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The Works of John Sheffield

Earl of Mulgrave, Marquis of Normanby, and Duke of Buckingham. In two volumes ... The third edition, Corrected
  
  
  
  
  

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On Mr. POPE, and his Poems.
  
  
  
  
  
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191

On Mr. POPE, and his Poems.

With Age decay'd, with Courts and Bus'ness tir'd,
Caring for nothing but what Ease requir'd,
Too serious now a wanton Muse to court,
And from the Criticks safe arriv'd in Port;
I little thought of launching forth agen,
Amidst advent'rous Rovers of the Pen;
And, after some small undeserv'd Success,
Thus hazarding at last to make it less.
Encomiums suit not this censorious Time,
Itself a Subject for Satirick Rhyme;
Ignorance honour'd, Wit and Worth defam'd,
Folly triumphant, and ev'n Homer blam'd.

192

But to this Genius, join'd with so much Art,
Such various Learning mix'd in ev'ry Part,
Poets are bound a loud Applause to pay;
Apollo bids it, and they must obey.
And yet so wond'rous, so sublime a thing,
As the great Iliad, scarce should make me sing;
Except I justly could at once commend
A good Companion, and as firm a Friend.
One moral, or a mere well-natur'd Deed,
Can all Desert in Sciences exceed.
'Tis great Delight to laugh at some Mens Ways;
But a much greater to give Merit Praise.