I would humbly
propose, for the benefit of our modern smatterers in poetry, that
they would imitate their brethren among the ancients in those
ingenious devices. I have communicated this thought to a young
poetical lover of my acquaintance, who intends to present his
mistress with a copy of verses made in the shape of her fan; and, if
he tells me true, has already finished the three first sticks of it.
He has likewise promised me to get the measure of his mistress's
marriage finger with a design to make a posy in the fashion of a
ring, which shall exactly fit it. It is so very easy to enlarge
upon a good hint, that I do not question but my ingenious readers
will apply what I have said to many other particulars; and that we
shall see the town filled in a very little time with poetical
tippets, handkerchiefs, snuff-boxes, and the like female ornaments.
I shall therefore conclude with a word of advice to those admirable
English authors who call themselves Pindaric writers, that they
would apply themselves to this kind of wit without loss of time, as
being provided better than any other poets with verses of all sizes
and dimensions.
NEXT ESSAY
Operose nihil aguat.
SENECA.
Busy about nothing.
There is nothing more certain than that every man would be a wit if
he could; and notwithstanding pedants of pretended depth and
solidity are apt to decry the writings of a polite author, as flash
and froth, they all of them show, upon occasion, that they would
spare no pains to arrive at the character of those whom they seem to
despise.
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