The Powers of the Pen A poem addressed to John Curre ... By E. Lloyd ... The second edition, with large additions |
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 | The Powers of the Pen |  |
—Gods! that he durst abuse his Betters,
Because he knows the Criss-cross Letters,
And all the Concords that are hid,
Beneath a Grammar's Coverlid!
—Durst as a Fool the Poet brand,
Whom God had taught to read his Hand!
—That Pride should carry him so far,
To summon Nature to the Bar!
While he, like Bradshaw on the Bench,
Treats her like any common Wench,
Turns all her Purity to Stains,
And hangs her up in Critic-Chains!
A Dictionary's small Pretence
To warrant such high Insolence—
A learned Mummy might explain
(If you but well embalm the Brain)
Words and their various Sense—might shew
A modern Critic means—a Foe;
Warburton—Learning turn'd to Curds—
Johnson—a Catacomb of Words.
Because he knows the Criss-cross Letters,
And all the Concords that are hid,
Beneath a Grammar's Coverlid!
—Durst as a Fool the Poet brand,
Whom God had taught to read his Hand!
—That Pride should carry him so far,
To summon Nature to the Bar!
While he, like Bradshaw on the Bench,
Treats her like any common Wench,
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And hangs her up in Critic-Chains!
A Dictionary's small Pretence
To warrant such high Insolence—
A learned Mummy might explain
(If you but well embalm the Brain)
Words and their various Sense—might shew
A modern Critic means—a Foe;
Warburton—Learning turn'd to Curds—
Johnson—a Catacomb of Words.
| The Powers of the Pen | |