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30 Erasmus
is not guilty of, while one while with his polt¬
foot, another with his smutcht muzzle, another
with his impertinencies, he makes sport for the
rest of the Gods? As also that old Silenus with
his Countrey-dances, Polyphemus footing time
to his Cyclops hammers, the Nymphs with their
Jiggs, and Satyrs with their Anticks; whilst Pan
makes ’em all twitter with some coarse Ballad,
which yet they had rather hear than the Muses
themselves, and chiefly when they are well
whitled with Nectar. Besides, what should I
mention what these Gods do when they are half
drunk? Now by my troth, so foolish that I my
self can hardly refrain laughter. But in these
matters ’twere better we remember’d Harpo¬
crates, lest some Eves-dropping God or other
take us whispering that which Momus onely has
the priviledge of speaking at length.
And therefore, according to Homer’s example,
I think it high time to leave the Gods to them¬
selves, and look down a little on the Earth;
wherein likewise you’ll find nothing frolick or
fortunate, that it ows not to me. So provident
has that great Parent of Mankind, Nature, been,
that there should not be any thing without it’s