as will be amply proved in the following difcourfe.

And indeed when any of these have gone fo far, as by the light of their own Genius to attempt new Models, it is wonderful to observe, how nearly they have approached us in those particular pieces; though in their others they differ'd toto cælo from us.

CHA P. II.

That the Bathos, or Profund, is the natural Tafte of Man, and in particular, of the prefent Age.

TH

HE Taste of the Bathos is implanted by Nature itself in the foul of man; till, perverted by custom or example, he is taught, orrather compelled, to relifh the Sublime. Accordingly, we fee the unprejudiced minds of Children delight only in fuch productions, and in fuch images, as our true modern writers set before them. I have obferved how faft the general Tafte is returning to this firft Simplicity and Innocence; and if the intent of all Poetry, be to divert and inftruct, certainly that kind which diverts and instructs the greatest number, is to be preferred. Let us look round among the Admirers of Poetry, we fhall find those who have a tafte 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 almoft impoffible to please; and 'tis ftill more chimerical to write for Pofterity, of whofe Tafte we cannot make any judgment, and whofe Applause we can never enjoy. It must be confeffed our wifer authors have a present end,

Et prodeffe volunt et delectare Poeta.

Their true defign is Profit or Gain; in order to acquire which, 'tis neceffary to procure applause by adminiftering pleasure to the reader: From whence it follows demonftrably, that their productions must be fuited to the prefent Taste. 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 Tafte lefs nice than our ancestors. If an Art is to be estimated by its fuccefs, I appeal to experience whether there have not been, in proportion to their number, as many starving 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 themselves this way. They ought to be praised no less than thofe Princes, who pass their vacant hours in fome ingenious mechanical or manual

Art. And to fuch as thefe, it would be ingratitude not to own, that our Art has been often infinitely indebted.

СНАР. III.

The Neceffity 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 Iffue, 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, Nafcimur Poeta. Therefore is the defire of Writing properly termed Pruritus, the "Titillation of the Generative Faculty of the Brain," and the Person is faid to conceive; now fuch as conceive muft bring forth. I have known a man thoughtful, melancholy and raving for divers days, who

forthwith grew wonderfully eafy, lightsome and cheerful, 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 worst 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 Miniftry Nay, I know not but many times a piece of Poetry may be the most innocent compofition of a Minister himself.

a

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

However, far be it from me to compare these Writers with thofe great Spirits, who are born with a Vivacité de pefanteur, or (as an English Author calls it) an "Alacrity of finking;" and

a Mediocribus effe poetis Non dii, non homines, etc.

Hor. P.

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.

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, affisting his fight, 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 diftinguished in the true Profund, as in the true Sublime. And the very fame thing (as it from Longiappears nus) 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 fay, hang on lead, to facilitate and enforce our de