Either Kind of Satire may be writ in the Dialogue or Epistolary Manner, and we have Instances of both Forms in Horace, Juvenal, and Persius. As some of Horace's, which are call'd Satires, are as truly Epistles; so many of his Epistles might as well be call'd Satires. For Example,[342]Qui fit Mecænas, &c. might, with equal Reason, be reckon'd among the Epistles; and[343]Prima dicte mihi, &c. among the Discourses or Satires, if the Author or Editor had so thought fit.
The distinguishing Nature of Juvenal cannot be better known, than from the very Beginning of his Satires:
[344] Semper ego auditor tantum? nunquamne reponam, Vexatus toties rauci Theseide Codri? &c.
Still shall I hear, and never quit the Score, Stunn'd with hoarse Codrus Theseid, o'er and o'er. Dryden.
At the first Onset, he declares open War, and gives sufficient Intimation of the Strength of his Spirit, and what the Reader may expect from it. He first sharpens his Style against the scribbling Poets of his Age; and when he had, in a sarcastical Manner, mention'd the Reasons that induced him to write,
[345] —Stulta est clementia, cum rot ubique Vatibus occuras, perituræ parcere chartæ.
But since the World with Writing is possest,} I'll versify in Spite; and do my best,} To make as much waste Paper as the rest.} Dryden.
He sallies forth, a few Lines after, into a more extensive Field of Satire, and with no less Wit than Gall, tells us the Reasons why he chose this Kind of Writing:
[346] Cur tamen hoc potius libeat decurrere campo, Per quem magnus equos Auruncæ flexit Alumnus, Si vacat, & placidi rationem admittitis, edam. Cum tener uxorem ducat spado, Mævia Tuscum Figat aprum, & nuda teneat venabula mamma; Patricios omnes opibus sum provocet unus, Quo tondente gravis juveni mihi barba sonabat; Cum pars Niliacæ plebis, cum verna Canopi, Crispinus, Tyrias humero revocante lacernas, Ventilet æstivum digitis sudantibus aurum, Nec sufferre queat majoris pondera gemmæ; Difficile est, Satiram non scribere: nam quis inquæ Tam patiens urbis, tam ferreus, us tentat se?
But why I lift aloft the Satire's Rod, And tread the Path that fam'd Lacilius trod, Attend the Causes which my Muse have led: When sapless Eunuchs mount the Marriage-Bed, When mannish Mævia, that two-handed Whore, Astride an Horseback hunts the Tuscan Boar, When all our Lords are by his Wealth out-vy'd, Whose Razor on my callow Beard was try'd; When I behold the Spawn of conquer'd Nile, Crispinus both in Birth and Manners vile, Pacing in Pomp with Cloak of Tyrian Dye, Chang'd oft a Day for needless Luxury; And finding oft Occasion to be fann'd, Ambitious to produce his Lady Hand; Charg'd with light Summer Rings, his Fingers sweat, Unable to support a Gem of Weight: Such fulsome Objects meeting ev'ry where, 'Tis hard to write, and harder to forbear. Dryden.