It may be said that _Lucilius_ liv'd in a Republick where those sort of liberties might be permitted. Look then upon _Horace_, who liv'd under an Emperor in the beginnings of a Monarchy (the most dangerous time in the world to laugh) who is there whom he has not satiriz'd by name? _Fabius_ the great Talker, _Tigellius_ the Fantastick, _Nasidienus_ the Impertinent, _Nomentanus_ the Debauchee, and whoever came at his Quill's end. They may answer that these are fictitious Names: an excellent Answer indeed! As if those whom he attack'd were no better known; as if we were ignorant that _Fabius_ was a _Roman_ Knight who compos'd a Treatise of Law, that _Tigellius_ was a Musician favour'd by _Augustus_, that _Nasidienus Rufus_ was a famous Coxcomb in _Rome_, that _Cassius Nomentanus_ was one of the most noted Rakes in _Italy_. Certainly those who talk in this manner, are not conversant with ancient Writers, nor extreamly instructed in the affairs of the Court of _Agustus_. _Horace_ is not contented with calling people by their _Names_; he seems so afraid they should be mistaken, that he gives us even their Sir-names; nay tells us the Trade they follow'd, or the Employments they exercis'd. Observe for Example how he speaks of _Aufidius Luscus_ Prætor of _Fundi_. Fundos Aufidio Lusco _Prætore libenter_ _Linquimus, insani ridentes præmia scribæ_ _Prætextam & latum clavum,_ &c. _We were glad to leave_ (says he) _the Town of_ Fundi _of which one_ Aufidius Luscus _was Præator, but it was not without laughing heartily at the folly of this man, who having been a Clerk, took upon him the Airs of a Senator and a Person of Quality._ Could a Man be describ'd more precisely? and would not the Circumstances only be sufficient to make him known? Will they say that _Aufidius_ was then dead? _Horace_ speaks of a Voyage made some time since. And how will my Censors account for this other passage? _Turgidus_ Alpinus _jugulat dum_ Memnona, _dumque_ _Diffingit_ Rheni _luteum caput: hæc ego ludo_. _While that Bombast Poet_ Alpinus, _murders_ Memnon _in his Poem, and bemires himself in his description of the_ Rhine, _I divert my self in these Satires._ 'Tis plain from hence, that _Alpinus_ liv'd in the time when _Horace_ writ these Satires: and suppose _Alpinus_ was an imaginary Name, cou'd the Author of the Poem of _Memnon_ be taken for another? _Horace_, they may say, liv'd under the reign of the most Polite of all the Emperors; but do we live under a Reign less polite? and would they have a Prince who has so many Qualities in common with _Augustus_, either less disgusted than he at bad Books, or more rigorous towards those who blame them? Let us next examine _Persius_, who writ in the time of _Nero_: He not only Raillies the Works of the Poets of his days, but attacks the Verses of the Emperor himself: For all the World knows, and all the Court of _Nero_ well knew, that those four lines, _Torva Mimalloneis_, &c.