Page:Monsieur Bossu's Treatise of the epick poem - Le Bossu (1695).djvu/316

 Men, but only to shew, with what Exactness, and with what Caution, their Works must be read, when they treat of any thing so obscure and so ancient.

I have made appear what was the ancient Satyr, that was made for the Theatre: I have shewn, that that gave the Idea of the Satyr of Ennius: and, in fine, I have sufficiently prov'd, that the Satyrs of Ennius and Pacuvius, of Lucilius and Horace, are but one kind of Poem, which has received its Perfection from the last. 'Tis time now to speak of the second kind of Satyr, which I promised to explain, and which is also derived from the ancient Satyr: 'Tis that which we call Varronian, or the Satyr of Menippus the Cinick Philosopher.

This Satyr was not only composed of several sorts of Verse, but Varro added Prose to it, and made a Mixture of Greek and Latin. Quinctilian, after he had spoke of the Satyr of Lucitius, adds, Alterum illud est, & prius Satyrae genus, quod non sola Carminum varietate mistum condidit Terentius Varro, vir Romanorum eruditissimus. The only Difficulty of this Passage is, that Quinctilian assures us, that this Satyr of Varro was the first; for how could that be, since Varro was a great while after Lucilius? Quinctilian meant not that the Satyr of Varro was the first in order of Time; for he knew well enough, that in that respect he was the last: But he would give us to understand, that this kind of Satyr, so mix'd, was more like the Satyr of Ennius and Pacuvius, who gave themselves a greater Liberty in this Composition than Lucilius, who was more severe and correct.

We have now only some Fragments left of the Satyr of Varro, and those generally very imperfect; the Titles, which are most commonly double, shew the great Variety of Subjects, of which Varro treated.

Seneca's Book on the Death of Claudius, Boetius his Consolation of Philosophy, and that of Petronius Arbiter, are Satyrs entirely like those of Varro.

This is what I have in general to say on Satyr; nor is it necessary I insist any more on this Subject. This the Reader may observe, that the Name of Satyr in Latin, is not less proper for Discourses that recommend Virtue, than to those which are design'd against Vice. It had nothing so formidable in it as it has now, when a bare Mention of Satyr makes them tremble, who would fain seem what they are not; for Satyr, with us, signifies the same Thing, as exposing or lashing of some Thing or Person: yet this different Acceptation alters not the Word, which is always the same; but the Latins, in the Titles of their Books, have often had regard only to the Word, in the Extent of its Signification, founded on its Etymology, whereas we have had respect only to the first and general Use, which has been made of it in the beginning, to