amifs in the Growth and Progrefs of a Con- flitution. The Affairs of this free People be- ing in the Increafe; and their Ability and Judg- ment every day improving, as Letters and Arts advanc'd; they wou'cl of courfe find in them- felves a Strength of Nature, which by the help of good Ferments, and a wholefom oppofition of Humours, wou'd correct in one way what- ever was exceffive, ox peccant (as Phyficians fay) in another. Thus the florid and over-fanguine Humour of the high Style was allay'd by fome- thing of a contrary nature. The Comic k Ge- nius was apply'd, as a kind otCavjlick, to thofe Exuberances ami Fungus's of the fwoln Dialect, and magnificent manner of Speech. But af- ter a-while, even this Remedy it-felf was found to turn into a Difeafe: as Medicines, we know, grow corrofive, when the fouler Matters on which they wrought are fufficiently purg'd, and the Obftruclions remov'd.
* — In vitium Libertas excidit, 6* Vim Dignam Lege regi. — + Tis a great Error to fuppofe, as fome have done, that the reftraining this licentious man- * Hor. de Arte Poet.
f It follows Lex eft accepta, Chorufque Tur Inter obticuit, Jublato jure nocaidi.
ner ADVICE to an Author. 249 iier of Wit, by Law, was a Violation of the Li- berty of the Athenian State, or an Effect, merely of the Power of Foreigners; whom it little concern'd after what manner thofe Citi- zens treated one another in their Comedys; or what fort of Wit or Humour thev made choice of, for their ordinary Diverlions. If upon a Change of Government, as during the Ufurpation of the Thirty^ or when that Nation was humbled at any time, either by a Philip, an Alexander, or an An tip ate r, they had been forc'd againfl their Wills, to enact luch Laws as thefe; 'tis certain they wou'd have foon repeal'd 'em, when thofe Terrors were remov'd. (as they foon were) and the People reftor'd to their former Libertys. For notwithnanding what this Nation fuffer'd outwardly, by feveral Jhoeks receive! from foreign States; notwith- ftanding the Dominion and Power they loft abroad, they preferv'd the fame Government at home. And how pafTionately interefled they were in what concern'd their Diverfions and publick Spectacles; how jealous and full of Emulation in what related to their Poetry, IVit, Mvfick, and other Aits, in which they excell'd all other Nations; is well known to Perfons who have any comprehenfion of antient Manners, or been the lead converfant in Hi (lory.
Q,s ] Nothing 250 ADVICE to an Author.
Nothing therefore cou'd have been the Caufe of thefe publick Decrees, and of this gra- dual Reform in the Common- wealth of Wit, befide the real Reform of Tafie and Humour in the Commonwealth or Government it-felf. Inftead of any Abridgment, 'twas in reality an Increafe of Liberty, an Enlargement of the Se- curity of Property, and an Advancement of pri- vate Eafe and per tonal Safely, to provide againft what was injurious to the good Name and Re- putation of every Citizen. As this Intelligence in Life and Manners grew greater in that ex- perienc'd People, fo the Relifh of Wit and Hu- mour wou'd naturally in proportion be more rehn'd. Thus Greece in general grew more and more polite; and as it advanc'd in this re- fpect, was more averfe to the obfcene buffoon- ins; manner. The Athenians ftill went be- fore the reft, and led the way in Elegance of every kind. For even their firfl Comedy was a Refinement upon fome irregular Attempts which had been made in that dramatick way. And the grand * Critick fhews us, that in his own time the Phallic a, or J cur rilous and ob- fcene Farce, prevail'd ftill, and had the Coun- * Li'), de Poet. cap. 4. de Tragoedia et Comoedia, fcilicet, Ka.1 v p.U awo twv icccf^otlu'v 7iv diUvgo.y.'cc-Vi r, de wno rut t« paX^txa, u. en «? vjv e» cro.V tenance ADVICE to an Author. 261 tenance of the Magiftrate, in fome Citys of Greece, who were behind the reft in this Reform of Tafle and Manners.
But what is yet a more undeniable Evi- dence of this natural and gradual Refinement of Styles and Manners among the Antients, particularly in what concern'd their Stage, is, that this very Cafe of Prohibition, and Reftraint happen'd among the Romans them- felves; where no Etlecls of foreign Power, or of a home Tyranny can be pretended. Their Fescennin, and Atellan way of Wit, was in early days prohibited, and Laws made againft it, for the PMicKs fake, and in regard to the Welfare of the Community: fuch Licentioufnefs having been found in reality con- trary to the juft Liberty of the People.
*, Doluere cruento Dente laceffiti: fuit intatiis quoque Cura Conditione Juper Communi. Quin etiam Lex Pcenaque lata malo qua nollet Carmine quemquam Defer ibi.
In defence of what I have here ad- vane'd, I cou d, befides the Authority of grave grave * Hiftorians and Chronologifls, produce the Teftimony of one of the wifeft, and moft ferious of antient Authors; vvhofe fmgle Au- thority wou'd be acknowledged to have equal force with that of many concurring Writers. He fhews us that this t firjt jorrrid Comedy and Scheme oi ludicrous Wit, was introduced upon the neck of the Sublime. The familiar airy Mufe was privileg'd as a fort of Counter-Peda- gogue, againft the Pomp and Formality of the more folemn Writers. And what is his;hlv remarkable, our Author mews us, that in * To confirm what is faid of this natural Succejjion of Wit and Style, according to the fereral Authoritys above-cited in the immediate pre- ceding Notes; fee Stxabo, Lib. 1. 'O? o' uirtTy, 0 ize£o<; Aoyoj oye xa- Ttaktv.icrjj.£vo$, p.i/x»5f*a t« •E;ot»j1i«a eri w^'nrsi ydg y ■jtohj7»K'/? xdaaxnvn <53a.^fih§iv «? To [Aioov Kjivoo:ci[j.r,3-i'j. ' Eira Ixeaw <, tyt£ff*;yo», hvo-uvltq to ustpcv t' aXXa $e <pv7id£,av\t<; rd tsouflixd, avvil^a-^ccv of kip) Kxtifiop, x^!pigixvclr,i/, *1 ' Ex.uJ.a7ot' eiTa of vregov, aQccigviirts aei t* w toMtuv, ef; to tvt e.$o$ xctryyot- yov, u<; dv d'sso &\]/b; tivoi;. KxdxTrep an tk ^ T^v K.x^llccv (paly XocQhv T5j\ crirxcrw dno tv); T^ayua.ui, >£ t5 xxt a^rnv iVjyj, xalaQiQaaBnaaii ft'j to Ao- yoHoa^ hm x»*hifA.svov.
Phi- ADVICE to an Author. 253 Philofophy it-felf there happen'd, almoft at the very fame time, a like Succejfion of Wit and Humour; when in oppofition to the fublime Philofopher, and afterwards to his * grave Difciple and Succeffor in the Academy, there arofe a Comtek Philofophy, in the Perfon of another Mailer and other Difciples; who per- sonally, as well as in their Writings, were fet in direcl oppofition to the former: not as dif- fering in f Opinions or Maxims, but in their Style and Manner; in the Turn of Humour, and method of Inftruclion.
'TIS PLEASANT enough to conhder how exacl the refemblance was between the Lineage of Philofophy and that of Poetry; as de- riv'd from their two chief Founders or Patri- archs; in whofe Loins the feveral Races lay as it were inclos'd. For as the J grand poetick Sire was, by the confent of all Antiquity, al- lowed to have furnifh'd Subje6t both to the Tragick, the Comtek, and every other kind of * See the Citations immediately preceding.
+ Tunica diflantia Juv. Sat. 13. ver. 222.
t See above page 246. in the Notes. According to this Homeric at Lineage of Poetry, Comedy wou'd naturally prove the Drama oflatei! Birth. For tho Aristotle, in the fame place, cites Homer's Mar- rites as analogous to Comedy, yet the Iliad and Odyffee, in which the he- roick Style prevails, having been ever higher! in elteein, were likeliefl to be fir ft wrought and cultivated.
genuine genuine Poetry; fo the philosophical? A triarch, in the fame manner, containing within him- felf the feveral Genius's of Philofophy, gave rife to all thofe feveral Manners in which that Science was deliver'd.
His Difciple of noble Birth and lofty Ge- nius, who afpir'd to * Poetry and Rhetorick, took the Sublime part, and fhone above his other Condifciples. He of mean Birth, and poorefl Circumflances, whofe Conflitution as well as Condition inclin'd him moft to the way we call Satirick, took the reproving part, which in his better humour'd and more agreeable SuccelTor, turn'd into the Comick kind, and went upon the Model of that t antient Come- dy which was then prevalent. But another noble Diiciple, whofe Genius was towards Action, and who prov'd afterwards the great- * rlis Dialogues were \cA P O E M S (as lias been fhewn above, pag. i ), 8cc.) This may eafily be collected from the Poeticks of the grand Mailer. We may add what is cited by Athen aeus from another Treatife of that Author. 'O Tyf dhXas clvjxZ d'w'Kuq xxxofcyri<rsts, h piv t»j oroXfleia "Opyqw) ix£d?\Xuii, xj tw fjn^vjluvt tsoivunv, duro; di [Hhdruv] ts? Ata_ KiytK fjuuuyltxui; yqdisqa.^ uv TAJ 'i$e»i Ho' dvrof Itgslrg £r». Tl^o y&% ctvrS tkO' et?gs to e$& tvv yoAowv b T^'i®- 'AXeZdpsv©', uf N»xt«? o Ntxat uj irogs; x} Eulvgiov. 'A^rorsTwis & l* tw areg*woiUT-«» Sruiy^apet' " 'OvxSt bTi 1/*(aet§8« " tb; KaAa/*s»a; Ew^gov©? Miu«;, f*»j <p<u[Acv eijsh Xs'yaj xj p»f**i0"«s, *i t«s AAe^- ' afjiivn t5 1 y;i« raj «7pwt«? ygatftvlcis rav Tuxgdlixuv ouzfayvv; Avtm^vs tpdaxvv b <mGhvpctSi<TTd\@* v' A^ototsTwS tt^o rfoaTW!/©- A./zhiye- yi\ga.$ivcn tov ^duvjvav. Allien. Lib. II. t According to the two iaft Citations, pag. 252.
eft ADVICE to an Author. 255 eft Hero of his time took the genteeler Part, and J&fter Manner. He joind what was deepeit and moft folid in Philofophy, with what was eafieft and moft refin'd in Breeding, and in the Character and Manner of a Gentleman. Nothing coud be remoter than his Genius was, from the fcholaftick, the rhetorical, or mere poetick kind. He was as diftant, on one hand, from the fonorous, high, and pom- pous Strain; as, on the other hand, from the ludicrous, mimical, or fatirick.
This *was that natural and Jimple Genius of Antiquity, comprehended by fo few, and fo little reliih'd by the Vulgar. This was that philofophical Menander of earlier Time, whofe Works one may wonder to fee preferv'd from the fame Fate; fince in the darker Ages thro' which they pafs'd, they might probably be alike neglecled, on the account of their like Simplicity of Style and Compofition.
There is, befides the feveral Manners of Writing above defcrib'd, another of confider- able Authority and Weight, which had its rife chiefly from the critical Art it-felf, and from the more accurate Infpeclion into the Works of preceding Mailers. The grand Critick, of Vol. I. Pv whom whom we have already fpoken, was a Chief and Leader in this Order of Pen-men. For tho the Sophists of elder time had treated many Subjects methodically, and in form; yet this Writer was the firfl who gain'd Repute in the methodick kind. As the Talent of this great Man was more towards polite Learning, and the Arts, than towards the deep and folid parts of Philolophy, it happen'd that in his School there was more care taken of other Sciences, than of Ethicfa, Dialect or Logic k\ which Pro- vinces were chiefly cultivated by the Succef- fors of the Academy and Porch.
It has been obfervd of this methodick or fcholajlick Manner, that it naturally befitted an Author, who tho endow'd with a comprehen- five and ftron-g Genius, was not in himfelf of a refin'd Temper, blefs'd by the Graces, or fa- vour'd by any MuJ'e;. one who was not of a fruitful Imagination, but rather dry and rigid; yet withal acute and piercing, accurate and diflinct. For the chief Nerve and Sinew of this Style confiils in the clear Divifion and Partition of the Subjects. Tho there is nothing exalting in the Manner, 'tis naturally powerful and commanding) and, more than any other, fubdues the Mind, and ftrengthens its Deter- minations. 'Tis from this Genius that firm Gonclufions and fteady Maxims are bed form'd: which ADVICE to an Author. 1^7 which if folidly built, and on fare ground, are the fliortefl and beft Guides towards Wif- dom and Ability, in every kind; but if defec- tive, or unfound, in the leaftpart, mud of ne- ceflity lead us to the groffeft Abfurditys, and ftiffeft Pedantry and Conceit.
Now tho every other Style and genuine Manner of Compofition has its Order and Me- thod, as well as this which, in a peculiar fenfe, we call the Methodick; yet it is this Manner alone which profeffes Method, diflecls it-felf in Parts, and makes its own Anatomy. The Sublime can no way condefcend thus, or bear to be fufpended in its impetuous Courfe. The Comtek, or derifory Manner, is further full from making mew of Method. 'Tis then, if ever, that it prefumes to give it-felf this wife Air, when its Defign is to expofe the Thing it-felf, and ridicule the Formality and Sophiftry fo often fheltcrd beneath it. The Simple Manner, which being the ftricleft Imitation of Nature, fliou'd of right be the compleatefl, in the Dif- tribution of its Parts, and Symmetry of its Whole, is yet fo far from making any often- tation of Method, that it conceals the Ar- tifice as much as poffible: endeavouring only to exprefs the effect of Art, under the appear- ance of the created Eafe andNe^li^ence. And even when it a flumes the cen faring or reprov- Pv 2 ing *5$ ADVICE to an Author..
ing part, it does it in the mod eonceai'd and gentle way.
The Authors indeed of our Age are as lit- tle capable of receiving, as of giving Advice, in fuch a way as this: So little is the generai Palat fbrm'd, as yet, to a Tafte of real Simpli- city. As for the Sublime, tho it be often the Subject of Criticifm; it can never be the Manner, or afford the Means. The Way of Form and Method, the didatiive ox preceptive Manner as it has been ufually practis'd araongft us, and as our Ears have been long accunom'd, has fo little force towards the winning our Attention, that it is apter to tire usT than the Metre of an old Ballad. We no fooner hear the Theme propounded, the Subjecl divided and fubdivided, (with jirjl of the jirjl, and fo forth, as Order requires) than inflantly we be- gin a Strife with Nature, who otherwife might furprize us in the foft Fetters of Sleep; to the great Difgrace of the Orator, and Scandal of the Audience. The only Manner left, in which Criticifm can have its juit Force amongft us, is the antient Comick; of which kind were the firfl Roman Mifcellanvs, or Satirick Pieces: a fort of original Writing of their own, refind afterwards by the bell Genius, and politeit Poet of that Nation; who, notwithfianding, owns the Manner to have been taken from the Greek Greek ADVICE to an Author. 259 Greek Comedy above-mention'd. And if our home- Wits wou'd refine upon this Pattern, they might perhaps meet with confiderable Succefs.
In erTecl, we may obferve, that in our own Nation, the mofl fucCefsful Criticijm, or Method of Refutation, is that which borders mofl on the manner of the earlier! Greek Comedy. The highly-rated * burlefque Poem, written on the Subject of our religious Controverfys in the laft Age, is a fufficient Token of thrs kind. And that juftly admir'd Piece of f Comick Wit, given us fome time after by an Author of the higheft Quality, has furnifh'd our befl Wits in all their Controverfys, even in Religion and Politicks, as well as in the Affairs of Wit and Learning, with the moll effectual and enter- taining Method of expofmg Folly, Pedantry, falfe Reafon, an ill Writing. And without fome fuch tolerated manner otCriticiJm as this, how grofly we might have been impos'd on, and fhou'd continue to be, for the future, by many Pieces of dogmatical Rhetorick, and pe~ dantick Wit, may eafily be apprehended by thofe who know any thing of the State of Let- * HuDIBRAS.
" + The Rehearsal. SecVOL. III. p. 277. in the Notes, anJ R 3 ters 260 ADVICE to an Author.
ters in our Nation, or are in the lead fitted to judge of the Manner of the common Poets, or formal Authors of the Times.
In what Form, or Manner foever, Criticifm may appear amongfl us, orCRiTiCKS chufe to exert their Talent; it can become none be- fides the grofly fuperflitious, or ignorant to be alarm'd at this Spirit. For if it be ill manag'd, and with little Wit; it will be deftroy'd by fomething wittier in the kind: If it be witty it-felf, it mutt of neceffity advance Wit.
And thus from the Confideration of anti- ent as well as modern Time, it appears that the Caufe and Inter eft ofCRiTicKS is the fame with that of Wit, Learning, and good Senfe.
SEC T. III.
u- THUS we have furvey'd the State of A thors, as they are influenc'd from without; either by the Frowns or Favour of the Great, or by the Applaufe or Cenfure of the Criticks. It remains only to confider, how the People, or World, in general, fland affected towards our modern Pen-men; and what occafion thefe Adventurers may have of Complaint, or Boaft, ADVICE to an Author. 261 Boafl, from their Encounter with the Public k.
There is nothing more certain, than that a real Genius, and thorow Aritji, in whatever kind, can never, without the greateft Unwil- lingnefs and Shame, be indued to act below his Character, and for mere Intereft be pre- vail'd with to profUtute his Art or Science, by performing contrary to its known Rules. Who- ever has heard any thing of the Lives of fa- mous Statuary's, Architects, or Painters,.will call to mind many Inflances of this nature. Or whoever has made any acquaintance with the better fort of Mechanicks, fuch as are real Lov- ers of their Art, and Majiers in it, mull have obferv'd their natural Fidelity in this refpecl. Be they ever fo idle, dilfolute, or debauch'd; how regardlefs foever of other Rules; they abhor any TranfgrefTion in their Art, andwou'd chufe to lofe Cullomers and ilarve, rather than by a bafe Compliance with the World, to acl contrary to what they call the Jujinejs and Truth of Work.
c' Sir, (fays a poor Fellow of this kind, to his rich Cuflomer) ct you are miilaken in cora- " ing to me, for fuch a piece of Workman- " fiiip. Let who will make it for you, as you "fancv; I know it to be wrong. Whatever 262 ADVICE to an Author.
tl I have made hitherto, has been true Work. *' And neither for your fake or any body's 61 elfe, fhall I put my hand to any other."
This is Virtue! real Virtue, and Love of Truth; independent of Opinion, and above the World. This Difpofition transfer'd to the whole of Life, perfecls a Character, and makes that Probity and Worth which the Learned are often at fuch a lofs to explain. For is there not a Workmanfiip and a Truth in Actions? Or is the Workmanfiip of this kind lefs becom- ing, or lefs worthy our notice; that we Ihou'd not in this cafe be as furly at lead as the ho- neft Artizan, who has no other Philojophy, than what Nature and his Trade have taught him?
When one confiders this Zeal and Honefly of inferior Artifts, one wou'd wonder to fee thole who pretend to Skill and Science in a higher kind, have fo little regard to Trut h, and the Perfection of their Art. One wou'd expect it of our Writers, that if they had real Ability, they ffiou'd draw the World to them; and not meanly fute themfelves to the World, in its weak State. We mayjuftly indeed make al- lowances for the Simplicity of thofe early Ge- nius $ of our Nation, who after fo many bar- barous Ages, when Letters lay yet in their Hums, made bold Excurfions into a vacant Field, ADVICE to an Author. 165 Field, to feize the Polls of Honour, and attain the Stations which were yet unpofTefs'd by the Wits of their own Country. But fince the Age is now fo far advancd; Learning eflablifh'd; the Rules of Writing Rated; and the Truth of Art fo well apprehended, and every where confefs'd and own 'd: 'tis ftrange to fee our Writers as unfhapen ftill and monftrous in their Works, as heretofore. There can be nothing more ridiculous than to hear our Poets, in their Prefaces, talk of Art and Structure: whilfl in their Pieces they perform as ill as ever, and with as little regard to thofe profefs'd Rules of Art, as the honed Bards, their Predeceifors, who had never heard of any fuch Rules, or at leaf! had never own d their Juftice or Vali- dity.
Had the early Poets of Greece thus com- plimented their Nation, by complying with its fait R.elifh and Appetite; they had not done their Countrymen fuch Service, northem- felves fuch Honour as we find they did, by conforming to Truth and Nature. The gene- rous Spirits who firft effay'd the Way, had not always /fo World on their fide: but foon drew after 'em the beft Judgments; and foon af- terwards the World it-felf. Theyforcd their way into it, and by weight of Merit turn'd jts Judgment on their fide. They form'd their Audi- 264 ADVICE to an Author.
Audience; polifh'd the Age; refin'd the pub- lick Ear, and fram'd it right; that in return they might be rightly and lailingly applauded. Nor were they difappointed in their Hope. The Applaufe foon came, and was lading; for it was found. They have Juftice done them at this day. They have furviv'd their Nation; and live, tho in a dead Language. The more the Age is enlighten'd, the more they mine. Their Fame muft neceffarily laft as long as Let- ters; and Pofterity will ever own their Merit.
Our modern Authors, on the contrary, are turn'd and model'd (as themfelves confefs) by the Publick Relifh, and current Humour of the Times. They regulate themfelves by the irregular Fancy of the World; and frankly own they are prepofterous and abfurd, in or- der to accommodate themfelves to the Genius of the Age. In our Days the Audience makes the Poet; and the Bookjellcr the Author: with what Profit to the Publick, or whatProfpecl of lading Fame and Honour to the Writer, let any one who has Judgment imagine.
But tho our Writers charge their Faults thus freely on //# Publick; it will, I doubt, appear from many Inflances, that this Practice is mere Impofture: fince thofe Abfurditys, which ADVICE to an Author. 265 which they are the aptefl to commit, are far from being delightful or entertaining. We are glad to take up with what our Language can afford us; and by a fort of Emulation with other Nations, are forc'd to cry up fuch Wri- ters of our own, as may belt ferve us for Com- panion. But when we are out of this Spirit, it muft be own'd, we are not apt to difcover any great Fondnefs or Admiration of our Au- thors. Nor have we any, whom by mutual Confent we make to be our Standard. We go to Plays, or to other Shows; and frequent the Theater, as the Booth. We read Epicks and Dramaticks, as we do Satirs and Lampoons. For we muft of neceffity know what Wit as well as what Scandal is ftirring. Read we muft; let Writers be ever fo indifferent. And this per- haps may be fome occafion of the Lazinefs and Negligence of our Authors; who obferving this Need, which our Curiofity brings on us, and making an exacl Calculation in the way of Trade, to know juftly the Quality and Quantity of the publick Demand, feed us thus from hand to mouth; refolving not to over- ftock the Market, or be at the pains of more Correclnefs or Wit than is abfolutely neceffary to carry on the Traffick.
Our Our Satir therefore is fcurrilous, buffoon- ing, and without Morals or Inftruction, which is the Majefty and Life of this kind of writing. Our Encomium or Panegyrick is as fulfora and difpleafing, by its proftitute and abandon'd manner of Praife. The worthy Perfons who are the Subjects of it, may well be efteem'd Suf- ferers by the Manner. And the Publick, whe- ther it will or no, is forcd to make untoward Reflections, when led to it by fuch Jatirizing Panegyrijls. For in reality the Nerve and Si- new of modern Panegyrick lies in a dull kind of Satir; which the Author, it's true, intends fhou'd turn to the advantage of his Subject; but which, if I miftake not, will appear to have a very contrary Effect.
The ufual Method, which our Authors take, when thev wou'd commend either a Brother- J Author, a Wit, a Hero, a Philojopher, or a States- man, is to look abroad, to find within the nar- row compafs of their Learning, fome eminent Names of Perfons, who anfwer'd to thefe Cha- racters in a former time. Thefe they are hire to lafh, as they imagine, with fome fharp ftroke of Satir. And when they have ilrippd thefe re- verend Perfonages of all their fhare of Merit, they think to clothe their Hero with the Spoils.
Such Such ADVICE to an Author. 267 Such is the Sterility of thefe Encomiqftsl They know not how to praife, but by Detra6Uon. If a Fair-One is to be celebrated, Helen mufl in comparifon be deform'd; Venus her-felf de- graded. That a Modern may be honourd, fome Antient muft be facrific'd. If a Poet is to be ex- tol'd; down with a Homer or a Pindar. If an Orator, or Philefopher; down with Demos- thenes, Tully, Plato. If a General of our Army; down with Tiny Hero whatever of Time paft. " The Romans knew no Difcipline! " The Grecians never learnt the Art of Were there an Art of Writing to be form'd upon the modern Practice; this Method we have defcribd might perhaps be mTd the Rule of D if patch, or the Herculean Law; by which Encomia/Is, with no other Weapon than their fingle Club, may filence all other Fame, and place their Hero in the vacant Throne of Ho- nour. I wou'd willingly however advife thefe CeLbrators to be a little more moderate in the ufe of this Club-method. Not that I pretend to alk quarter for the Anticnts. But for the fake merely of thofe Moderns, whom our Panegyrifts undertake to praife, I wou'd wifli 'em to be a little cautious of comparing Characters. There is no need to call up a Publicola, or a Sci- PIO, PIO, 268 ADVICE to an Author.
pio, an Aristides, or a Cato, to ferve as Foils. Thefe were Patriots and good Generals in their time, and did their Country honed fer- vice. No offence to any who at prefent do the fame. The Fabricius's, the Jlmilius's, the Cincinnatus's (poor Men!) may be fuffer'd to red quietly: or if their Ghods fhou d, by this unlucky kind of Inchantment, be rais'd in Mockery and Contempt; they may perhaps prove troublefom in earned, and cad fuch Re- flections on our Pancoynfls, and their modern Pa- trons, as may be no- way for the advantage of either. The well-deferving Antients will have always a drong Party among the Wife and Learned of every Age. And the Memory of foreign Worthys, as well as thofe of our own Nation, will with gratitude be cherifli'd by the nobler Spirits of Mankind. The Intereft otthe Dead is not fo disregarded, but that in cafe of violence offer'd 'em, thro' partiality to the Li- ving, there are Hands ready prepar'd to make diffident Reprifals.
'Twas in times when Flattery grew much in fafhion, that the Title of Pane gy rick was ap- propriated to fuch Pieces as contain'd only a profufe and unlimited Praife of fome (ingle Per- fon. The antient Panegyricks were no other than merely fuch Writings, as Authors of eve- ry ADVICE to an Author. 269 ry kind recited at the folemn AlTemblys of the People. They were the Exercifes of the Wits, and Men of Letters, who as well as the Men of bodily Dexterity bore their part at the Olympic k, and other National and Panegyrick Games.
The British Nation, tho they have no- thing of this kind ordain'd or eftablifh'd by their Laws, are yet by Nature wonderfully inclin'd to the fame Panegyrick Exercifes. At their Fairs, and during the time of publick Fcflivals, they perform their rude Olympicks, and fhew an Ac- tivity, and Addrefs, beyond any other modern People whatever. Their Trials of Skill, it's true, are wholly of the Body, not of the Brain. Nor is it to be wonder'dat, if being left to themfelves, and no way affifledby the Laws or Magiftrate, their bodily Exercifes retain fomething of the Barba- rian Chara&er, or, at lead, fhew their * Man- ners * Whoever has a thorow Tajie of the Wit and Manner of Horace, if he only compares his Epiftle to Augustus (lib. 2) with the fecret Cha- radler of that Prince from Suetonius and other Authors, will eafdy find vhat Judgment that Poet made oi the Roman Tuj'e, even in the Perfon of his fovereign and admir'd Roman Prince; whofc natural Love of Amphi-. theatrical Spectacles, and other Entertainments (little accommodated to the Intereft olthc Mufes) is there iufficiently infinuated. The Prince indeed was (as 'tis faid above, p. 220.) oblig'd in the higheft degree to Iris poe- tical and witty Friends, for guiding hisTrdle, and forming his Manners; as 207 ADVICE to an Author.
ners to hold more of t Rome than Greece, The Gladiatorial/., and other fanguinary Sports, which we allow our People, difcover fuffici- ently our National Tafte. And the Baitings and Slaughter of To many forts of Creatures, tame as well as wild, for Diverfion merely, may witnefs the extraordinary Inclination we have for Amphitheatrical Spectacles.
I know not whether it be from this killing Difpofitionremark'din us, that our Satirifls prove fuch very Slaughter-men; and even our Pane- gyrick Authors, or Encomiajls, delight fo much in the difpatching Method above defcrib'd: