SketchInVerse

sketchinverse

inscribedtotherighthon.c.j.fox.

howwisdomandfollymeet,mix,andunite,

howvirtueandviceblendtheirblackandtheirwhite,

howgenius,th'illustriousfatheroffiction,

confoundsruleandlaw,reconcilescontradiction,

ising:ifthesemortals,thecritics,shouldbustle,

icarenot,noti—letthecriticsgowhistle!

butnowforapatronwhosenameandwhoseglory,

atoncemayillustrateandhonourmystory.

thoufirstofourorators,firstofourwits;

yetwhosepartsandacquirementsseemjustluckyhits;

withknowledgesovast,andwithjudgmentsostrong,

nomanwiththehalfof'eme'ercouldgowrong;

withpassionssopotent,andfanciessobright,

nomanwiththehalfof'eme'ercouldgoright;

asorry,poor,misbegotsonofthemuses,

forusingthyname,offersfiftyexcuses.

goodlord,whatisman!forassimplehelooks,

dobuttrytodevelophishooksandhiscrooks;

withhisdepthsandhisshallows,hisgoodandhisevil,

allinallhe'saproblemmustpuzzlethedevil.

onhisonerulingpassionsirpopehugelylabours,

that,liketh'oldhebrewwalking-switch,eatsupitsneighbours:

mankindarehisshow-box—afriend,wouldyouknowhim?

pullthestring,rulingpassionthepicturewillshowhim,

whatpity,inrearingsobeauteousasystem,

onetriflingparticular,truth,shouldhavemiss'dhim;

for,spiteofhisfinetheoreticpositions,

mankindisasciencedefiesdefinitions.

somesortallourqualitieseachtoitstribe,

andthinkhumannaturetheytrulydescribe;

haveyoufoundthis,ort'other?there'smoreinthewind;

asbyonedrunkenfellowhiscomradesyou'llfind.

butsuchistheflaw,orthedepthoftheplan,

inthemakeofthatwonderfulcreaturecalledman,

notwovirtues,whateverrelationtheyclaim.

noreventwodifferentshadesofthesame,

thoughlikeaswasevertwinbrothertobrother,

possessingtheoneshallimplyyou'vetheother.

buttrucewithabstraction,andtrucewithamuse

whoserhymesyou'llperhaps,sir,ne'erdeigntoperuse:

willyouleaveyourjustings,yourjars,andyourquarrels,

contendingwithbillyforproud-noddinglaurels?

mymuch-honour'dpatron,believeyourpoorpoet,

yourcourage,muchmorethanyourprudence,youshowit:

invainwithsquirebillyforlaurelsyoule:

he'llhavethembyfairtrade,ifnot,hewillle:

notcabinetsevenofkingswouldconceal'em,

he'dupthebackstairs,andbygod,hewouldsteal'em,