Tho disoblig’d, with sawcy Rudeness treat, } Revenge not always is below the Great. } Their Stronger Genius may o’er thine prevail:  Wit, Power and Anger join’d but rarely fail.  Tho Eagles would not chuse to hawk at Flies } They’d snap ’em, should their buzzing Swarms arise } Importunate, and hurt their Sun bright Eyes. } Nor should the Muses Birds at random fly, And strike at all, lest if they strike they die.  Why should we still be lazily content 260 With thredbare Schemes, and nothing new invent?  All Arts besides improve, Sea, Air and Land } Are every day with nicer Judgment scan’d, } And why should this alone be at a stand? } Or Nature largely to the Ancients gave And little did for younger Children save; Or rather we impartial Nature blame To hide our Sloth, and cover o’er our Shame; As Sinners, when their Reason’s drown’d in Sense, Fall out with Heav’n, and quarrel Providence. 270 Yet should you our Galenic Way despise, And some new Colbatch of the Muses rise; No Quarter from the College hope, who sit Infallible at Will’s and judg of Sense and Wit:  Keep fair with these, or Fame you court in vain, A strict Neutrality at least maintain!  Speak, like the wise Italian, well of all; Who knows into what Hands he’s doom’d to fall?  Write oft and much, at first, if you’d write well, For he who ne’er attempts will ne’er excel; 280 Practice will file your Verse, your Thoughts refine, And Beauty give, and Grace to every Line:  The Gnat to fam’d AEneis led the way, And our Immortal COWLEY once did play.  Let not the Sun of Life in vain decline, Or Time run waste; No Day without a Line.  Yet learn by me, my Friend, from Errors past; O never write, or never Print in Haste!  The worst Excuse Ill Authors e’er advance, Which does, like Lies, a single Guilt enhance. 290 Lay by your Work, and leave it on the Loom, Which if at mod’rate distance you resume, A Father’s Fondness you’ll with Ease look through, And Objects in a proper Medium view.  ’Tis Time alone can Strength and Ripeness give; A Hasty Birth can ne’er expect to live.  Fly, low at first, you’ll with Advantage rise; This pleases all, as that will all surprize. [Sidenote:  The Subject.] No Work attempt but where your Strength you know,