COBHAM'S a Coward, POLWARTH is a Slave, 130 But pray, when others praise him, do I blame? 135 Call Verres, Wolfey, any odious name? NOTES. 141 VER. 130. Polwarth.] The Hon. Hugh Hume, Son of Alexander Earl of Marchmont, Grandfon of Patric Earl of Marchmont, and diftinguished, like them, in the cause of Liberty. P. VER. 136. do I blame? Call Verres, Wolfey, any odious name?] The Leaders of Parties, be they as florid as they will, generally do their business by compendium: A fingle rule of Rhetoric, which they may have learnt of Quintilian, or perhaps of a much older Sophift, does their bufinefs, Si nibil, quod nos adjuvet, erit, quæramus quid Adverfarium lædat. SCRIB. VER. 141. When Paxton gives him double pots and pay,] If this band of Penfioners were fo offenfive while embodied Sure, if I fpare the Minister, no rules 146 Of Honour bind me, not to maul his Tools; Sure, if they cannot cut, it may be faid His Saws are toothless, and his Hatchets Lead. It anger'd TURENNE, once upon a day, 150 To see a Footman kick'd that took his pay: But when he heard th' Affront the Fellow gave, The prudent Gen'ral turn'd it to a jeft, And begg'd, he'd take the pains to kick the reft: 155 Which not at prefent having time to do-- F. Hold Sir! for God's-fake where's th' Affront to you? Against your worship when had S---k writ ? What's that to you who ne'er was out nor in? NOTES. 160 and under difcipline, what muft we think of their diforders fince they were disbanded and become free-booters ? No virtue nor merit hath escaped them. They have made a great City in the South, too much resemble another in the North, where the products of night and darkness are discharged from Garrets on every honeft man that comes within their reach. VER. 160. the Bard] A verfe taken out of a poem to Sir R. W. P. 165 The Prieft whofe Flattery be-dropt the Crown, If one, thro' Nature's Bounty or his Lord's, F. This filthy fimile, this beastly line ; 171 175 180 P. So does Flatt'ry mine; And all your courtly Civet-cats can vent, Perfume to you, to me is Excrement. NOTES. VER. 164. The Priest etc.] Spoken not of any particular prieft, but of many priests. P. VER. 166. And how did, etc.] This feems to allude to a complaint made 71. of the preceding Dialogue, P. But hear me further Japhet, 'tis agreed, 185 190 Writ not, and Chartres fcarce could write or read, 195 Th' Affront is mine, my friend, and fhould be yours. Mine, as a Foe profefs'd to falfe Pretence, Who think a Coxcomb's Honour like his Senfe; Mine, as a Friend to ev'ry worthy mind; VARIATIONS. VER. 185. in the MS. I grant it, Sir; and further, 'tis agreed, NOTES. 201 VER. 185. Japhet - Chartres] See the Epiftle to Lord Bathurst. P. VER. 204. And mine as Man, who feel for all mankind.” Man, * S F. You're strangely proud P. So proud, I am no Slave: So impudent, I own myfelf no Knave: So odd, my Country's Ruin makes me grave. Yes, I am proud; I must be proud to see Men not afraid of God, afraid of me: 206 Safe from the Bar, the Pulpit, and the Throne, 210 Yet touch'd and sham'd by Ridicule alone. O facred weapon! left for Truth's defence, Sole Dread of Folly, Vice, and Infolence ! To all but Heav'n-directed hands deny'd, The Muse may give thee, but the Gods muft guide: NOTES. From Terence: "Homo fum: humani nihil a me alienum puto." P. VER. 208. Yes, I am proud; etc.] In this ironical exultation the Poet infinuates a fubject of the deepest humiliation, VER. 211. Yet touch'd and sham'd by Ridicule alone.] The Paffions are given us to awake and fupport Virtue. But they frequently betray their truft, and go over to the interefts of Vice. Ridicule, when employed in the cause of Virtue, fhames and brings them back to their duty. Hence the ufe and importance of Satire. VER. 214. To all but Heav'n-directed bands] "The "Citizen (fays Plato, in his fifth book of Laws) who does "no injury to any one, without question, merits our ef teem. He, who, not content with being barely just "himself, opposes the course of injuftice, by profecuting "it before the Magiftrate, merits our esteem vaftly more. The firft difcharges the duty of a fingle Citizen; but "the other does the office of a Body. But he whofe zeal ftops not here, but proceeds to ASSIST THE MAGISTRATE |