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BODLEIAL

7 OCT 1958

LIBRARY

VERSES TO DR. GARTH.

Ο

то

DR. GARTH,

UPON THE

DISPENSARY.

H that fome genius, whofe poetic vein
Like Montague's could a jutt piece fuftain,

Would fearch the Grecian and the Latin ftore,
And thence prefent thee with the pureft ore:
In lafting numbers praife thy whole defign,
And manly beauty of each nervous line:
Show how your pointed fatire's sterling wit,
Does only knaves or formal blockheads hit;
Who're gravely dull, infipidly ferene,
And carry all their wifdom in their mien;
Whom thus expos'd, thus ftripp'd of their dif-
guife,

None will again admire, moft will defpife!
Shew in what noble verfe Nassau you fing,
How fuch a poet's worthy fuch a king!
When Somers' charming eloquence you praife,
How loftily your tuneful voice you raife!
But my poor feeble mufe is as unfit

To praife, as imitate what you have writ.
Artifts alone fhould venture to commend
What Dennis can't condemn, nor Dryden mend:
What must, writ with that fire and with that ease,
The beaux, the ladies, and the critics, please.

то

C. BOYLE.

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Such is thy genius, and fuch art is thine,
Some fecret magic works in every line;
We judge not, but we feel the power divine.
Where all is juft, is beauteous, and is fair,
Distinctions vanish of peculiar air.
Loft in our pleasure, we enjoy in you
Lucretius, Horace, Sheffield, Montague.
And yet 'tis thought, fome critics in this town,
By rules to all, but to themselves, unknown,
Will damn thy verfe, and justify their own.
Why let them danın: were it not wondrous hard
Facetious Mirmil and the City Bard,

So near ally'd in learning, wit, and skill,
Should not have leave to judge, as well as kill?
Nay, let them write; let them their forces join,
And hope the motley piece may rival thine.
Safely defpife their malice, and their toil,
Which vulgar ears alone will reach, and will defile.
Be it thy generous pride to please the best,
Whofe judgment, and whofe friendship, is a ten
With learned Hans thy healing cares be join'd;"
Search thoughtful Ratcliffe to his inmoft mind;
Unite, reftore your arts, and fave mankind :
Whilft all the bufy Mirmils of the town
Envy our health, and pine away their own.
Whene'er thou would't a tempting Mufe engage,

MY FRIEND THE AUTHOR, Judicious Walth can beft direct her rage.

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To Somers and to Dorfet too fubmit,
And let their flamp immortalize thy wit.
Confenting Phoebus bows, if they approve,
And ranks thee with the foremost bards above.
Whilst thefe of right the deathlefs laurel fend,
Be it my humble business to commend
The faithful, honeft man, and the well-natur'd

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