Original artwork, not a still
To the Imitator of the First Satire of Horace
Satire should, like a polished razor keen, Wound with a touch that 's scarcely felt or seen.
Behind the line
What it means
Our interpretation.
Montagu compares effective satire with a finely sharpened razor: its touch should seem slight while its criticism still cuts. The image describes precision in writing, not a recommendation to injure someone physically.
Sources (1)
- Bartlett, Familiar Quotations (1891)Lady Mary Wortley Montagu, To the Imitator of the First Satire of Horace, Book IIReference checked
Context reviewed
