Mirth and Metre :: :: University of Virginia Library

Thro' virtuous zeal, not rank ill nature,
The Muse resolves to deal in Satire;
The Bard expostulates thereon,
And much they argue pro and con;
But as the Muse asserts her sway
The Bard is fated to obey.
Folly and Vice he then invokes,
Two nabob-kind of leading folks;
He hints at Statesmen, Patriot zeal,
And feigning what we do not feel,
Holds up to praise the modern Teacher,
And talks of Goldsmith's Village Preacher:
Then when fine reas'ning he would broach,
He's interrupted by a coach;
Which makes him forth on coaches hold
And tradesmens' ways in times of old;
Then Lux'ry food for Censure yields;
Newgate, the Strand, and Cold Bath Fields
He visits next; then pops the Bard on
To Drury Lane and Covent Garden,
And there asserts the use of plays,
Where Sense and Virtue court the bays;
Next, in advice he will engage
With Misses sweet and Parents sage

On novel reading; then cracks jokes
On modern, high-bred married folks;
As bards are never held in fetters,
Then holds forth boldly to his betters;
Nor will the reader's patience keep
Much longer—if he's not asleep.

[_]

Speakers' names have been abbreviated in this text. The abbreviations used for major characters are as follows:

For P. read poet
For M. read Muse