An Essay on Criticism | Page 3

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 the informing soul With spirits feeds, with vigor
fills the whole, Each motion guides and every nerve sustains, Itself
unseen, but in the effects remains. Some, to whom Heaven in wit has
been profuse, [80] Want as much more, to turn it to its use; For wit and
judgment often are at strife, Though meant each other's aid, like man
and wife. 'Tis more to guide, than spur the muse's steed, Restrain his
fury, than provoke his speed, The winged courser, like a generous horse,
[86] Shows most true mettle when you check his course.
Those rules, of old discovered, not devised, Are nature still, but nature
methodized; Nature, like liberty, is but restrained By the same laws
which first herself ordained.
Hear how learned Greece her useful rules indites, When to repress and
when indulge our flights. High on Parnassus' top her sons she showed,
[94] And pointed out those arduous paths they trod; Held from afar,
aloft, the immortal prize, And urged the rest by equal steps to rise. [97]
Just precepts thus from great examples given, She drew from them
what they derived from Heaven. The generous critic fanned the poet's
fire, And taught the world with reason to admire. Then criticism the
muse's handmaid proved, To dress her charms, and make her more
beloved: But following wits from that intention strayed Who could not
win the mistress, wooed the maid Against the poets their own arms
they turned Sure to hate most the men from whom they learned So
modern pothecaries taught the art By doctors 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 so much as they. Some dryly plain, without
invention's aid, Write dull receipts how poems may be made These
leave the sense their learning to display, And those explain the meaning
quite away.

You then, whose judgment the right course would steer, Know well
each ancient's proper character, His fable subject scope in every page,
Religion, country, genius of his age Without all these at once before
your eyes, Cavil you may, but never criticise. Be Homers works your
study and delight, Read them by day and meditate by night, Thence
form your judgment thence your maxims bring And trace the muses
upward to their spring. Still with itself compared, his text peruse, And
let your comment be the Mantuan Muse. [129]
When first young Maro in his boundless mind, [130] A work to outlast
immortal Rome designed, Perhaps he seemed above the critic's law
And but from nature's fountain scorned to draw But when to examine
every part he came Nature and Homer were he found the same
Convinced, amazed, he checks the bold design And rules as strict his
labored work confine As if the Stagirite o'erlooked each line [138]
Learn hence for ancient rules a just esteem, To copy nature is to copy
them.
Some beauties yet no precepts can declare, For there's a happiness as
well as care. Music resembles poetry--in each Are nameless graces
which no methods teach, And which a master hand alone can reach If,
where the rules not far enough extend (Since rules were made but to
promote their end), Some lucky license answer to the full The intent
proposed that license is a rule. Thus Pegasus a nearer way to take May
boldly deviate from the common track Great wits sometimes may
gloriously offend, And rise to faults true critics dare not mend, From
vulgar bounds with brave disorder part, And snatch a grace beyond the
reach of art, Which without passing through 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. But though the ancients thus their
rules invade (As kings dispense with laws themselves have made),
Moderns beware! or if you must offend Against the precept, ne'er
transgress its end, Let it be seldom, and compelled by need, And have,
at least, their precedent to plead. The critic else proceeds without
remorse, Seizes your fame, and puts his laws in force.

I know there are, to whose presumptuous thoughts Those freer beauties,
even in them, seem faults Some figures monstrous and misshaped
appear, Considered singly, or beheld too near, Which, but proportioned
to their light, or place, Due distance reconciles to form and grace. A
prudent chief not always must display His powers in equal ranks and
fair array, But with the occasion and the place comply.