Page:The Works of Alexander Pope (1717).djvu/117
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ESSAY on CRITICISM.
81
The gen'rous Critic fann'd the Poet's fire,
And taught the world, with reason to admire.
Then Criticism the Muse's handmaid prov'd,
To dress her charms, and make her more belov'd:
But following Wits from that intention stray'd;
Who could not win the mistress, woo'd the maid,
Set up themselves, and drove a sep'rate trade;
Against the Poets their own arms they turn'd,
Sure to hate most the men from whom they learn'd.
So modern 'Pothecaries, taught the art
By Doctor's bills to play the Doctor's part,
Bold in the practice of mistaken rules,
Prescribe, apply, and call their masters fools,
Some on the leaves of ancient authors prey,
Nor time nor moths e'er spoil'd so much as they.
Some drily plain, without invention's aid,
Write dull receits how poems may be made.
These lost the sense, their learning to display,
And those explain'd the meaning quite away.
And taught the world, with reason to admire.
Then Criticism the Muse's handmaid prov'd,
To dress her charms, and make her more belov'd:
But following Wits from that intention stray'd;
Who could not win the mistress, woo'd the maid,
Set up themselves, and drove a sep'rate trade;
Against the Poets their own arms they turn'd,
Sure to hate most the men from whom they learn'd.
So modern 'Pothecaries, taught the art
By Doctor's bills to play the Doctor's part,
Bold in the practice of mistaken rules,
Prescribe, apply, and call their masters fools,
Some on the leaves of ancient authors prey,
Nor time nor moths e'er spoil'd so much as they.
Some drily plain, without invention's aid,
Write dull receits how poems may be made.
These lost the sense, their learning to display,
And those explain'd the meaning quite away.
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