O! if you blast, at once consume my bays, And damn me not with mutilated praise. 360 With candour judge; and, a young bard in view. Allow for that, and judge with kindness too. Faults he must own, though hard for him to find, Not to some happier merits quite so blind; These if mistaken Fancy only sees, Or Hope, that takes Deformity for these; If Dunce, the crowd-befitting title, falls His lot, and Dulness her new subject calls: To the poor bard alone your censures give-- Let his fame die, but let his honour live; 370 Laugh if you must--be candid as you can, And when you lash the Poet, spare the Man. FOOTNOTES: [12] IMIT.--Scriberis Vario fortis, et hostium Victor, Mæonii carminis alite, Quam rem cumque ferox navibus aut equis Miles, te duce, gesserit, &c. &c. HOR. Lib. i. Od. [6]. [13] IMIT.--Quid dedicatum poscit Apollinem Vates? quid orat, de paterâ novum Fundens liquorem? &c. &c. HOR. Lib. i. _Carm._ xxxi. POEMS. Ipse per Ausonias Æneïa carmina gentes Qui sonat, ingenti qui nomine pulsat Olympum, Mæoniumque senem Romano provocat ore: Forsitan illius nemoris latuisset in umbrâ Quod canit, et sterili tantum cantâsset avenâ Ignotus populi, si Mæcenate careret. Paneg. ad Pisones. TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE HENRY RICHARD FOX, LORD HOLLAND, OF HOLLAND, IN LINCOLNSHIRE; LORD HOLLAND OF FOXLEY; AND FELLOW OF THE SOCIETY OF ANTIQUARIES. MY LORD,