In vain the Errors of the Times, You strive by wholesom Precepts to Confute, Not all your Pow’r in Prose or Rhimes, Can finish the Dispute: ‘Twixt those that damn, and those that do admire: The heat of your Poetick fire. Your Soul of Thought you may imploy A Nobler way, Then in revenge upon a Multitude, Whose Ignorance only makes ‘em rude. Shou’d you that Justice do, You must for ever bid adieu, To Poetry divine, And ev’ry Muse o’th’ Nine: For Malice then with Ignorance would join, And so undo the World and You: So ravish from us that delight, Of seeing the Wonders which you Write: And all your Glories unadmir’d must lye, As Vestal Beauties are Intomb’d before they dye. IV. Consider and Consult your Wit, Despise those Ills you must indure: And raise your Scorne as great as it, Be Confident and then Secure. And let your rich-fraught Pen, Adventure our again; Maugre the Stormes that do opose its course, Stormes that destroy without remorse: It may new Worlds decry, Which Peopl’d from thy Brain may know More than the Universe besides can show: More Arts of Love, and more of Gallantry. Write on! and let not after Ages say, The Whistle or rude Hiss cou’d lay Thy mighty Spright of Poetry, Which but the Fools and Guilty fly; Who dare not in thy Mirror see Their own Deformity: Where thou in two, the World dost Character, Since most of Men Sir _Graves_, or _Peacocks_ are. V. And shall that Muse that did ere while, Chant forth the Glories of the British Isle, Shall shee who lowder was than Fame; Now useless lie, and tame? Shee who late made the _Amazons_ so Great, And shee who Conquered _Scythia_ too; (Which _Alexander_ ne’re cou’d do) Will you permitt her to retreat? Silence will like Submission show: And give Advantage to the Foe! Undaunted let her once gain appear, And let her lowdly Sing in every Ear: Then like thy Mistris Eyes, who have the skill, Both to preserve and kill; So thou at once maist be revenged on those That are thy Foes, And on thy Friends such Obligations lay, As nothing but the Deed the Doer can repay. _To_ Lysander _at the_ Musick-Meeting.