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262
SAVAGE.
262
But return of invective was not thought a sufficient punishment. The Court of King's Bench was therefore moved against him, and he was obliged to return an answer to a charge of obscenity. It was urged, in his defence, that obscenity was criminal when it was in tended to promote the practice of vice; but that Mr. Savage had only introduced obscene
In equal brawl if Savage lung'd a thrust,
And brought the youth a victim to the dust;
So strong the hand of accident appears,
The royal hand from guilt and vengeance clears.
Instead of wasting "all thy future years,
"Savage, in prayer and vain repentant tears;"
Exert thy pen to mend a vicious age,
To curb the priest, and sink his high-church rage;
To shew what frauds the holy vestments hide,
The nests of avarice, lust, and pedant pride:
Then change the scene, let merit brightly shine,
And round the patriot twist the wreath divine;
The heavenly guide deliver down to fame;
In well-tun'd lays transmit a Foster's name;
Touch every passion with harmonious art,
Exalt the genius, and correct the heart.
Thus future times shall royal grace extol:
Thus polish'd lines thy present fame inrol.
But grant
Maliciously that Savage plung'd the steel,
And made the youth its shining vengeance feel:
My soul abhors the act, the man detests,
But more the bigotry of priestly breasts.
"Gentleman's Magazine, May 1735."Dr. J.
And brought the youth a victim to the dust;
So strong the hand of accident appears,
The royal hand from guilt and vengeance clears.
Instead of wasting "all thy future years,
"Savage, in prayer and vain repentant tears;"
Exert thy pen to mend a vicious age,
To curb the priest, and sink his high-church rage;
To shew what frauds the holy vestments hide,
The nests of avarice, lust, and pedant pride:
Then change the scene, let merit brightly shine,
And round the patriot twist the wreath divine;
The heavenly guide deliver down to fame;
In well-tun'd lays transmit a Foster's name;
Touch every passion with harmonious art,
Exalt the genius, and correct the heart.
Thus future times shall royal grace extol:
Thus polish'd lines thy present fame inrol.
But grant
Maliciously that Savage plung'd the steel,
And made the youth its shining vengeance feel:
My soul abhors the act, the man detests,
But more the bigotry of priestly breasts.
"Gentleman's Magazine, May 1735."Dr. J.
ideas,
