However this may prove, there can be no kind of Writing which relates to Men and Man- ners, where it is not neceffary for the Author *to underftand Poetical and Moral Truth, the Beauty of Sentiments, the Sublime of Charac- ters; and carry in his Eye, the Model or Ex- emplar of that natural Grace, which gives to every Action its attractive Charm. If he has naturally no Eye, or Ear, for thefe interior Numbers; 'tis not likely he fhou'd be able to judge better of that exterior Proportion and Sym- metry of Compofition, which conftitutes a le- gitimate Piece.
Cou'd we once convince our-felves of what is in it-felf fo evident; f lt That in the very " nature of Things there rauft of neceffity be 11 the Foundation of a right andwrongTASTE, tu as well in refpecl of inward Characters and " Features, as of outward /Perfon, Behaviour, " and Action;" we fhou'd be far more afliam'd of Ignorance and wrong Judgment in the for- mer, than in the latter of thefe Subjects. Even in the Arts, which are mere Imitations of that outward Grace and Beauty, we not only confefs a Tajle; but make it a part of re- fin'd Breeding, to difcover, amidft the many falfe ADVICE to an Author. 337 falfe Manners and ill Styles, the true and na- tural one, which reprefents the real Beauty and * Venus of the kind. Tis the like moral Grace, and Venus, which difcovering it- felf in the turns of Character, and the variety of human Affefiion, is copy'd by the writing Artift. If he knows not this Venus, thefe Graces, nor wras ever ftruck with the Beauty, the Decorum of this inward kind, he can nei- ther paint advantageoufly after the Life, nor in a feign'd Subjecl, where he has full fcope. For f never can he, on thefe Terms, reprefent Merit and Virtue, or mark Deformity and Ble~ mifti. Never can he with Juftice and true Pro- portion affign the Boundarys of either Part, or feparate the diltant Characters. The Schemes muft be defective, and the Draughts confus'd, where the Standard is weakly eftablifh'd, and the Meafure out of ufe. Such a Defigner who has fo little Feeling of thefe Proportions, fo little Confcioufnefs of this Excellence, or thefe Per- fections, will never be found able to defcribe a perfect Character; or, what is more according to Art J, tl exprefs the effect and force of this 11 Perfection, from the Refult of various and mixt tc Characters of Life." And thus the Senfe * Supra, p. 138, ire. and VOL. III. p. 182,3, 4, 5, 6. in the Notes.
33 S ADVICE to an Author, of inward Numbers, the knowledge and Prac- tice of the focial Virtues, and the Familiarity and Favour of the moral Graces, are eifen- tial to the Characler of a deferving Artift, and juft Favourite of the Muses. Thus are the Arts and Virtues mutually Friends: and thus the -Science of Virtuojos and that of Virtue it-felf, become, in a manner, one and the fame.
One who afpires to the Characler of a Man of Breeding and Politenefs, is careful to form his Judgment of Arts and Sciences up- on right Models of Perfection. If he travels to Rome, he inquires which are the trued Pieces of Architecture, the belt Remains of Statues, the bed Paintings of a Raphael, or a Ca- rache. However antiquated, rough, or dif* mal they may appear to him, at firfh fight; he refolves to view 'em over and over, till he has brought himfelf to relifh 'em, and finds their hidden Graces and Perfections. He takes particu- lar care to turn his Eye from every thing which is gaudy, lufcious, and of a falfe Tafte. Nor is he lefs careful to turn his Ear from every fort of Mufick, befides that which is of the bed Manner, and trueft Harmony.
'Tw e r e to be wifh'd we had the fame re- gard to a right Taste in Life and Manners.
What ADVICE to an Author. 339 What Mortal being once convinc'd of a diffe- rence in inward Character, and of a Preference due to one Kind above another; wou'd not be concern'd to make his own the bell? If Civi- lity and Humanity be a Taste; l£ Brutality, In- Jolence, Riot, be in the fame manner aTASTE; who, if he cou'd reflect, wou'd not chufe to formhimfelfonthe amiable and agreeable, ra- ther than the odious and perverfe Model? Who wou'd not endeavour to force Nature as well in this refpect, as in what relates to a Tajle or Judgment in other Arts and Sciences? For in each place the Force on Nature is us'd only for its Redrefs. If a natural good Taste be not already form'd in us; why fhou'd not we endeavour to form it, and be- come natural? — 44 I like! I fancy! I admire! How?
44 By accident: or as I pleafe.
44 No. But I learn to fancy, to admire, to 44 pleafe ', as the Subjects themfelves are deferv- 44 ing, and can bear me out. Otherwife, I 44 like at this hour, but diflike the next. I 44 fhall be weary of my Purfuit, and, upon ex- *' perience, find little * Pleafiire in the main, 44 if my Choice and Judgment in it be from no 44 other Rule than that fmgle one, becaufe I * Supis, p. 309. and VOL. II. p. 227, Sec.
Y3 "pleafe, 340 ADVICE to an Author.
" pleafe. Grotefque and monftrous Figures lt often pleafe. Cruel fpeclacles, and Barba- tc ritys are alfo found to pleafe, and, in fome " Tempers, to pleafe beyond all other Subjects. 4t But is this Pleafure right? And (hall I fol- "■ low it, if it prefents? Not ftrive with it, " or endeavour to prevent its growth or pre- " valency in my Temper? — How ftands the 16 cafe in a more foft and flattering kind of " Pleafure? — Effeminacy pleafes me. The In- 11 dian Figures the Japan-Work, the Enamel " flrikes my Eye. The lufcious Colours and gloffy Paint gain upon my Fancy. A French or Flemifli Style is highly lik'd by me, at firfl fight; and I purfue my liking. But what enfues? — Do I not for ever forfeit my good ' ct Relifh? How is it poffible I (hou'd thus 4* come to tafte the Beautys of an Italian Maf- il ter, or of a Hand happily form'd on Nature " and the Antients? 'Tis not by Wantonnefs *■' and Humour that I fhali attain my End, " and arrive at the Enjoyment I propofe. " The Art it-felf is * fevere: the Rules rigid.
"■ And u "■ And u * Thus Pliny, fpeaking with a mafterly Judgment of the Dignity of the then declining Art of Painting (de Digiiilaie Arlis morieniisj fhews.it to be not only fevere in refpect of the Difcipline, Style, Defign, but of the Characlers and Lives of the noble Mailers: not only in the EHec~t, but even in the very Materials of the Art, the Colours, Ornaments, and particular " And if I expect the Knowledge fhou'd come " to rne by accident, or in play; I mail be lt grofly deluded, and prove my-felf, at bell, " a Mock-Fir tuofo, or mere Pedant of the kind."
HERE therefore we have once again exhi- bited our moral Science in the fame Method and Manner of Soliloquy as above. To this Correction of Humour and Formation of a Tafle, our Reading, if it be of the right fort, muft principally contribute. Whatever Com- pany particular Circumftances belonging to the Profeffion. — Euphranoris Difcipulus Ant i dotus, diligenlior quam numerofior, et in cobribus /eve- nts.- Ni c 1 a e comparator, el aliquanlo prsfertur At hinio n Maronites, Gi.aucionis Corinthii Difcipulus, et auflerior colore, el in aujleritale jucun- dior, ut in ipfa pitlura Eruditio eluceat. * * * Quod nifi injuuenta obiiffet, nemo ei compararelur. Pa umae et Fil'tus el Difcipulus Aristolaus efeve.
rijfnnis pifloribus fuit. — — - Fuil et nuper gravis ac fverus pichr Amulitjs. ■* * -.-.- paucjs du,j koris pingcbat, id quoqitf cum gravitate, qued femper togatus, quamquam inmachinis. One of the mortal Symptoms upon which Pliny pronounces the fare Death of this noble Art, not long furvivoT to him, was what belong'd in common to all the other perifhing Arts after the Fall of Liberty; I mean the Luxury of the Roman Court, and the Change of Tafle and Manners naturally confequent to fuch a Change of Government and Dominion. This excellent, learned, and polite Cri- tick reprefents to us the falfe Tafle fpringing from the Court it-felf, and from that Opulence, Splendor, and Affectation of Magnificence and Ex- pence proper to the place. Thus in the Statuary and Architecture then in vogue, nothing cou'd be admird befide what was coaly in the mere Y 4 Matter 342 ADVICE to an Author.
pany we keep; or however polite and agree- able their Characters may be, with whom we converfe, or correfpond: if the Authors we read are of another kind, we fhall find our Palat ftrangely turnd their way. We are the unhappier in this refpecl, for being Scholars; if our Studys be ill chofen. Nor can I, for this reafon, think it proper to call a Man well-read who reads many Authors; fmce he muft of ne- ceiTity have more ill Models, than good; and be more fluff d with Bombaft, ill Fancy, and Matter or the Subflance of the Work. Precious Rock, rich Metal, glit- tering Stones, and other lufcious Wire, poifonous to Art, came every day more into requefl, and were impos'd, as neceffary Materials, on the belt Mafters. 'Twas in favour of thefe Court-Beautys and gaudy Ap- pearances, that all good Drawing, juft Defign, and Truth of Work began to be defpis'd. Care was taken to procure from dillaut Parts, the mod gorgeous fplendid Colours, of the moll coflly Growth or Compofition: not fuch as had been us'd by Apelles and the great Mafters, who are juflly fevere, loyal, and faithful to their Art. This newer Colouring our Critick calls the florid hind. The Materials were too rich to be fur- nifh'd bv the Painter, but were befpoke or furnifh'd at the coil of the Perfon who employ d him; (qjws Damiuus pingenti praflat.) The other he calls the aiifl ere kind. And thus (fays he) " Rerum, non Animi pretiis *•' excubatur; The Cofl, and not the Life, and Art, is lludy'd." He {hews, on the contrary, what care Apelles took to fubdue the florid Colours, by a darkening Varnifh.; uleadtm res (fays he) nimisfloridis coloribus Aujle- rilatem occulle darei. And he fays juft before, of fome of the fineft Pieces of Apelles, "'That they were wrought in four Colours only." So great and venerable was SIMPLICITY held among the Antients, I and fo certain was the Ruin of all true Elegance in Life or Art, where this Miftrcfs was once quitted or contemn'd! See Pliny, Lib. 35, Sec alfo above. p. 144. in the Notes; and p. 22 2.
wry ADVICE to an Author, 343 wry Thought; than fill'd with folid Senfe, and jufl Imagination.
But notwithftanding this hazard of our Tqfte, from a Multiplicity of Reading; we are not, it feems, the leafl fcrupulous in our choice of fubjecl:. We read whatever comes next us. What was firft put into our hand, when we were young, ferves us afterwards for ferious Study, and wife Refearch, when we are old. We are many of us, indeed, fo grave as to continue this Exercife of Youth thro' our re- maining Life. The exercifmg- Authors of this kind have been above * defcrib'd, in the be- ginning of this Treatife. The Manner of Ex- ercife is call'd Meditation, and is of a fort fo folemn and profound, that we dare not fo much as thorowly examine the Subject on which we are bid to meditate. This is a fort of 77//7^-JR.eading, in which a Taste is not permitted. How little foever we take of this Diet; 'tis fufficient to give full Exercife to our grave Humour, and allay the Appetite to- wards further Refearch and folid Contempla- tion. The reft is Holiday, Diverfion, Play, and Fancy. We reject all Rule: as thinking it an Injury to our Diverfions, to have regard to Truth or Mature: without which, however, nothing nothing can be truly agreeable, or entertain- ing; much lefs, inftruclive, or improving. Thro' a certain * Surfeit taken in a wrong kind of Jerious Reading, we apply our-felves, with full content, to the moft ridiculous. The more remote our Pattern is from any thing moral or profitable; the more Freedom and Satisfaction we find in it. We care not how Gothick or Barbarous our Models are; what ill- defign'd or monftrous Figures we view; or what falfe Proportions we trace, or fee defcribd in Hiftory, Romance, or Fi&ion. And thus our Eye and Ear is loft. Our Relifli or Tqjle mult of neceflity grow barbarous, whilft Bar- barian Cuftoms, Savage Manners, Indian AYars, and Wonders of the Terra Incognita, employ our leifure Hours, and are the chief Materials to furnifh out a Library.
These are in our prefent Days, what Books cj Chivalry were, in thofe of our Forefathers, I know not what Faith our valiant Anceftors may have had in the Storys of their Giants, their Dragons, and St. George's. But for our Faith indeed, as well as our Tqjle, in this other way of reading; I muft confefs I can't confider it, without Aftonifhment.
It ADVICE to an Author. 345 It mull certainly be fomething elfe than Incredulity, which fafhions the Tafte and Judg- ment of many Gentlemen, whom we hearcen- fur'd as Atheijls, for attempting to philofophize after a newer manner than any known of late. For my own part, I have ever thought this fort of Men to be in general more credulous, tho after another manner, than the mere Vul- gar. Befides what I have obferv'd in Con- verfation with the Men of this Character, I can produce many anathematiz'd Authors, who if they want a true Ifraclitijli Faith, can make amends by a Chinefe or Indian one. If They are fhort in Syria or the Palcjline; they have their full meafure in America, or Japan. Hiflorys of Incas or Iroquois, written by Fryers and Miflionarys, Pirates and Renegades, Sea- Captains and trufty Travellers, pafs for au- thentick Records, and are canonical with the Virtuojos of this fort. Tho Chrijlian Miracles may not fo well fatisfy 'em; they dwell with the higheft Contentment on the Prodigys of MooriJJi and Pagan Countrys. They have far more Pleafure in hearing the monftrous Ac- counts of monftrous Men, and Manners; than the politeft and befl Narrations of the Affairs, the Governments, and Lives of the wifefl and mod poliftYd People.
Tis Tis 346 ADVICE to an Author.
'Tis the fame Tq/le which makes us prefer a Turkifh Hi (lory to a Grecian, or a Roman; an Ariosto to a Virgil; and a Romance, or Novel, to an Iliad. We have no regard to the Character or Genius of our Author: nor are fo far curious, as to obferve how able he is in the Judgment of Faffs, or how ingenious in the Texture of his Lyes. For Faffs unably re- lated, tho with the greateft Sincerity, and good Faith, may prove the worft fort of Deceit: And mere Lyes, judicioufly compos'd, can teach us the * Truth of Things, beyond any other manner. But to amufe our-felves with fuch Authors as neither know how to lye, nor tell truth, difcovers a Taste, which methinks one fhou'd not be apt to envy. Yet fo en- chanted we are with the travelling; Memoirs of any cafual Adventurer; that be his Character, or Genius, what it will, we have no fooner turn'd over a Page or two, than we begin to interefl our-felves highly in his Affairs, No fooner has he taken Shipping at the Mouth of the Thames, or fent his Baggage before him to Grave/end, or Buoy in the JVore, than ffrait our * The greateft of Criticks fays of the greateft Poet, when he extols him the higheft, " That above all others he underftood hoioTO LYE: lt A£§'iS'a%i £s ^aA*j-a "Of*rj^ xj -ra? a,Xht>$ -^tv% hiyetv at; $h. ' Arift. de Poetica, cap. 24. See VOL. III. p. 260. in the Notes.
Attention ADVICE to an Author. 347 Attention is earneftly taken up. If in order to his more diftant Travels, he takes fome Part of Europe in his way; we can with pa- tience hear of Inns and Ordinarys, Paflage- Boats andFerrys, foul and fair Weather; with all the Particulars of the Authors Diet, Habit of Body, his perfonal Dangers and Mifchances, on Land, and Sea. And thus, full of defire and hope, we accompany him, till he enters on his great Scene of Aclion, and begins by the Defcription of fome enormous Fifti or Beajl. From monftrous Brutes he proceeds to yet more monfirous Men. For in this Race of Authors, he is ever compleateft, and of the firft Rank, who is able to fpeak of Things the moft unna- tural and monftrous.
This Humour our * old TragickPoet feems to have difcover'd. He hit our Tqfte in giv- ing us a Moorijh Hero, full fraught with Pro- digy: a wondrous Story-teller I But for the at- tentive Part, the Poet chofe to give it to Wo- man-kind. What paflionate Reader of Tra- vels, or Student in the prodigious Sciences, can refufe to pity that fair Lady, who fell in Love with the miraculous Moor; efpecially confider- ing with what futable grace fuch a Lover cou'd relate the mod monftrous Adventures, * Shakespear.
and and fatisfy the wondring Appetite with the moft wondrous Tales; Wherein (fays the Hero- Traveller) Of Antars vafl, and Defarts idle, It was my Hint to fpeak: And of the Cannibals that each other eat I The Anthropophagie! and Men whoje Heads Do grow beneath their Shoulders. Theje to hear Woud Desdemona Jerioufly incline.
Seriously, 'twas a woful Tale! unfit, one wou'd think, to win a tender Fair-one. It's true, the Poet fufficiently condemns her Fancy, and makes her (poor Lady!) pay dearly for it, in the end. But why, amongft his Greek Names, he fhou'd have chofen one which de- noted the Lady Superjlitious, I can't imagine: unlefs as Poets are fometimes Prophets too, he fhou'd figuratively, under this dark Type, have reprefented to us, That about a hundred Years after his Time, the Fair Sex of this Ifland fhou'd, by other monftrous Tales, be fo fe- duc'd, as to turn their Favour chiefly on the Perfons of the Tale-tellers; and change their natural Inclination for fair, candid, and cour- teous Knights, into a Paflion for a myflerious Race of black Enchanters: fuch as of old were J aid to creep into Houjes, and lead captive filly Women.
'Tis 'Tis certain there is a very great Affinity between the Paffion of Superjlition, and that of Tales. The Love of ftrange Narrations, and the ardent Appetite towards unnatural Objects, has a near Alliance with the like Appetite towards the fuper natural kind, fuch as arecall'd prodigious and of dire Omen. For fo the Mind forebodes, on every fuch unufual Sight or Hear- ing. Fate, Defliny, or the Anger of Heaven, feems denoted, and as it were delineated, by the monftrous Birth, the horrid Facl, or dire Event. For this reafon the very Perfons of fuch Relators or Tale-tellers, with a fmall help of difmal Habit, futable Countenance and Tone, become facred and tremendous in the Eyes of Mortals, who are thus addicled from their Youth. The tender Virgins, lofmg their natural Softnefs, affume this tragick Paffion, of which they are highly fufceptible, efpecially when a futable kind of Eloquence and Aclion attends the Characlerof the Narrator. A thou- fand Desdemona's are then ready to prefent themfelves, and wou'd frankly refign Fathers, Relations, Country-men, and Country it-felf, to follow the Fortunes of a Hero of the black Tribe.
But whatever monftrous Zeal, or fuper- ftitious Paffion, the Poet might foretel, either in 350 ADVICE to an Author.
in the Gentlemen, Ladys, or common People, of an after Age; 'tis certain that as to Books, the fame MooriJJi Fancy, in its plain and literal fenfe, prevails flrongly at this prefent time. Monfters and Monfter-Lands were never more in requeft: And we may often fee a Philofo- pher, or a Wit, run a Tale-gathering in thofe idle Dejarts, as familiarly as the fillieft Woman, or the mereft Boy.
ONE WOU'D imagine that * our Philo- fophical Writers, who pretend to treat of Morals, fliou'd ,: Confideringwhat has been fo often faid on this Subject of Philofophy, Learning and the Sifter- Arts, after that antient Model which has fince been'fo much corrupted; it may not be amifs perhaps to hear the Confeffion of one of the greateft and moft learned of Moderns, upon this Head.
" Scilicet affenfuri ifti font veteribus Sapientibus, Poeticam tvi aspolaW <?'- *' 7\octo<P'kx,<; wa.\ avwciov, feveriffima; PhilofophiiEContubernalem effe; quos " videmus omni cura morum pofthabita, qu<s vera Philojophia ijl, in nefcio qui- " bus argumentathinculis, in nugis fophifticis, in puerilibus argutiolis, ko- " CoTj denique 'fwpalioi; t£j Sia>,ncliKvt, quod fua jam estate Euphiades The- " miftius conquerebalur,JummamJapienliamponere! Scilicet facundia persii 1 1 virile robur, aut recondila ilia eruditio eos capiet, quibus priftinam barbariem 41 mordicus retinere, et in Ankquitatis totius ignoralione verfari, potius videlur ' effe ac melius, quam pqffejjionem litcrarmn, olimfvmilifocordia extintfarum, ' memoria vero palrum magno Dei immortalis beneficio in luccm revocalarum ex ' alia hominum cb!ivione,fibi vindicare, ctprofua quemquevirili pqfteris affere- ' lum epictetum, impielatis in Deum eos vifimulaffe, qui in Phi/ofoph'ue l,,Jiudiis rnt «7raJy!/tf»x?ji> $vv»uiv,Jive Ser mortis curam tanquam rem levem aj'pcr- ' ' narenln: ADVICE to an Author. 351 fhou'd far out-do mere Poets, in recommend- ing Virtue, and reprefenting what was fair and amiable in human Actions. One wou'd imagine, that if they turn'd their Eye to- " narentur: quoniam quidern, aiebat vir divinus, ctatQSs irtv dvfywira iu\ ma^a " r5 Ga'a^agiTa? «T»^a^ etv. En Qermanum Philbfophum! En vocem auream.' 41 JVcc minus memorabile Synefli Philof ophi pne/tantifjimi vaticinlum trifti even- " Jm confirmatum, quod mullo ante ab ipfo eft edhum, cumrationemfudiorumfi- " mililer perverti ab eequalibus fuis cerneret. D if pulans enim contra eos qui ai 41 fanblijjimte Theologies Jiudia Infantiam el Sophifiicenprofolidaeruditione af- " fervent, fa'idicam banc quqfifortem edidit. KivSvv®-; inquit, «'? aQva&ov ti- 41 >/x q».vx%ist; l[A7riaov]cc:TiiT8$ SiztpQu^waS Pcriculum eft ne ejufmodi homines " in abyffum quandam ineptiarum delapji penilus corrumpantur. Utinam defuiffet ** huic Oracuh fides. Sed profeclo, depravalioni UU, et hujus Scientiarum 44 Regin<e, et omnium aliarum, que pofiea accicLt, occafionem quidem Gottlio- *' rum et Alanorum vwafioncs prcsbuerunt: at caufa illius propior ac vera eft, " ratio Jiudiorum peiverfa, et in liberalibus Difciplinis prava Inflitutio, ac Lin- *' guarumfimul etuniverfe litera'.ura mclioris ignoratio. ***** Atqui %i non in eum eerie f.nem viri magni et pnecepta et cxempla virtulum memories " commendala ad pcftcros tra?ifmiferunt, ut ad inanem aurium obleclaiionem, vel " jaStufionem vanam inuiifis eruditionis, ea cognofceremus: verumut fuis 7ios " lucubrationibus cxciuire.it ad ejfodienda et in actum producenda RECTI " HO N EST ' Ique femina; quiz cum a JVatura accepijfemus, titiis tamen " circumfufa, et iantum non obncta,fic in noftris animis, nifi cuttura melior ac- " cedat, latent, qziafi in a!i::m quendam Jcrobem penifus defojfa. Hue fpeSlanl 41 tot ilia Volumina quiz de Alorali Difciplina Philqfopfii confecerunt. Tendit codem et Gr^corum Latinorum^z<r Poeiarum plcraque manus; fed itineri- *' bus diverfis. Qiwt Junt enim Poetarum genera ifunt autem quamplurima) tot *' fere diverticula etviarum ambages eo dv.centium." If. Cafaub. in Preffattone Commentarii ad Perf. See above, pag. 190, igi, 8cc. and 207, SoS, 286. and 2gS, 299. and 333, 8cc. and 33S, Sec. And V O L. III. p. 61, 78, 79, Sec. and 239, 240, 241. in the Notes.
Vol. I. Z wards wards remote Countrys (of which they affect fo much to fpeak) they ftiou'd fearch for that Simplicity of Manners, and Innocence of Be- haviour, which has been often known among mere Savages; ere they were corrupted by our Commerce, and, by fad Example, inftrucled in all kinds of Treachery and Inhumanity. 'Twou'd be of advantage to us, to hear the Caufe of this flrange Corruption in ourfelves, and be made to confider of our Deviation from Nature, and from that juft Purity of Manners which might be expecled, efpecially from a People fo aflifted and enlighten'd by Religion. For who wou'd not naturally expecl more Juf- tice, Fidelity, Temperance, and Honefty, from Chrijlians, than from Mahometans, or mere Pa- gans? But fo far are our modern Moralifts from condemning any unnatural Vices, or corrupt Manners, whether in our own or foreign Cli- mates, that they wou'd have Vice it-felf ap- pear as natural as Virtue; and from the word Examples, wou'd reprefent to us, "That " all Actions are naturally indifferent; that they lt have no Note or Character of Good, or 111, 14 in them/elves; but are diftinguifh'd by mere "Fashion, Law, or arbitrary Decree." Wonderful Philofophy! rais'd from the Dregs of an illiterate mean kind, which was ever de- fpis'd among the great Antients, and rejected by by ADVICE to an Author. 353 by all Men of Aclion, or found Erudition; but, in thefe Ages, imperfeclly copy'd from the Original, and, with much Difadvantage, imitated and affum'd, in common, both by devout and indevout attempters in the moral kind.
Shou'd a Writer upon Mufick, addreffing himfelf to the Students and Lovers of the Art, declare to 'em, 4C That the Meafure or Rule tk of Harmony was Caprice or Will, Humour or " Fajliion;' 'tis not very likely he fhou'd be heard with great Attention, or treated with real Gravity. ForMARMONY is Harmony by Nature, let Men judge ever fo ridiculoufly of Mufick. So is Symmetry and Proportion founded ftill in Nature, let Mens Fancy prove ever fo barbarous, or their Fafhions ever fo Gothick in their Architecture, Sculpture, or what- ever other defigning Art. 'Tis the fame cafe, where Life and Manners are concern'd. Virtue has the fame fix'd Standard. The fame Numbers, Harmony, and Proportion will have place inMoRALS; and are difcoverable in the Characters and Affections of Mankind; in which are laid the juft Foundations of an Art and Science, fuperior to every other of human Practice and Comprehenfion.
Z 2 This, This, I fuppofe therefore, is highly necef- fary, that a Writer fhou'd comprehend. For Things are ftubborn, and will not be as we fancy 'em, or as the Fafhion varys, but as they (land in Nature. Now whether the Writer be Poet, Philofopher, or of whatever kind; he is in truth no other than a Copift after Nature. His Style may be differently futed to the diffe- rent Times he lives in, or to the different Hu- mour of his Age or Nation: His Manner, his Drefs, his Colouring may vary. But if his Drawing be uncorrecl, or his Dejign contrary to Nature; his Piece will be found ridiculous, when it comes thorowly to be examin'd For Nature will not be mock'd. The Prepoffeffion againft her can never be very lading. Her De- crees and Infiincis are powerful; and her Senti- ments in-bred. She has a ftrong Party abroad; and as ftrong a one within our-felves: And when any Slight is put upon her, fhe can foon turn the Reproach, and make large R.eprifals on the Tajle and Judgment of her Antagonifls.
Whatever Philofopher, Ci itiek, or Author is convinc'd of this Prerogative of Nature, will ea- hly be perfuaded to apply himfelf to the great Work of reforming his Taste; which he will have reafon to fufpecl, if he be not fuch a one as has deliberately endeavour'd to frame it by the ADVICE to an Author. 355 the juft Standard of Nature. Whether this be his Cafe, he will eafily difcover, by appealing to his Memory. For Cvftom and Fajhion are powerful Seducers: And he muff of neceflity have fought hard againft thefe, to have at- tain'd that Juftnefs of Tqfte, which is requir'd in one who pretends tofollvw Nature, But if no fuch Conflict can be call'd to mind; 'tis a cer- tain token that the Party has his Tajie very little different from the vulvar. And on this account he fhou'd inftantly betake himfelf to the wholefom Practice recommended in this Treatife. He fhou'd fet afoot the powerfullefl Facultys of his Mind, and aflemble the beft Forces of his Wit and Judgment, in order to make a formal Defcent on the Territorys of the Heart: refolving to decline no Combat, nor hearken to any Terms, till he had pierc'd in- to its inmoft Provinces, and reach'd the Seat of Empire. No treatys fhou'd amufe him; no Advantages lead him afide. All other Specu- lations fhou'd be fufpended, all other Myfterys refign'd; till this neceffary Campaign was made, and thefe inward Conflicts learnt; by which he wou'd be able to gain at leaft fome tolerable infight into himfelf, and Knowledge of his own natural Principles.
IT MAY here perhaps be thought, that notwithstanding the particular Advice we have given 356 A D VIC E to an Author.
given, in relation to the forming of a Taste in natural Characters and Manners; we are (till defective in our Performance, whilft we are filent on flip ernatural Cafes, and bring not in- to our confideration the Manners and Cha- racters deliver'd us in Holy Writ. But this Ob- jection will foon vanifh, when we confider, that there can be no Rules given by human Wit, to that which was never humanly con- ceivd, but divinely dictated, and infpir'd.
For this Reafon, 'twou'd be in vain for any *Poet, or ingenious Author, to form his Characters, after the Models of our facred Penmen. And whatever certain Criticks may have advanc d concerning the Structure of a heroick Poem of this kind; I will be bold to prophefy, that the Succefs will never be an- fwerable to Expectation.