By doctors' bills[92] to play the doctor's part, Bold in the practice of mistaken rules, 110 Prescribe, apply, and call their masters fools. Some on the leaves of ancient authors prey, Nor time nor moths e'er spoiled[93] so much as they; Some dryly plain, without invention's aid, Write dull receipts how poems may be made; 115 These leave the sense, their learning to display, And those explain the meaning quite away. You then whose judgment the right course would steer, Know well each ancient's proper character; His fable, subject, scope in ev'ry page; 120 Religion, country, genius of his age:[94] Without all these at once before your eyes, Cavil you may,[95] but never criticise.[96] Be Homer's works your study and delight, Read them by day, and meditate by night;[97] 125 Thence form your judgment, thence your maxims bring, And trace the muses upward to their spring.[98] Still with itself compared, his text peruse;[99] And let your comment be the Mantuan muse. When first young Maro in his boundless mind 130 A work t' outlast[100] immortal Rome designed,[101] Perhaps he seemed above the critic's law, And but from nature's fountain scorned to draw: But when t' examine ev'ry part he came, Nature and Homer were, he found, the same. 135 Convinced, amazed, he checks the bold design: } And rules as strict his laboured work confine,[102] } As if the Stagyrite[103] o'erlooked each line.[104] } Learn hence for ancient rules a just esteem; To copy nature is to copy them.[105] 140 Some beauties yet no precepts can declare, For there's a happiness as well as care. Music resembles poetry; in each } Are nameless graces which no methods teach,[106] } And which a master hand alone can reach. } 145 If, where the rules not far enough extend,[107] (Since rules were made but to promote their end,) Some lucky licence answer to the full Th' intent proposed, that licence is a rule. Thus Pegasus, a nearer way to take, 150 May boldly deviate from the common track. Great wits sometimes may gloriously offend,[108] And rise to faults true critics dare not mend;[109] From vulgar bounds with brave disorder part, And snatch a grace beyond the reach of art,[110] 155 Which, without passing through the judgment, gains The heart, and all its end at once attains. In prospects, thus, some objects please our eyes, } Which out of nature's common order rise,[111] } The shapeless rock, or hanging precipice.[112] } 160 But though the ancients thus their[113] rules invade,