How blunder out whate’er should be conceal’d,
And how keep secret what should be reveal’d!
True child of dulness! see him, Goddess, claim
Power next thyself, as next in birth and fame.”
The author was a persecuted man, rather that he was considered a tailor, who had no authority to sit at home and comment on what was done “i’ the Capitol,” than that he was a satirist. Pope was more severe; but Pope was a gentleman, and was held unassailable. If Paul was prosecuted, it was that Pope, in the penalties inflicted on the humbler bard, might see the perils which did himself environ. Poor Paul nevertheless grumbled at being thus made a scapegoat, and he said thereupon:—
“Pope writes unhurt; but know ’tis different quite
To beard the lion, and to crush the mite.
Safe may he dash the statesman in each line;
Those dread his satire who dare punish mine!”