Medulla Poetarum Romanorum Or, the Most Beautiful and Instructive Passages of the Roman Poets. Being a Collection, (Disposed under proper Heads,) Of such Descriptions, Allusions, Comparisons, Characters, and Sentiments, as may best serve to shew the Religion, Learning, Politicks, Arts, Customs, Opinions, Manners, and Circumstances of the Antients. With Translations of the same in English Verse. By Mr. Henry Baker |
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Poetaster.
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 | Medulla Poetarum Romanorum |  |
Poetaster.
A mad Dog's Foam, th' Infection of the Plague,
And all the Judgments of the angry Gods
Are not avoided more by Men of Sense,
Than Poetasters in their raging Fits.—
And all the Judgments of the angry Gods
Are not avoided more by Men of Sense,
Than Poetasters in their raging Fits.—
'Tis hard to say, whether for Sacriledge,
Or Incest, or some more unheard-of Crime,
The rhyming Fiend is sent into these Men:
But they are all most visibly possess'd:
And like a baited Bear when he breaks loose,
Without Distinction seize on all they meet:
Learn'd, or unlearn'd, none 'scape within their Reach,
(Sticking like Leeches 'till they burst with Blood,)
Without Remorse insatiably they read,
And never leave 'till they have read Men dead.—
Or Incest, or some more unheard-of Crime,
The rhyming Fiend is sent into these Men:
But they are all most visibly possess'd:
And like a baited Bear when he breaks loose,
Without Distinction seize on all they meet:
Learn'd, or unlearn'd, none 'scape within their Reach,
251
Without Remorse insatiably they read,
And never leave 'till they have read Men dead.—
Suffenus, whom You know, the witty,
The gay, the talkative, and pretty:
And, all his Wonders to rehearse,
The Thing which makes a World of Verse:
I'm certain I should not belie him,
To say he 'as sev'ral Thousands by him,
Yet none deform'd with critic Blot,
Or wrote on Vellum to rub out.
Royal Paper! Scarlet Strings!
Gilded Backs! and such fine Things!
But—when you read 'em, then the witty
Gay Suffenus, and the pretty,
Is the dullest heaviest Clown,
So alter'd he can scarce be known.
This is strange, that He, who now,
Could so flatter, laugh, and bow,
So much Wit, such Breeding show,
Should be so ungenteel a Wight,
Whenever he attempts to write.
And yet the Wretch is ne'er so pleas'd,
As when he's with this Madness seiz'd.—
The gay, the talkative, and pretty:
And, all his Wonders to rehearse,
The Thing which makes a World of Verse:
I'm certain I should not belie him,
To say he 'as sev'ral Thousands by him,
Yet none deform'd with critic Blot,
Or wrote on Vellum to rub out.
Royal Paper! Scarlet Strings!
Gilded Backs! and such fine Things!
But—when you read 'em, then the witty
Gay Suffenus, and the pretty,
Is the dullest heaviest Clown,
So alter'd he can scarce be known.
This is strange, that He, who now,
Could so flatter, laugh, and bow,
So much Wit, such Breeding show,
Should be so ungenteel a Wight,
Whenever he attempts to write.
And yet the Wretch is ne'er so pleas'd,
As when he's with this Madness seiz'd.—
| Medulla Poetarum Romanorum | |