The Poems of John Byrom :: :: University of Virginia Library

Zeuxis of old a Female Centaur drew,
To show his Art, and then expos'd to View.
The human Half with so exact a Care
Was join'd to Limbs of a Thessalian Mare,

236

That, seeing from a different Point the Piece,
Some prais'd the Maid, and some the Mare, of Greece.

II

Like to this Centaur, by his own Relation,
Is Doctor Warburton's Divine Legation;
Which superficial Writers, on each Hand,—
Christians and Deists,—did not understand;
Because they both observ'd from partial Views
Th' incorporated Church and State of Jews.

III

Th' ingenious Artist took the pains to draw,
Full and entire, the Compound of the Law;
The two Societies, the civil Kind
And the religious, perfectly combin'd;
With God Almighty, as a Temp'ral Prince,
Governing both, as all his Proofs evince,

IV

Without the Doctrine of a future State.—
Here with Opponents lies the main Debate.
They cannot reconcile to serious Thought
God's Church and State, with Life to come untaught;

237

With Law or Gospel cannot make to suit
Virgin of Sion sinking down to Brute.

V

Zeuxis the new, they argue, takes a Pride
In Shapes so incompatible allied;
And talks away, as if he had portray'd
A real Creature, mixt of Mare and Maid.
All who deny th' Existence of the Pad,
He centaurises into Fool and Mad.

238

VI

If one objected to a Maiden Hoof,—
“Why, 'tis an Animal,” was all his Proof;
If to an Animal with human Head,—
“Oh! 'Tis a beauteous Woman,” Zeuxis said.
“What! Animal and Woman both at once?”
“Yes; that's essential to the whole, ye Dunce.”

VII

His primary and secondary Sense,
Like Mare and Maid, support his fond Pretence:
From joining-spot he skips to each Extreme,
Or strides to both, and guards the motley Scheme;
Solving with like centauriformal Ease
Law, Prophets, Gospel, quoted as you please.—

239

VIII

Thus both went on, long-labour'd Volumes thro'.—
Now, what must fair, impartial Readers do?
Must they not grieve, if either of them treat
On Law or Grace with Rudeness or with Heat?
Of either Zeuxis they allow the skill,
But that—the Centaur is a Fable still.