Our English Poets on the contrary show a kind of malice prepense in their Satires, and instead of bringing in the per∣son to give light to any part of the Poem, let you see they writ the whole Poem on purpose to abuse the person. They have a particular way of hiding their ill-nature, and introduce a criminal rather to illustrate a precept or passage, than out of any seeming design to abuse him. I own to you, says Eugenius, I have often admi∣red this piece of art in the two Satyrists you men∣tion and have been surprized to meet with a man in Satire that I never in the least expected toįind there. istance that he is to look for no mercy.ng a man down-right, and for letting him see at.nicely imitated him in this, as well as his o∣the.Ho∣race knew how to stab with address, and to give a thrust where he was least expected Boileau ha ni Catia est, says Cynthio, is a beauty un∣known to most of our English Satyrists.* You find however something bold and masculine in the air and posture of the first figure, which is that of Virtue her self, and agrees very well with the description we find of her in Silius Italicus. I can give no other reason for it, says Philander, but because they chanced to be of the feminine gender in the learn∣ed languages. It is a great compliment methinks to the sex, says Cynthio, that your Virtues are gene∣rally shown in petticoats. Their proper coun∣try, says Philander, is the breast of a good man: for I think they are most of them the figures of Virtues. Imaginary persons you told us of last night that inhabit old Coins, and appear no where else but on the reverse of a Medal. I was going to ask you, says Eugenius, in what country you find these Ladies. They have not a single ornament that they cannot give a reason for. You will find, says Philander, there is good sense in it. I do not know, says Cynthio, re∣garding them, what their virtue may be, but me∣thinks they are a little fantastical in their dress. Philander, who is to be the He∣roe in my Dialogue, takes it in his hand, and ad∣dressing himself to Cynthio and Eugenius, I will first of all, says he, show you an assembly of the most virtuous Ladies that you have ever perhaps conversed with. We will suppose the China dishes taken off, and a Drawer of Medals supply∣ing their room. To avoid the fault I have found in others, I shall not trouble my self nor my Reader with the first salutes of our three friends, nor with any part of their discourse over the Tea-table. There is so much time taken up in ceremony, that before they enter on their subject the Dialogue is half ended. I have sometimes however been very much distasted at this way of writing, by reason of the long Pre∣faces and exordiums into which it often betrays an author. SOME of the finest treatises of the most po∣lite Latin and Greek writers are in Dialogue, as many very valued pieces of French, Itali∣an, and English appear in the same dress.
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