Shall draw such envy as the Lock you lost. For, after all the murders of your eye, When after millions slain, yourself shall die: When those fair suns shall set, as set they must, And all those tresses shall be laid in dust, This Lock, the Muse shall consecrate to fame, And 'midst the stars inscribe Belinda's name. AN ESSAY ON CRITICISM CONTENTS INTRODUCTION. PART I 150 That 'tis as great a fault to judge ill, as to write ill, and a more dangerous one to the public, v. 1. That a true Taste is as rare to be found, as a true Genius, v. 9 to 18. That most men are born with some Taste, but spoiled by false Education, v. 19 to 25. The multitude of Critics, and causes of them, v. 26 to 45. That we are to study our own Taste, and know the Limits of it, v. 46 to 67. Nature the best guide of Judgment, v. 68 to 87. Improved by Art and Rules, which are but methodized Which adds new glory to the shining Nature, v. 88. Rules derived from the Now one in verse makes many more in prose. 'Tis with our judgments as our watches, none ΙΟ Go just alike, yet each believes his own. 215. 3. Judging by parts, and not by the whole, v. 233 to 288. Critics in Wit, Language, Versification only, v. 288, 305, 339, etc. 4. Being too hard to please, or too apt to admire, v. 384. 5. Partiality -too much Love to a Sect-to the Ancients or Moderns, v. 394. 6. Prejudice or Prevention, v. 408. 7. Singularity, v. 424. 8. Inconstancy, v. 430. 9. Party Spirit, v. 452, etc. 10. Envy, v. 466. Against Envy, and in praise of Good-nature, v. 508, etc. When Severity Let such teach others who themselves is chiefly to be used by Critics, v. 526, etc. PART III. VER. 560, etc. Rules for the Conduct of Manners in a Critic. I. Candor, y. 563. Modesty, v. 566. Good-breeding, v. 572. Sincerity, and Freedom of advice, v. 578. 2. When one's Counsel is to be restrained, v. 584. Character of an incorrigible Poet, v. 600. And of an impertinent Critic, v. 610, etc. Character of a good Critic, v. 629. The History of Criticism, and Characters of the best Critics. Aristotle, v. 645. Horace, v. 653. Dionysius, v. 665. Petronius, v. 667. Quintilian, v. 670. Longinus, v. 675. Of the Decay of Criticism, and its Revival. Erasmus, v. 693. Vida, v. 705. Boileau, v. 714. Lord Roscommon, etc. v. 725. Conclusion. I 'Tis hard to say, if greater want of skill To tire our patience, than mislead our sense. Some few in that, but numbers err in this, Ten censure wrong for one who writes amiss; A fool might once himself alone expose, These born to judge, as well as those to write. excel, Turn'd Critics next, and prov'd plain fools at last. Some neither can for Wits nor Critics pass, As heavy mules are neither horse nor ass. Those half-learn'd witlings, num'rous in our isle, As half-form'd insects on the banks of Nile; Unfinish'd things, one knows not what to call, Their generation's so equivocal: To tell 'em, would a hundred tongues require, Or one vain wit's, that might a hundred tire. But you who seek to give and merit fame. And justly bear a Critic's noble name, Be sure yourself and your own reach to know, How far your genius, taste, and learning go; Launch not beyond your depth, but be discreet, 50 And mark that point where sense and dulness meet. Nature to all things fix'd the limit fit, Would all but stoop to what they understand. First follow Nature, and your judgment frame By her just standard, which is still1 the same: Unerring NATURE, still divinely bright, 70 One clear, unchang'd, and universal light, Life, force, and beauty, must to all impart, At once the source, and end, and test of Art. Art from that fund each just supply provides, Works without show, and without pomp presides: In some fair body thus th' informing soul With spirits feeds, with vigor fills the whole, Each motion guides, and ev'ry nerve sustains; Itself unseen, but in th' effects, remains. Some, to whom Heav'n in wit has been profuse, 80 Want as much more, to turn it to its use; For wit and judgment often are at strife, Tho' meant each other's aid, like man and wife. And wisely curb'd proud man's pretending 'Tis more to guide, than spur the Muse's May boldly deviate from the common track; From vulgar bounds with brave disorder part, And snatch a grace beyond the reach of art, Which, without passing thro' the judgment, gains The heart, and all its end at once attains. In prospects thus, some objects please our eyes, Which out of nature's common order rise, The shapeless rock, or hanging precipice. Great wits sometimes may gloriously offend, And rise to faults true Critics dare not mend. 160 |