ALL men and things they know, themselves unknown,
And publish ev'ry name — except their own.
Nor think this strange — secure from vulgar eyes
The nameless author passes in disguise.
But vet'ran critics are not so deceiv'd,
If vet'ran critics are to be believ'd.
Once seen they know an author evermore,
Nay swear to hands they never saw before.
Thus in the ROSCIAD, beyond chance or doubt,
They, by the writing, found the writers out.
"That's LLOYD's — his manner there you plainly trace,
"And all the ACTOR stares you in the face.
"By COLMAN that was written. — On my life,
"The strongest symptoms of the JEALOUS WIFE.
"That little disingenuous piece of spite,
"CHURCHILL, a wretch unknown, perhaps might write. "
How doth it make judicious readers smile,
When authors are detected by their stile:
Tho' ev'ry one who knows this author, knows
He shifts his stile much oftner than his cloaths?