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Romans: In which he was not fatisfy'd alone with mingling in it several forts of Verfe. The only Difficulty of this Paffage is, that Quintilian tells us, that this Satyr of Varro was of a former Kind. For how can we poffibly imagine this to be, fince Varro, who was contemporary to Cicero, muft confequently be after Lucilius? But Quintilian meant not, that the Satyr of Varro was in Order of Time before Lucilius; he would only give us to understand,, that the Varronian Satyr, with mixture of feveral forts of Verfes, was more after the manner of Ennius and Pacuvius, than that of Lucilius, who was more fevere, and more correct; and gave himself lefs Liberty in the Mixture of his Verses, in the fame Poem.

We have nothing remaining of those Varronian Satyrs, excepting fome inconfiderable Fragments, and thofe for the most part much corrupted. The Titles of many of them are indeed preferv'd, and they are generally double: From whence, at least, we may understand, how many various Subjects were treated by that Author. Tully, in his Academicks, introduces Varro himself giving us fome light concerning the Scope and Design of those Works. Wherein, after he had thewn his Reafons why he did not ex profeffo write of Philofophy, he adds what follows. Notwithstanding, fays be, that thofe Pieces of mine, wherein I have imitated Mr. nippus, though I have not tranflated him, are sprinkled with a kind of Mirth and Gaiety: Yet many things are there inferted, which are drawn from the very Intrails of Philofophy, and many things feverely argu'd: Which I have mingled with Plea fantries on purpose, that they may more eafily go down with the common fort of unlearn'd Readers.. The rest of the Sentence is fo lame, that we can

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only make thus much out of it; that in the Compofition of his Satyrs, he fo temper'd Philology with Philofophy, that his Work was a Mixture of them both. And Tully himfelf confirms us in this Opinion; when a little after he addreffes himself to Varro in thefe Words. And you your felf have compos'd a most elegant and compleat Poem; you have begun Philofophy in many Places: Sufficient to incite us, though too little to inftruct us. Thus it appears, that Varro was one of thofe Writers whom they call'd doyenior, studious of Laughter; and that, as Learned as he was, his Bufinefs was more to divert his Reader, than to teach him. And he intitled his own Satyrs Menippean: Not that Menippus had written any Satyrs (for his were either Dialogues or Epifties) but that Varro imitated his. Style, his Manner, his Facetioufnefs. All that we know farther of Menippus, and his Writings, which are wholly loft, is, that by fome he is efteemed, as, among the reft, by Varro: By others he is noted of Cynical Impudence, and Obfcenity: That he was much given to thofe Parodies, which I have already mentioned; that is, he often quoted the Verfes of Homer and the Tragick Poets, and turn'd their ferious Meaning into fomething that was Ridiculous; whereas Varro's Satyrs are by Tully call'd Abfolute, and moft Elegant, and Various Poems. Lucian, who was emulous of this Menippus, feems to have imitated both his. Manners and his Style in many of his Dialogues; where Menippus himself is often introdu ced as a Speaker in them, and as a perpetual Buffoon: Particularly his Character is exprefs'd in the Beginning of that Dialogue, which is call'd Nexu Marria. But Varro, in imitating him, avoids his

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Impudence and Filthinefs, and only expreffes his witty Pleafantry.

This we may believe for certain, That as his Subjects were various, fo moft of them were Tales or Stories of his own Invention. Which is alfo manifest from Antiquity, by thofe Authors who are acknowledg'd to have written Varronian Satyrs, in Imitation of his : Of whom the Chief is Petronius Arbiter, whofe Satyr, they fay, is now printed in Holland, wholly recovered, and made compleat: When'tts made publick, it will eafily be feen by any one Sentence, whether it be fuppofititious, or genuine. Many of Lucian's Dialogues may alfo properly be call'd Varronian Satyrs; particularly his True Hiftory: And confequently the Golden Afs of Apuleius, which is taken from him. Of the fame Stamp is the Mock Deification of Claudius, by Seneca: And the Symposium or Cæfars of Julian the Emperor. Amongst the Moderns we may reckon the Encomium Morie of Erafmus, Barclay's Euphormio, and a Volume of German Authors, which my ingenious Friend Mr. Charles Killigrew once lent me. In the English I remember none, which are mix'd with Profe, as Varro's were: But of the fame kind is Mother Hubbard's Tale in Spencer; and (if it be not too vain to mention any thing of my own) the Poems of Abfalam and Mac Flecno.

This is what I have to fay in general of Satyr: Only as Dacier has obferved before me, we may take notice, That the Word Satyr is of a more general Signification in Latin, than in French, or English. For amongst the Romans it was not only us'd for thofe Difcourfes which decry'd Vice, or expos'd Folly; but for others alfo, where Virtue was recommended. But in our modern Languages

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we apply it only to the invective Poems, where the very Name of Satyr is formidable to 'thofe Perfons, who wou'd appear to the World, what they are not in themfelves. For in English, to fay Satyr, is to mean Reflection, as we ufe that Wor in the worst Senfe; or as the French call it, more properly, Medifance. In the Criticism of Spelling, it ought to be with i and not with y; to distinguish its true Derivation from Satura, not from Satyrus. And if this be fo, than 'tis falfe fpell'd throughout this Book; for here 'tis written Satyr. Which having not confider'd at the firft, I thought it not worth correcting afterwards. But the French are more nice, and never spell it any other way than Satire.

I am now arriv'd at the moft difficult part of my Undertaking, which is, to compare Horace with Juvenal and Perfius. 'Tis obferv'd by Rigaltius, in his Preface before Juvenal, written to Thuanus, that thefe three Poets have all their particular Partisans, and Favourers: Every Commentator, as he has taken Pains with any of them, thinks himself oblig'd to prefer his Author to the other two: To find out their Failings, and decry them, that he may make room for his own Darling. Such is the Partiality. of Mankind, to fet up that Intereft which they have once efpous'd, tho' it be to the Prejudice of Truth, Morality, and common Juftice: And efpecially in the Productions of the Brain. As Authors generally think themfelves the beft Poets, because they cannot go out of themselves to judge fincerely of their Betters; fo it is with Criticks, who, having first taken a liking to one of these Poets, proceed to Comment on him, and to Illuftrate him: After which, they fall in Love with their own Labours, to that degree of blind Fondness,

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that at length they defend and exalt their Author, not fo much for his Sake as for their own. 'Tis a Folly of the fame Nature with that of the Romans themselves, in their Games of the Circus; the Spectators were divided in their Factions, betwixt the Veneti and the Prafini: Some were for the Charioteer in Blue, and fome for him in Green. The Colours themselves were but a Fancy; but when once a Man had taken Pains to set out those of his Party, and had been at the trouble of procuring Voices for them, the Cafe was alter'd: He was concern'd for his own Labour; and that fo earneftly, that Difputes and Quarrels, Animofities, Commotions, and Bloodshed, often happen'd: And in the Declenfion of the Grecian Empire, the very Sovereigns themselves engag'd in it, even when the Barbarians were at their Doors; and ftickl'd for the Preference of Colours, when the Safety of their People was in queftion. I am now, my felf, on the Brink of the fame Precipice; Í have spent fome time on the Tranflation of Juvenal and Perfius; and it behoves me to be wary, left, for that Reafon, I fhou'd be partial to them, or take a Prejudice against Horace. Yet, on the other Side, I wou'd not be like fome of our Judges, who wou'd give the Caufe for a poor Man, right or wrong: For tho' that be an Error on the better Hand, yet it is still a Partiality: Anda Rich, Man, unheard, cannot be concluded an Oppreffor. I remember a Saying of King Charles II. on Sir Matthew Hales, (who was doubtlefs an Uncorrupt and Upright Man) That his Servants were füre to be caft on a Tryal, which was heard before him: Not that he thought the Judge was poffible to be brib'd; but that his Integrity might be too fcrupulous: And that the Caufes of the Crown were

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