On
SCRIBLING
against
GENIUS
.
An
EPISTLE
.
NO
single
rule's
more
frequently
enjoin'd
,
Than
this
;
"
Observe
the
byass
of
your
mind
.
"
However
just
by
ev'ry
one
confess'd
,
There's
not
a
rule
more
frequently
transgress'd
,
For
mortals
,
to
their
int'rest
blind
,
pursue
The
thing
they
like
,
not
that
they're
fit
to
do
.
This
Verro's
fault
,
by
frequent
praises
fir'd
,
He
several
parts
had
try'd
,
in
each
admir'd
.
That
Verro
was
not
ev'ry
way
compleat
,
'Twas
long
unknown
,
and
might
have
been
so
yet
:
But
musick-mad
,
th'
unhappy
man
pursu'd
That
only
thing
heav'n
meant
he
never
shou'd
;
And
thus
his
proper
road
to
fame
neglected
,
He's
ridicul'd
for
that
he
but
affected
.
Wou'd
men
but
act
from
nature's
secret
call
,
Or
only
,
where
that
fails
,
not
act
at
all
:
If
not
their
skill
,
they'd
shew
at
least
good
sense
,
—
They'd
get
no
fame
—
nor
wou'd
they
give
offence
.
Not
that
where
some
one
merit
is
deny'd
,
Men
must
be
ev'ry
way
unqualify'd
;
Nor
hold
we
,
like
that
wrong-concluding
wight
,
A
man
can't
fish
—
because
he
cou'd
not
write
.
View
all
the
world
around
:
each
man
design'd
And
furnish'd
for
some
fav'rite
part
you
find
.
That
,
sometimes
low
:
yet
this
,
so
small
a
gift
,
Proves
nature
did
not
turn
him
quite
adrift
.
The
phlegmatick
,
dull
,
aukward
,
thick
,
gross-witted
,
Have
all
some
clumsy
work
for
which
they're
fitted
.
'Twas
never
known
,
in
men
a
perfect
void
,
Ev'n
I
and
T—ld
might
be
well
employ'd
;
Wou'd
we
our
poverty
of
parts
survey
,
And
follow
as
our
genius
led
the
way
.
What
then
?
obedient
to
that
turn
of
mind
Shou'd
men
jog
on
to
one
dull
path
confin'd
;
From
that
small
circle
never
dare
depart
,
To
strike
at
large
,
and
snatch
a
grace
from
art
?
At
least
with
care
forbidden
paths
pursue
?
Who
quits
the
road
,
should
keep
it
still
in
view
:
From
genius
some
few
'scapes
may
be
allow'd
;
But
ever
keep
within
its
neighbourhood
.
But
C—r
,
faithless
to
his
byass
see
,
With
giant-sin
opposing
heav'n's
decree
.
Still
fond
where
he
shou'd
not
,
he
blunders
on
With
all
that
haste
fools
make
to
be
undone
:
Want
of
success
his
passion
but
augments
;
Like
eunuchs
rage
of
love
,
from
impotence
.
'Mongst
all
the
instances
of
genius
crost
,
The
rhyming
tribe
are
those
who
err
the
most
.
Each
piddling
wretch
who
hath
but
common
sense
,
Or
thinks
he
hath
,
to
verse
shall
make
pretence
:
Why
not
?
'tis
their
diversion
,
and
'twere
hard
If
men
of
their
estates
shou'd
be
debarr'd
.
Thus
wealth
with
them
gives
every
thing
beside
;
As
people
worth
so
much
are
qualify'd
:
They've
all
the
requisites
for
writing
fit
,
All
but
that
one
—
some
little
share
of
wit
.
Give
way
,
ye
friends
,
nor
with
fond
pray'rs
proceed
To
stop
the
progress
of
a
pen
full
speed
.
Tis
heav'n
,
incens'd
by
some
prodigious
crime
,
Thus
for
men's
sins
determines
them
to
rhyme
.
Bad
men
,
no
doubt
;
perhaps
'tis
vengeance
due
For
shrines
they've
plunder'd
,
or
some
wretch
they
slew
.
Whate'er
it
be
,
sure
grievous
is
th'
offence
,
And
grievous
is
(
heaven
knows
!
)
its
recompence
.
At
once
in
want
of
rhyme
,
and
want
of
rest
;
Plagues
to
themselves
,
and
to
mankind
a
jest
:
Seduc'd
by
empty
forms
of
false
delight
—
Such
,
in
some
men
,
their
deadly
lust
to
write
!
Ev'n
I
,
whose
genius
seems
as
much
forgot
,
(
Mine
when
I
write
,
as
your's
when
you
do
not
;
)
Who
gravely
thus
can
others'
faults
condemn
,
My
self
allowing
,
what
I
blame
in
them
;
With
no
pretence
to
Phoebus'
aid
divine
,
Nor
the
least
int'rest
in
the
tuneful
Nine
,
With
all
the
guilt
of
impotence
in
view
,
Griev'd
for
past
sins
,
but
yet
committing
new
;
Whate'er
the
wits
may
say
,
or
wise
may
think
,
Am
fooling
ev'ry
way
with
pen
and
ink
.
When
all
who
wish
me
best
,
begin
t'
advise
,
'
That
being
witty
,
is
not
being
wise
;
'
That
if
the
voice
of
int'rest
might
be
heard
,
'
For
one
who
wears
a
gown
,
—
wou'd
be
prefer'd
—
Incorrigibly
deaf
,
I
feign
a
yawn
;
And
mock
their
just
conclusions
,
ere
they're
drawn
.
If
to
my
practice
,
they
oppos'd
my
theme
;
And
pointed
,
how
I
swam
against
the
stream
:
With
all
the
rancour
of
a
bard
in
rage
,
I'd
quote
'em
half
the
writers
of
the
age
;
Who
in
a
wrath
of
verse
,
with
all
their
might
Write
on
,
howe'er
unqualify'd
to
write
,