Remarks
ble than our author's love of praising good writers. He has in this very poem celebrated Mr. Locke, Sir Isaac Newton, Dr. Barrow, Dr. Atterbury, Mr. Dryden, Mr. Congreve, Dr. Garth, Mr. Addison; in a word, almost every man of his time that deserved it; even Cibber himself (presuming him to be author of the Careless Husband.) It was very difficult to have that pleasure in a poem on this subject, yet he has found means to insert their panegyric, and has made even Dulness out of her own mouth pronounce it. It must have been particularly agree able to him to celebrate Dr. Garth; both as his constant friend, and as he was his predecessor in this kind of satyr. The Dispensary attacked the whole body of Apothecaries, a much more useful one undoubtedly than that of the bad Poets; if in truth this can be a body, of which no two members ever agreed. It also did what Mr. Theobald says is unpardonable, drew in parts of private character, and introduced persons independent of his subject. Much more would Boileau have incurred his censure, who left all subjects whatever, on all occasions, to fall upon the bad poets (which, it is to be feared, would have been more immediately his concern.) But certainly next to commending good writers, the greatest service to learning is to expose the bad, who can only that way be made of any use to it. This truth is very well set forth in these lines addressed to our author:
(Tho' neither birds of moral kind)
Yet serve, if hang'd, or stuff'd with straw,
To shew us which way blows the wind.
Strung up by dozens in thy lay,
Teach more by half than Dennis' rules,
And point instruction every way.
One potent drop let this but shed,
And ev'ry Rogue that stunk alive,
Becomes a precious Mummy dead.
Imitations
- ↑ Ver. 141, 142.———piteous of his case,
Yet smiling at his rueful length of face.)]———Risit pater optimus illi.———
Me liceat casum miserere insontis amici———
Sic fatus, tergum Gætuli immane leonis, &c.Virg. Æn, v.
