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And Boileau ftill in right of Horace (ways.

715

But we, brave Britons, foreign laws despis'd,
And kept unconquer'd and unciviliz'd ;
Fierce for the liberties of wit, and bold,
We ftill defy'd the Romans, as of old.
Yet fome there were, among the founder few
Of those who lefs prefum'd, and better knew,
Who durft affert the jufter ancient cause,
And here reftor'd Wit's fundamental laws.
Such was the Mufe, whofe rules and practice tell,
Nature's chief Mafter-piece is writing well.,,

720

725

COMMENTARY.

VER. 724. Such was the Muse -) Essay on Poetry by the Duke of Buckingham. Our Poet is not the only one of his time who complimented this Essay, and its noble Author. Mr. Dryden had done it very largely in the Dedication to his tranflation of the Eneid; and Dr. Garth in the first Edition of his Dispensary fays,

The Tyber now no courtly Gallus fees,

But fmiling Thames enjoys his Normanbys.

Tho' afterwards omitted, when parties were carried fo high in the reign of Queen Anne, as to allow no commendation to an oppofite in Politics. The Duke was all his life a fteady adherent to the Church of England - Party, yet an Enemy to the extravagant measures of the Court in the reign of Charles II. On which account, after having ftrongly patronized Mr. Dryden, a coolness fucceeded between them on that poet's abfolute attachment to the Court, which carried him fome lengths beyond what the Duke could approve of. This nobleman's true character had been very

well marked by Mr. Dryden before,

The Mufe's friend,

Himself a Mufe. In Sanadrin's debate

True to his prince, but not a flave of ftate.

Abf and Achit.

Our Author was more happy, he was honoured very young with his friendf hip, and it continued till his death in all the circumftances of a familiar efteem.

Such was Rofcommon, not more learn'd than good,
With manners gen'rous as his noble blood;
To him the wit of Greece and Rome was known,
And ev'ry author's merit, but his own.

731

Such late was Walfh-the Mufe's judge and friend,
Who juttly knew to blame or to commend;
To failings mild, but zealous for defert;
The clearest head, and the fincereft heart.
This humble praife, lamented fhade! receive,
This praife at leaft a grateful Mufe may give: 735
The Mufe, whofe early voice you taught to fing,
Prefcrib'd her heights, and prun'd her tender wing,
(Her guide now loft) no more attempts to rife,
But in low numbers fhort excurfions tries:
Content, if hence th' unlearn'd their wants may view,
The learn'd reflect on what before they knew :
Careless of cenfure, nor too fond of fame;

Still pleas'd to praife, yet not afraid to blame;

Averfe alike to flatter,

or

offend ;

739

Not free from faults, nor yet too vain to mend. 745

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