When general plaudits speak the fable o'er,
Which mute attention had approv'd before;
Though under spirits love th' accustomed jest,
Which chases sorrow from the vulgar breast;
Still hearts refin'd their sadden'd tints retain—
The sigh gives pleasure and the jest is pain:
Scarce have they smiles to honour grace or wit,
Though Roscius spoke the verse himself had writ.
Thus, through the time when vernal fruits receive
The grateful showers that hang on April's eve;
Though every coarser stem of forest birth
Throws with the morning beam its dews to earth,
Ne'er does the gentle rose revive so soon,
But, bath'd in nature's tears, it drops till noon.
O could the Muse one simple moral teach,
From scenes like these, which all who hear might reach;
Thou child of sympathy, whoe'er thou art,
Who with Assyria's queen hast wept thy part;
Go search where keener woes demand relief,
Go, while thy heart yet beats with fancied grief.
Thy breast, still conscious of the recent sigh,
The graceful tear still ling'ring on the eye;
Go, and on real misery bestow
The blest effusions of fictitious wo,
So shall our muse, supreme of all the nine;
Deserve indeed the title of divine,
Virtue shall own her favoured from above,
And Pity greet her with a sister's love.
A few words of advice, extracted from a London magazine.
TO THE CONDUCTOR.
Mr. Conductor,
I am a sort of literary Lounger, though no Connoisseur, yet an Idler, like myself, will always assume a right to turn Observer upon every Adventurer; and, whether you may subscribe to my opinions or not, yet, as I mean to subscribe to your work, I shall offer them very freely.
Too many publications promise much at their outset, and perform little in the sequel; great expectations will be formed of what may be produced by the members of a British Cabinet; and in case of failure every Guardian of his own rights will become a Tatler; you will be accused as a Rambler from your engagements, and, at your downfal, the World will be an unconcerned Spectator; while, on the contrary, by proper polish and reflection, you may be styled the Mirror of all Monthly Magazines in the metropolis. So much for your title, I shall next make some remarks as to the general conduct of the work itself.
With regard to the engraved heads prefixed to each number, and called portraits, I would certainly advise that they should bear some resemblance to the originals; this, notwithstanding it may be but a trifling recommendation to some readers, will often prove an advantage; for, however singular it may appear, I have frequently purchased a picture myself, for no reason than that it put me in mind of the person it professed to represent.