The Manners of the Age; In Thirteen Moral Satirs. Written with a Design to Expose the Vicious and Irregular Conduct of Both Sexes, in the Various Pursuits of Life (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated.1733 Excerpt: ... To heaven let others different incense bring; "Tis full enough for one, to play and sing. In this kind age can any want a friend, When rage can flatter, malice can commend? When nymphs with seorn a rival's worth relate; And beauties praise a beauty--out of bate. But such the praise they give, has ever been; Satir ne'er points a venom'd shaft ib keehj By ignorance or folly urg'd, ne'er throws A-dart so edg'd, against its greatest foes. On their own merits, some so fondly muse, They find no time, another to accuse: Whose wit, tho' many think their worst disease; Each man has still enough, one man to please Whose prose or poem with each grace shall flow, From end to end, no period mean or low. Wise Cinthio then lets others faults alone, His time sufficient scarce--to prize his own: Astonish'd, that mankind, since he has writ, Shou'd e'er condemn the town for want of wit. Sighs for Iearn'd sera's fled, how weak to wastes To blame our own, and doat on ages past? With his own flights his ear he entertains And from himself alone, his wisdom gains. Struck with each line, with joy his bolbin beats, His heart ejsulting, as his tongue repeats. tpaflas his guide in, eveiy sacred page, Infracted by her skill he grows a age.. All authors, new and old upon his shells, Disdained--to be delighted--with himself. And sure a smiling writer may deceive And cheat himself, wkhout the critic's leave j Nor Dennis ask, suppose the humour strike His ravnli'd heart, what lines he is to like, I For fear too free a censure might destroy The blrse he feels, and steal away his joy. How sweet tund diseord, to his list'ning ear, The want of thought, how valu'd, and how dear I The bounty of the gods, in smiles confest, And Pb husy for each beauteous blunder blest..y Refolrd, Resolv'd t...