Thence with the _Mantuan Swan_ in narrower Rings, } Tho more _exact_, he, stooping from his height, Reviews the same _fierce Wars_ and _Gods_ and _Heroes_ fight: That beauteous antient _Palace_ he surveys } Which _Maro's Hands_ had only Strength to raise, } _Models_ from thence, and _copies_ every _Grace_: } Each _Page_ is big with _Virgil's Manly Thought_, To _follow him too near's a glorious Fault_. He dar'd be _virtuous_ in the _World's_ Despite, 750 _While_ D----n _lives he dar'd a Modest Poem write_. Who can th' ingenious S----y's Praise refuse, Who serves a grateful _Prince_, and grateful _Muse_? Or _P----r_ read unmov'd, whose every _Page_ So just a _Standard_ to the opening _Age_? Neat _S----n_'s courtly _Vein's_ correct and clear, Nor shall he miss his _Praise_ and _Station_ here: Nor should the _rest_ whom I _unnam'd_ must leave, (Tho such _Omission_ they'll with ease _forgive_:) 760 _Unknown_ to me, let each his _Works_ commend, Since _Virtue, Praise_, as _Shame_ does _Vice_ attend. _Poets_, like _Leaves_ and _Words_, their _Periods_ know, Now _fresh_ and _green_, now _sear_ and wither'd grow; Or _burnt_ by _Autumn's_ Heat, and _Winter's_ Cold, Or a _new hasty Birth_ shoves off the _old_. Happy are those, and such are _some_ of ours, } Who blest by bounteous _Heav'n's_ indulgent _Show'rs_ } Bear wholsome _Fruit_, and not gay _pois'nous Flow'rs_: } Who would not ev'n a _Lawreat's self_ commence 770 Or at their _Virtue's_ or their _Faith's_ Expence: Renounce their _Creed_ to save a _wretched Play_, } And for a _crowded House_ and _full Third Day_ } At one _bold Stroke_ throw all their _Heav'n_ away. } What gain'd _Euripides_ by all his _Sense_, Who madly rail'd against a _Providence_? _Apostate Poets_ first seduc'd _Mankind_, _But ours upon the Pagan Herd refin'd_; They Vertue _prais'd_ at least, which ours _abuse_, And more than _Paganize_ the Heav'n-born Muse: 780 No Signs of _Grace_, or of _Repentance_ show, Like _Strumpets lash'd_, more _impudent_ they grow. Now learn, my Friend, and freely I'll impart My _little All_ in this delightful Art: Of _Poetry_ the various _Forms_ and _Kinds_, The widest, strongest _Grasp_ of human Minds: Not _all_ from _all_, but _some_ from _each_ I take, Since we a _Garland_ not a _Garden_ make. [Sidenote: _Epic_.] EPIC's the _first_ and _best_, which mounting sings } In _Mighty Numbers worthy mighty Things_, } 790 Of _High Adventures, Heroes, Gods_ and _Kings_: } By lively _Schemes_ the Mind to _Vertue_ forms, And far beyond _unactive Precept_ warms. The _Subject_ may be either _feign'd_ or _true_, _Too Old_ it should not be, but less _too New_: _Narration_ mixt with _Action_ most delights,