Let those of greater Genius new invent, Be you with those in Common Use content.  A different Style’s for Prose and Verse requir’d, Strong figures here, Neat Plainness there desir’d:  A different Set of Words to both belong; What shines in Prose, is, flat and mean in Song.  The Turn, the Numbers must be vary’d here, And all things in a different Dress appear.  This every School Boy lash’d at Eaton knows, } 160 Yet Men of Sense forget when they compose, } And Father DRYDEN’s Lines are sometimes Prose. } A vary’d Stile do various Works require, This soft as Air, and tow’ring that as Fire.  None than th’ Epistle goes more humbly drest, Tho neat ’twou’d be, and decent as the best.  Such as th’ ingenious Censor may invite } Oft to return with eager Appetite; } So HORACE wrote, and so I’d wish to write. } Nor creeps it always, but can mount and rise, 170 And with bold Pinions sail along the Skies.  The self-same Work of different Style admits, Now soft, now loud, as best the Matter fits:  So Father THAMES from unexhausted Veins, Moves clean and equable along the Plains; Yet still of different Depth and Breadth is found, And humours still the Nature of the Ground. [Sidenote:  Reading.] READING will mend your Style and raise it higher, And Matter find to feed th’ Immortal Fire:  But if you would the Vulgar Herd excel, 180 And justly gain the Palm of Writing well, Wast not your Lamp in scanning Vulgar Lines, Where groveling all, or One in twenty shines; With Prudence first among the Antients chuse, The noblest only, and the best peruse; Such HOMER is, such VIRGIL’s sacred Page, Which Death defie, nor yield to Time or Age; New Beauties still their Vigorous Works display, Their Fruit still mellows, but can ne’er decay.  The Modern Pens not altogether slight, 190 Be Master of your Language e’er you write! Immortal TILLOTSON with Judgment scan, “That Man of Praise, that something more than Man!” Ev’n those who hate his Ashes this advise, } As from black Shades resplendent Lightning flies, } Unwilling Truths break through a Cloud of Lies. } He Words and Things for mutual Aid design’d, Before at Variance, in just Numbers join’d; He always soars, but never’s out of sight, He taught us how to Speak, and Think, and Write. 200