Epilogue to the Satires
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The "Epilogue to the Satires" is a pair of poems by Alexander Pope, published in 1738. These works serve as Pope's defense of his career and character as a satirist. In them, Pope adapts themes from the Roman poet Horace, addressing contemporary social and political issues.12
Pope argues that his satire is a necessary response to prevailing corruption and materialistic values, particularly among the ruling Whig party. He defends his practice of criticizing offenders, sometimes anonymously, as a means of upholding traditional standards of temperate living against a backdrop of moral decay. The poems blend personal defense with a restatement of the satirist's traditional apology.1
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