images, as our true modern writers fet before them. I have observed how fast the general Taste is returning to this first Simplicity and Innocence: and if the intent of all Poetry be to divert and instruct, certainly that kind which diverts and instructs the greatest number, is to be preferred. Let us look round among the Admirers of Poetry, we shall find those who have a taste of the Sublime to be very few; but the Profund ftrikes univerfally, and is adapted to every capacity. "Tis a fruitless undertaking to write for men of a nice and foppish Gufto, whom after all it is almost impoffible to please; and 'tis ftill more chimerical to write for Posterity, of whose Taste we cannot make any judgment, and whose Applause we can never enjoy. It must be confeffed our wiser authors have a prefent end,

Et prodesse volunt et delectare Poeta.

Their true design is Profit or Gain; in order to acquire which, 'tis neceffary to procure applause by adminiftring pleasure to the reader: From whence it follows demonftrably, that their productions must be suited to the prefent Tafte. And I cannot but congratulate our age on this peculiar felicity, that though we have made indeed great progrefs in all other branches of Luxury, we are not yet debauched with any high Relish in Poetry, but are in this one Taste less nice than our ancestors. If an Art is to be estimated by its fuc

cefs, I appeal to experience whether there have not been, in proportion to their number, as many ftarving good Poets, as bad ones.

Nevertheless, in making Gain the principal end of our Art, far be it from me to exclude any great Genius's of Rank or Fortune from diverting themfelves this way. They ought to be praised no less than those Princes, who pafs their vacant hours in fome ingenious mechanical or manual Art. And to fuch as these, it would be ingratitude not to own, that our Art has been often infinitely indebted.

CHA P. III.

The Neceflity of the Bathos, phyfically confidered.

F

Arthermore, it were great cruelty and injuftice, if all fuch Authors as cannot write in the other way, were prohibited from writing at all. Against this I draw an argument from what seems to me an undoubted phyfical Maxim, That Poetry is a natural or morbid Secretion from the Brain. As I would not fuddenly ftop a cold in the head, or dry up my neighbour's Iflue, I would as little hinder him from neceffary writing. It may be affirmed with great truth, that there is hardly any

human creature past childhood, but at one time or other has had fome Poetical Evacuation, and, no queftion, was much the better for it in his health; fo true is the faying, Naffimur Poeta. Therefore is the Defire of Writing properly term'd Pruritus, the "Titillation of the Generative Faculty of the

Brain," and the Perfon is faid to conceive; now fuch as conceive must bring forth. I have known a man thoughful, melancholy and raving for divers days, who forthwith grew wonderfully easy, lightfome, and chearful, upon a discharge of the peccant humour, in exceeding purulent Metre. Nor can I queftion, but abundance of untimely deaths are occafioned for want of this laudable vent of unruly paffions: yea, perhaps, in poor wretches, (which is very lamentable) for mere want of pen, ink, and paper! From hence it follows, that a fuppreffion of the very worft Poetry is of dangerous confequence to the State. We find by experience, that the fame humours which vent themselves in fummer in Ballads and Sonnets, are condensed by the winter's cold into Pamphlets and Speeches for and against the Ministry: Nay, I know not but many times a piece of Poetry may be the most innocent compofition of a Minifter himself.

It is therefore manifeft that Mediocrity ought to be allowed, yea indulged, to the good Subjects of England. Nor can I conceive how the world has fwallowed the contrary as a Maxim, upon the fin

gle authority of that Horace? Why should the golden Mean, and quinteffence of all Virtues, be deemed fo offenfive in this Art? or Coolness or Mediocrity be fo amiable a quality in a Man, and fo deteftable in a Poet?

However, far be it from me to compare these Writers with thofe great fpirits, who are born with a Vivacité de pefanteur, or (as an English Author calls it) an Alacrity of finking;" and who by strength of Nature alone can excel. All I mean is to evince the Neceffity of Rules to these leffer Genius's, as well as the Usefulness of them to the greater.

CHA P. IV.

That there is an Art of the Bathos, or Profund.

WE

E come now to prove, that there is an Art of Sinking in Poetry. Is there not an Architecture of Vaults and Cellars, as well as of lofty Domes and Pyramids? Is there not as much skill and labour in making Dikes, as in raifing Mounts? Is there not an Art of Diving as well as of Flying? And will any fober practitioner affirm, that a diving Engine is not of fingular use in making him long-winded, aflifting his fight,

• Mediocribus effe fortis Non dii, non homines, t.

Her. P.

and furnishing him with other ingenious means of keeping under water?

If we fearch the Authors of Antiquity, we fhall find as few to have been distinguished in the true Profund, as in the true Sublime. And the very fame thing (as it appears from Longinus) had been imagined of that, as now of this: namely, that it was entirely the Gift of Nature. I grant that to excel in the Bathos a Genius is requifite; yet the Rules of Art must be allowed fo far ufeful, as to add weight, or, as I may say, hang on lead, to facilitate and enforce our descent, to guide us to the most advantageous declivities, and habituate our imagination to a depth of thinking. Many there are that can fall, but few can arrive at the felicity of falling gracefully; much more for a man who is amongst the lowest of the Creation, at the very bottom of the Atmosphere, to descend beneath himself, is not so easy a task unless he calls in Art to his affiftance. It is with the Bathos as with small Beer, which is indeed vapid and infipid, if left at large, and let abroad; but being by our Rules confined and well ftopt, nothing grows fo frothy, pert, and bouncing.

The Sublime of Nature is the Sky, the Sun, Moon, Stars, etc. The Profund of Nature is Gold, Pearls, precious Stones, and the Treasures of the Deep, which are inestimable as unknown. But all that lies between thefe, as Corn, Flower, Fruits, Animals, and Things for the meer use of