The Poetical Works of Robert Lloyd ... To Which is Prefixed an Account of the Life and Writings of the Author. By W. Kenrick ... In Two Volumes |
 | I. |
 | II. |
THE TWO RUBRIC POSTS.
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 | The Poetical Works of Robert Lloyd |  |
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THE TWO RUBRIC POSTS.
A DIALOGUE.
In
Russel-sireet, ensued of late,
Between two posts a strange debate.
—Two posts—aye posts—for posts can speak,
In Latin, Hebrew, Frencb or Greek,
One Rubric thus address'd the other:
“—A noble situation, brother,
“With authors lac'd from top to toe,
“Methinks we cut a taring show,
“The Dialogues of famous dead,
“You know how much they're bought and read.
“Suppose again we raise their ghosts,
“And make them chat through us two posts;
“A thing's half finish'd well begun,
“So take the authors as they run.
“The list of names is mighty fine,
“You look down this, and I that line.
“Here's Pope and Swift, and Steele and Gay,
“And Congreve, in the modern way.
“Whilst you have those, I cannot speak,
“But sound most wonderful in Greek.
“—A Dialogue—I should adore it,
“With such a show of names before it.”
Between two posts a strange debate.
—Two posts—aye posts—for posts can speak,
In Latin, Hebrew, Frencb or Greek,
One Rubric thus address'd the other:
“—A noble situation, brother,
“With authors lac'd from top to toe,
“Methinks we cut a taring show,
“The Dialogues of famous dead,
“You know how much they're bought and read.
“Suppose again we raise their ghosts,
“And make them chat through us two posts;
“A thing's half finish'd well begun,
“So take the authors as they run.
“The list of names is mighty fine,
“You look down this, and I that line.
“Here's Pope and Swift, and Steele and Gay,
“And Congreve, in the modern way.
“Whilst you have those, I cannot speak,
“But sound most wonderful in Greek.
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“With such a show of names before it.”
“Modern, your judgment wanders wide,”
The antient Rubric strait reply'd.
“It grieves me much, indeed, to find
“We never can be of a mind,
“Besore one door, and in one street,
“Neither ourselves nor thoughts can meet,
“And we, as brother oft with brother,
“Are at a distance from each other.
“Suppose among the letter'd dead,
“Some author should erect his head,
“And starting from his Rubric, pop
“Directly into Davies' shop,
“Turn o'er the leaves, and look about
“To find his own opinions out;
“D'ye think one author out of ten
“Would know his sentiments agen?
“Thinking your authors differ less in
“Than in their manner of expressing.
“'Tis stile which makes the writer known,
“The mark he sets upon his own.
“Let Congreve speak as Congreve writ,
“And keep the ball up of his wit;
“Let Swift be Swift, nor e'er demean
“The sense and humour of the Dean.
“E'en let the antients rest in peace,
“Nor bring good folks from Rome or Greece
“To give a cause for past transactions,
“They never dreamt of in their actions.
“I can't help quibbling, brother post,
“'Twere better we should lay the ghost,
“But 'twere a task of real merit
“Could we contrive to raise their Spirit.
The antient Rubric strait reply'd.
“It grieves me much, indeed, to find
“We never can be of a mind,
“Besore one door, and in one street,
“Neither ourselves nor thoughts can meet,
“And we, as brother oft with brother,
“Are at a distance from each other.
“Suppose among the letter'd dead,
“Some author should erect his head,
“And starting from his Rubric, pop
“Directly into Davies' shop,
“Turn o'er the leaves, and look about
“To find his own opinions out;
“D'ye think one author out of ten
“Would know his sentiments agen?
“Thinking your authors differ less in
“Than in their manner of expressing.
“'Tis stile which makes the writer known,
“The mark he sets upon his own.
“Let Congreve speak as Congreve writ,
“And keep the ball up of his wit;
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“The sense and humour of the Dean.
“E'en let the antients rest in peace,
“Nor bring good folks from Rome or Greece
“To give a cause for past transactions,
“They never dreamt of in their actions.
“I can't help quibbling, brother post,
“'Twere better we should lay the ghost,
“But 'twere a task of real merit
“Could we contrive to raise their Spirit.
“Peace, brother, peace, tho' what you say,
“I own has reason in its way,
“On Dialogues to bear so hard,
“Is playing with a dang'rous card;
“Writers of rank are sacred things,
“And crush like arbitrary kings.
“Perhaps your sentiment is right,
“Heav'n grant we may not suffer by't.
“For should friend Davies overhear,
“He'll publish ours another year.”
“I own has reason in its way,
“On Dialogues to bear so hard,
“Is playing with a dang'rous card;
“Writers of rank are sacred things,
“And crush like arbitrary kings.
“Perhaps your sentiment is right,
“Heav'n grant we may not suffer by't.
“For should friend Davies overhear,
“He'll publish ours another year.”
| The Poetical Works of Robert Lloyd | |