Nor loves our stronger _Tongue_ that tinkling _Chime_, The _Darling_ of the _French_, a _Female Rhime_. Now, daring _Muse_! attempt a _stronger Flight_, Beyond a _Vulgar Verser's_ cautious Height, 580 Beyond thy self, and consecrate to _Fame_ } Those who a _Title_ to the _Laurel_ claim, } And may to after-times _embalm_ thy Name; } Commend the _Good_, to all but _Vice_ be kind, And cast the _smaller Faults_ in _shades_ behind; Who _first_, who _next_; the _Balance_ justly hold, As that which shines above, and flames with _Heav'nly Gold_. Great N----BY the first, ROSCOMMON gone, He rules our _Empire_ now of _Wit_ alone: The _Beauties_ he of _Verse_ exactly knows, 590 The famous DRYDEN'S not more smoothly flows: Had ORPHEUS half so sweetly mourn'd his _Fate_, As VIRGIL sung, or _Sh----d_ did _translate_; H' had made the _Manes_ once again _relent_, They would again _Eurydice_ have sent: _Death's Temple_ we with _sacred Aw_ survey, With _Admiration_ read his _Great Essay_: Was _Art_ or bounteous _Nature_ here more _kind_? } _Strong Sense_! Uncommon _Learning! Thoughts_ refin'd! } 600 A _Godlike Person_, and an _equal Mind_! } [Sidenote: _Paraphrase on_ Psal. 148 O Azure Vaults, &c.] The _next_ in Dignity, if not the _same_, Is Deathless Dorsot's lov'd and noble _Name_: How did he sing, (listen'd the _Heav'nly Quire_;) The Wond'rous Notes of DAVID's _Royal Lyre_! Ah! _Why no more_ must we for ever long And vainly languish for so _sweet_ a _Song_? The next is _Tityrus_, who not disdains To read his _Name_ among the _tuneful Swains_; _Unweary'd_ in his _Prince's_ glorious _Cause_, 610 As he of _Faith_, Defender of the _Laws_; _Easie_ to all but to himself, he shares His Monarch's _Favours_, and his Monarch's _Cares_: His flowing _Language_ cloaths his _massie Sense_, } Nor makes with _pompous Words_ a vain pretence, } _Sound_ without _Soul_, to _Wit_ and _Eloquence_. } Tho _Great_, he's still the same he was before: --I _sue for nothing_, and I'll say no more. _Montague_ left the _Muses_ peaceful _Seat_, And bore the _Cares_ and _Honours_ of the _Great_: 620 The _Pollio_ he of our _Augustan_ days, Who _Wit_ rewards with more than _hungry Praise_; _True Worth_ his _Patronage_ can never miss, He has his _Prince's Smiles_ and _that_ has _his_. Nor should he pass unprais'd whom all admire, Who, mixt with _Seraphs_, rules the _Western_ Quire; _Flowing_ and _pure_ his unexhausted _Vein_, As Silver _Thames_, which, rolling down the _Plain_, Salutes his _Sacred Dome_.---- But those _profane_ who meanly thus _commend_, 630 Th' _Immortal Cowley's_ and the _Muses_ Friend. Of _matchless_ DRYDEN only _Dryden's_ Skill Could justly say enough,--of _Good_ or _Ill_.