left the Hand fhou'd difgrace the Subjecl. Vile Enco- miums, and wretched Panegyricks are the worfl of Satirs: And when fordid and low Genius's make their Court fuccefsfully in one way, the generous and able are aptefl to revenge it in another.
ALL THINGS confider d, as to the Inte- reft of our Potentates and Grandees, they ap- pear to have only this Choice left 'em; either wholly, if poflible, to fupprefs Letters; or give a helping hand towards their Support. Wherever the Author -VidL&icz and Liberty of the Pen has in the leaft prevailed, the Governors of the State muft be either confiderable Gainers, or Suffer- ers by its means. So that 'twou'd become them either, by a right TurkiJJi Policy, to ftrike di- reclly at the Profejfton, and overthrow the very Art and Myftery it-felf, or with Alacrity to fup- port and encourage it, in the right manner, by a generous and impartial regard to Merit.
To To To acl narrowly, or by halves; or with indif- ference and coolnefs; or fantaftically, and by humour merely; will fcarce be found to turn to their account. They mult do JuRice; that Juftice may be done them, in return. Twill be in vain for our Alexanders to give or- ders that none befides a Lysippus fhou'dmake their Statue, nor any befides ariApELLES lhou'd draw their Picture. Infolent Intruders will do themfelves the honour to praclife on the Fea- tures of thefe Heroes. And a vile Chaerilus, after all, (hall, with their own Gonfent perhaps, fupply the room of a deferving and noble Ar- fift.
In a Government where the People are Sharers in Power, but no Diftributers or Dif- penfers of Rewards, they expect it of their Princes and Great Men, that they lhou'd fupply the generous Part; and beftow Honour and Advantages on thofe from whom the Nation k-felf may receive Honour and Advantage. Tis expecled that they who are high and emi- nent in the State, fhou'd not only provide for its neceffary Safety and Subfiuence, but omit nothing which may contribute to its Dignity and Honour. The Arts and Sciences mud not be left Patron-lefss The Publick it-felf will join with the good Wits and judges, in the refent- ment of fuch a Neglecl. 'Tis no fmall ad- P 3 vantage,