[23] _Scourge of Villainy_, Satire II. [24] Preface to _The Trueborn Englishmen_. [25] Preface to his translation of Aristophanes. [26] _The Task: The Time-Piece._ His object is to point out the superiority of the preacher, who steps in “* * * when the sat’rist has at last Strutting and vaporing in an empty school, Spent all his force and made no proselyte.” Later, however, he inadvertently admits even clerical insufficiency: “Since pulpits fail, and sounding boards reflect Most part an empty ineffectual sound, What chance that I, to fame so little known, Nor conversant with men or manners much, Should speak to purpose, or with better hope Crack the satiric thong?” (From _The Garden_). [27] Preface to _The Universal Passion_. The last part of the passage anticipates our discussion of satire as exposure. [28] _Essays on Great Writers: Some Aspects of Thackeray._ [29] Introduction to Croiset’s _Aristophanes and the Political Parties at Athens_. [30] Skelton: _Colyn Clout_. “Of no good bysshop speke I, Nor good priest I escrye, Good frere, nor good chanon, Good nonne, nor good canon, Good monke, nor good clerke, Nor yette of no good werke; But my recounting is Of them that do amys.” [31] Barclay: Preface to _Ship of Fools_. “This present Boke myght have been callyd nat inconvenyently the Satyr (that is to say) the reprehencion of foulysshnes. * * * For in lyke wyse as olde Poetes Satyriens repreved the synnes and ylnes of the peple at that tyme lyvynge; so and in lyke wyse this our Boke representeth unto the iyen of the redars the states and condicions of men.” [32] _Essay on Satire._ [33] _Trueborn Englishman._ [34] _Verses on the Death of Dr. Swift._ He adds, as to motive: “Yet malice never was his aim; He lash’d the vice, but spared the name; * * * * * His satire points at no defect, But what all mortals may correct; For he abhorr’d that senseless tribe Who call it humour when they gibe: * * * * * True genuine dullness moved his pity, Unless it offer’d to be witty.” [35] Preface to _The Intriguing Chambermaid_: Epistle to Mrs. Clive. [36] Prologue to _The Coffee-House Politician_. [37] _Hist. of Eng. Lit._: on Dickens. [38] _Post Liminium._ [39] These relationships may be suggested by a graphic diagram. Not all folly is vicious, though all vice is foolish. Not all deception is either vicious or foolish, though folly and vice are for the most part deceitful. The circle of the satirizible practically coincides with that portion of the deception-circle which falls within vice and folly, a small margin being left outside to safeguard against inelasticity. [Illustration]