Satire's View of Sentiment alism 197 And toil at the texture, and rhime themselves dead; But such phrase-haberdashers and epithet finders, Are not poets innate, but mere Poetry-grinders. 112 But though the Bluestockings were not attacked collectively, several individuals were severely criticized by satirists. Mrs. Montagu, perhaps the most distinguished woman among them, was thus characterized by her ungrateful protege, James Woodhouse: Then most alert seem'd one celebrious Dame, Vanessa was her neat, appropriate, Name; Which, with Scintillaapt agnomen, join'd, Might mark her conduct, and depict her Mind The one her pompous Spirit well displays, The other sparkling wit, and wish for praise, Supreme among the Fair, by common bruit, For love of Eulogy, and Pomp's pursuit. Esteem 'd for taste, and products of her pen, With promptitude to mark ingenious Men, But brilliant writers met the most regards, And chief of them the chattering Race of Bards; For they could best bestow delightful dow'rs, By flatt'ring speech, or fam'd poetic pow'rs. Nor was her shining conduct clearly shown By courtly Bards' lov'd compliments alone; Rais'd high, in aftertimes, by various ranks, For queenly palace, and for curious pranks. 113 He told how the guests at her dinners all praised their hostess, and he sketched many of her notable friends, among them Johnson, Hawkesworth, Shenstone, and Lyttleton [sic]. He described the stock of his bookstore in these illuminating lines: Such Authors as the shelves, in front, might fill, Mid Walpole's well-rang'd troops on Strawberry-hill; Or mix among the heap'd chaotic crew, That fill'd the floors of Mrs. M u! 114 Three of the other blues frequently mentioned by satirists were: Miss Burney, Mrs. Piozzi (who indeed was a literary free lance allied as closely with the Delia Cruscans as with the 112 Pasquin, II, 250. 113 Life and Poetical Works of James Woodhouse, I, 67-68.
114 Woodhouse, II, 47.
