For I cannot but be surpriz'd to see this last Author so confidently assert[324], "That Satire is a Species of Poetry unknown to any but the Romans, and has no Relation to the satirical Compositions of the Grecians, as some learned Men, by Mistake, have thought[325]. Now, I'll be bold to say, that not only some, but most, if not all the Learned, have thought so, and still think the same; and even Mons. Dacier himself, I reckon among the Number, how much soever he seems here to have forgot himself. I appeal not only to what I have before said upon this Subject myself, but to what I have cited from him, whether it does not appear that the Roman Satire had some Affinity with the Grecian, and, particularly, that it ow'd its Rise to it.[326] Vossius, speaking of the Grecian, tells us, "That the Discourse was agreeable to the Characters of the Speakers; full of Ribaldry, Ridicule, and Scurrility. The Failings of Men were the Objects of their Scoffs, and to excite Laughter the Aim of them. Horace, in his Art of Poetry,
[327] Verum ita risores, ita commendare dicaces Conveniet Satyros, ita vertere seria ludo."
Yet Satires shou'd observe this decent Rule, And so turn serious Things to Ridicule, As, &c. Creech.
Now will any one say, the Grecian and Roman Satire had nothing of this in common between them? Are Lasciviousness, Ridicule, and Banter, the exposing Vice, and the exciting Laughter, Properties in which the Roman Satire had no Share? We readily grant, indeed, that as it appear'd in a different Form, it was not the very same Kind of Poem with the Grecian: But surely there was some, nay, a great deal of Affinity between them; and the one, particularly, owes its Rise to the other.
Eighteenth Lecture.
Thus much for the Etymology, the History of the Rise and Progress of Satire. With Respect to the Nature and different Species of it, I can by no means subscribe to Vossius's Opinion, who observes[328], "That, as the Vices of Mankind may be corrected either publickly, or in private, the latter Method is much the more suitable to Satire: And that Juvenal and Persius, setting aside the Metre, have deviated more from the true Nature of it, than Lucian in his Dialogues, or Julian in his Cæsars. For the former shew their ill Nature more than their Wit, and don't so much put Vice out of Countenance, as themselves out of Temper; whereas the latter always keep up their Humour, and mix their Reproof with Facetiousness[329]. According to this, the Horatian Satire is the only true one; and the Writings of Juvenal and Persius have no Pretence to that Title. But the truer State of the Case is this: Satire in general, is a Poem design'd to reprove the Vices and Follies of Mankind: It is twofold; either the jocose, as that of Horace, or the serious. like that of Juvenal. The former hidden, the latter open. That generally makes Sport with Vice, and exposes it to Ridicule: This probes it to the Bottom, and puts it to Torture: And so far is it from not deserving the Title of Satire, that, in my Opinion, it is the more noble Species of it; and the genteel Jokes of Horace, how ingenious soever, are less affecting than the poetic Rage, and commendable Zeal of Juvenal. I shall speak to both Kinds, as Persius has well distinguish'd them, where he describes the Difference between Lucilius and Horace's Way of Writing:
[330] ——Secuit Lucilius urbem Te Lupe, te Muti, & genuinum fregit in illis. Omne vafer vitium ridenti Flaccus amico Tangit, & admissus circum præcordia indit, Callidus excusso populum suspendere naso. Yet old Lucilius never fear'd the Times, But lash'd the City, and dissected Crimes. Mutius and Lupus both by Name he brought; He mouth'd 'em, and betwixt his Grinders caught. Unlike in Method with conceal'd Design, Did crafty Horace his low Numbers join; And, with a sly insinuating Grace, Laugh'd at his Friend, and look'd him in the Face: Wou'd raise a Blush, where secret Vice he found; And tickle, while he gently prob'd the Wound. With seeming Innocence the Crowd beguil'd; But made the desp'rate Passes when he smil'd. Dryden.
Vossius still erring upon the same String, says, "It is not so much the Business of Satire to reprove all Sorts of Vice, as those that are the proper Subjects of Laughter[331]. If this Maxim is true, Juvenal will scarce find a Place among the Satirists: For tho' he may sometimes laugh, he is, for the Generality, serious; and shews the Lash much more than his Teeth. Nay, his Smiles are very different from those of Horace; they are not the genteel ones of a Courtier, but mix'd with Gall and ill Nature; such as Virgil describes:
Ad quem subridens mista Mezentius ira.
To whom Mezentius with malignant Smile.