^ 



SLcT.^^^] Satirical Poetry. 27 



last age has been abundantly prolific. Of this 

 kind of poetry The Rape of the Lock, by Pope, is 

 a specimen of first-rate excellence. In this work, 

 novelty of imagery, fertility of invention, felicity of 

 wit, and sweetness of versification, are combined 

 in an exquisite degree. The Triumphs of Temper ^ 

 by Mr. Haylcy, may be considered as belonging 

 to the same class: and though far from being 

 equal to the immortal production of Pope, it dis- 

 plaj^s a degrfee of genius, taste, and humour, high- 

 ly honourable to the author. 



The greater part of the poetry of a certain Bri- 

 tish satirist, who calls himself Peter Pindar, also 

 belongs to this class. His writings abound in hu- 

 mour, which, though frequently gross, indicates 

 talents of no common rank ; and in wit, which, 

 though generally eccentric, and frequently de- 

 voted to the worst purposes, manifests extent of 

 learning and force of imagination. Aware that 

 quaint phrases, whimsical allusions, and laughable 

 conceits, when presented unmixed, will soon cease 

 to please, he has taken care to infuse into many 

 of his pieces a considerable portion of sentiment 

 and tenderness, and sometimes to elevate his 

 reader by an unexpected stroke of the sublime *. 



Since the days of Butler many specimens of 

 that burlesque poetry adopted by him in his Hu- 



* The real name of this writer is Wolcot. While justice is 

 done to his talents, which, in a certain line, are really great, his 

 faults and vices ought ndt to pass without censure. His blasphe- 

 mous impiety cannot be viewed by the Christian without abhor- 

 rence; while the injustice and malignity displayed against pri- 

 vate character, in many of his writings, must be regarded with 

 cordial dcteetation by every honest man. 



