Page:An Essay on Criticism - Pope (1711).pdf/33

They reason and conclude by Precedent,
And own stale Nonsense which they ne'er invent.
Some judge of Author's Names, not Works, and then
Nor praise nor damn the Writings, but the Men.
Of all this Servile Herd the worst is He
That in proud Dulness joins with Quality,
A constant Critick at the Great-man's Board,
To fetch and carry Nonsense for my Lord.
What woful stuff this Madrigal wou'd be,
To some starv'd Hackny Sonneteer, or me?
But let a Lord once own the happy Lines,
How the Wit brightens! How the Style refines!
Before his sacred Name flies ev'ry Fault,
And each exalted Stanza teems with Thought!
The Vulgar thus through Imitation err;
As oft the Learn'd by being Singular;
So much they scorn the Crowd, that if the Throng
By Chance go right, they purposely go wrong;
So Schismatics the dull Believers quit,
And are but damn'd for having too much Wit.

Some