Page:Satire in the Victorian novel (IA satireinvictoria00russrich).pdf/58



"Satirists have met with much ignorant and invidious depreciation, as though a talent for ridicule was necessarily the index of an unkindly nature. The truth is just the reverse."

Discrimination as to objects of satire has reference not to their nature, as foolish, vicious, deceitful, but to their legitimacy as objects. It is a matter of taste and justice on the part of the satirist.

The first definite reproof of heedlessness on this score is given in the memorial tribute to Pope:

"Dart not on Folly an indignant eye: Whoe'er discharged artillery on a fly? Deride not Vice: absurd the thought and vain, To bind the tyger in so weak a chain.

The Muse's labour then success shall crown, When Folly feels her smile, and Vice her frown.

Let then her proper object know, And ere she strikes, be sure she strikes a foe. Nor fondly deem the real fool confest, Because blind Ridicule conceives a jest."

Another critic of that time utters a similar caution: