Since none the Living Villains dare implead, Arraign them in the Persons of the Dead. Dryden.
Which, by the Way, is a Confirmation of what we before alledg'd against Vossius's Opinion, viz. That, in Juvenal's at least, the Living ought to be noted in Satire under their real Names. But it is Time we should now return to the two different Species of it which I before mention'd.
They both agree in being pungent and cutting; yet are distinguish'd by very evident Marks: The one is pleasant and facetious; the other angry and austere: The one smiles; the other storms: The Foibles of Mankind, are the Object of the one; greater Crimes, of the other: The former is always in the low Style; the latter generally in the Sublime: That abounds with Wit only; this adds to the Salt Bitterness and Acrimony. Horace's Satires are of so fine and delicate a Turn, as may much easier be conceiv'd, than express'd: They are rightly term'd Discourses, for some of them are scarce reducible under either Species of Satire. Juvenal's are all true Satires, except the fifteenth, which is of uncertain Authority. So far is Vossius from being in the right, when he makes Horace almost the only Satirist, and scarce admits Juvenal to the Title of one.
It is not very clear, then, why Horace should say of himself,
[340] Sunt quibus in Satira videar nimis acer.
Some fancy I am bitter when I jeer, Beyond the Rules of Satire too severe. Creech.
or who they were that thought so. I cannot, indeed, come into the Opinion of others whom he mentions:
[341] ——Sine nervis altera, quicquid Composui, pars esse putat, similisque meorum Mille die versus deduci posse.
Some, that my Verse is dull, and flat; and say A Man may write a Thousand such a Day. Creech.
But surely too much Warmth was never his Fault; he ought sometimes, perhaps, to be condemn'd for the Want of it.