The works of Mr. Thomas Brown Serious and Comical, In Prose and Verse; In four volumes. The Fourth Edition, Corrected, and much Enlarged from his Originals never before publish'd. With a key to all his Writings |
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A Tale.
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 | The works of Mr. Thomas Brown |  |
A Tale.
By Col. Codrington.
Poems and Prose of diff'rent Force lay Claim,
With the same Confidence to Tully's Name;
And shallow Criticks were content to say,
Prose was his Bus'ness, Poetry his Play.
Thus Cæsar thought, thus Brutus and the rest.
Who knew the Man, and knew his Talent best.
With the same Confidence to Tully's Name;
And shallow Criticks were content to say,
Prose was his Bus'ness, Poetry his Play.
Thus Cæsar thought, thus Brutus and the rest.
Who knew the Man, and knew his Talent best.
Maurus arose, sworn Foe to Health and Wit,
Who Folio Bills and Folio Ballads writ;
Who bustl'd much for Bread, and for Renown,
By Lies and Poison scatter'd through the Town.
To Roman Wives with Veneration known,
For Roman Wives were very like our own.
And Husbands then we find in Latin Song,
Would love too little, and would live too long.
Tully, says he, 'tis plain to Friends and Foes,
Writes his own Verse, but borrows all his Prose,
He fearless was, because he was not brave;
A noble Roman would not beat a Slave.
The Counsel smiling, said, Judicious Friend,
Thy shining Genious shall thy Works defend,
Inimitable Strokes defend thy Fame;
Thy Beauties and thy Force are still the same:
And I must yield, with the consenting Town,
Thy Ballads and thy Bills are all thy own.
Who Folio Bills and Folio Ballads writ;
Who bustl'd much for Bread, and for Renown,
By Lies and Poison scatter'd through the Town.
To Roman Wives with Veneration known,
For Roman Wives were very like our own.
And Husbands then we find in Latin Song,
Would love too little, and would live too long.
Tully, says he, 'tis plain to Friends and Foes,
Writes his own Verse, but borrows all his Prose,
He fearless was, because he was not brave;
A noble Roman would not beat a Slave.
The Counsel smiling, said, Judicious Friend,
Thy shining Genious shall thy Works defend,
Inimitable Strokes defend thy Fame;
Thy Beauties and thy Force are still the same:
84
Thy Ballads and thy Bills are all thy own.
| The works of Mr. Thomas Brown | |