The rhymes war and declare are here adopted from Pope, who employs
them frequently; but it should have been remembered that the modern
relative pronunciation of the two words differs materially from the
relative pronunciation of the era of the "Dunciad."
We are also sure that the gross obscenity, the filth- we can use
no gentler name- which disgraces "The Quacks of Helicon," cannot be
the result of innate impurity in the mind of the writer. It is but a
part of the slavish and indiscriminating imitation of the Swift and
Rochester school. It has done the book an irreparable injury, both
in a moral and pecuniary view, without affecting anything whatever
on the score of sarcasm, vigour or wit. "Let what is to be said, he
said plainly." True, but let nothing vulgar be ever said or conceived.
In asserting that this satire, even in its mannerism, has imbued
itself with the full spirit of the polish and of the pungency of
Dryden, we have already awarded it high praise. But there remains to
be mentioned the far loftier merit of speaking fearlessly the truth,
at an epoch when truth is out of fashion, and under circumstances of
social position which would have deterred almost any man in our
community from a similar Quixotism. For the publication of "The Quacks
of Helicon"- a poem which brings under review, by name, most of our
prominent literati and treats them, generally, as they deserve (what
treatment could be more bitter?)- for the publication of this
attack, Mr.
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