University of Virginia Library

Epistle XXVII. To Falco.

by the Same. [Mr. Henley]

I Heard Sentius Augustinus Rehearse t'other Day, with great Pleasure, nay, with Admiration. He calls his Works a sort of lesser Poems; there is a great deal in the Familiar, the sublime, the florid, the tender, the smooth, and the satyrical Vein. I believe, nothing of the Kind has been more compleatly penn'd for some Years, unless my Partiality for him, or his Praise of me, deceives me. For his Theme

was this, that I sometimes amuse my self with versifying; so I will make you a Judge of my Taste, if I can remember the second Verse from the Theme it self; for I have the rest already, and have explain'd them.

In lesser Numbers Verses I indite,
As my Catullus, and the Antients write.
Yet these I cooly pass regardless o'er,
Pliny alone has all the Antient Store;
He courts the Muses, and declines the Bar,
To Love, and to be lov'd, employs his Care.
Pliny is all; the Cato's I despise,
And every dull Pretender to be Wise.

You remark, How poignant, how apt, how expressive, is every Part of them! I engage the whole Piece to you, after the same Taste; and will give you a View of it as soon as he has publish'd it. In the mean time, be kind to this young Author, and congratulate our Age on the Production of such a Wit, which he further sets off by his Manners. He lives with Spurinna, he lives with Antony: He is related to one; and a House Companion to both of them. You may hence conjecture, how compleat a Youth he is, when he is caress'd to this Degree by Men in Years of the most solid Character. For it is very true, (what is pronounc'd by the Greek Poet:)

The Guest and Entertainer are the same.

Farewell.