And proves himself by cruelty a priest."

What does the bard prove himself?

"Whilst the weak artist to thy whims a slave,

Would bury all those powers which nature gave,

Would suffer blank concealment to obscure

Those rays that jealousy could not endure;

To feed thy vanity would rust unknown,

And to secure thy credit, blast his own:

In Hogarth he was sure to find a friend;

He could not fear, and therefore might commend.