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Pleas'd let me own, in Eher's peaceful Grove
(Where Kent and Nature vye for PELHAM'S Love)
The Scene, the Mafter, opening to my view,
I fit and dream I fee my CRAGGS anew!

Ev'n in a Bishop I can spy Defert;
Secker is decent, Rundel has a Heart,
Manners with Candour are to Benson giv'n,
To Berkley, ev'ry Virtue under Heav'n.

But does the Court a worthy Man remove? That inftant, 1 declare, he has

my Love: I fhun his Zenith, court his mild Decline; Thus SOMMERS once, and HALIFAX, were mine.

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whose personal attachments to the king appeared from his steady adherence to the royal intereft, after his refignation of his great employment of Master of the Horse; and whose known honour and virtue made him efteemed by all parties.

VER, 66. Eber's peaceful Grove,] The house and gardens of Efher in Surry, belonging to the Honourable Mr. Pelham, Brother of the Duke of Newcattle. The author could not have given a more amiable idea of his Character than in comparing him to Mr. Craggs.

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VER. 74. But does the Court a worthy Man remove?] The poet means, remove him for his worth not that he esteemed the being in or out a proof either of corruption, or virtue. I "had a glympfe of a letter of yours lately (fays he to Dr. Swift) "by which I find you are, like the vulgar, apter to think well of "people out of power, than of people in power. Perhaps 'tis

a mistake; but, however, there is something in it generous.” Lett. xvii. Sept. 3, 1725.

VER. 77. Sommers] John Lord Sommers died in 1716. He had been Lord Keeper in the reign of William III. who took from him the feals in 1700. The author had the honour of knowing him in 1705. A faithful, able, and incorrupt minifter;

Oft, in the clear, ftill Mirrour of Retreat,

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I ftudy'd SHREWSBURY, the wife and great:
CARLETON'S calm Senfe, and STANHOPE'S noble
Flame,
"Compar'd, and knew their gen'rous End the fame:
How pleasing ATTERBURY's fofter hour!

How fhin'd the Soul, unconquer'd in the Tow'r!
How can I PULT'NEY, CHESTERFIELD forget,
While Roman Spirit charms, and Attic Wit :
ARGYLL, the State's whole Thunder born to wield,
And shake alike the Senate and the Field:
Or WYNDHAM, just to Freedom and the Throne,
The Master of our Paffions, and his own.

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who, to the qualities of a confummate ftatesman, added thofe of a man of Learning and Politeness.

VER. 77. Halifax] A peer, no less distinguished by his love of letters than his abilities in Parliament. He was difgraced in 1710, on the change of Queen Anne's ministry.

VER. 79. Shrewsbury,] Charles Talbot, Duke of Shrewsbury, had been Secretary of State, Embassador in France, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Lord Chamberlain, and Lord Treasurer. He feveral times quitted his employments, and was often recalled, He died in 1718.

VER. 80. Carleton.] Hen. Boyle, Lord Carleton (nephew of the famous Robert Boyle) who was Secretary of state under William III. and President of the council under Q. Anne.

Ibid. Stanhope] James Earl Stanhope. A Nobleman of equal courage, fpirit, and learning. General in Spain, and Secretary

of state.

VER. 88. Wyndham ] Sir William Wyndham, Chancellor of the Exchequer under Queen Anne, made early a confiderable figure; but fince a much greater both by his ability and eloquence, joined with the utmost judgment and temper.

Names, which I long have lov'd, nor lov'd in vain, Rank'd with their Friends, not number'd with their

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And if yet higher the proud Lift fhould end,
Still let me fay! No Follower, but a Friend.
Yet think not, Friendship only prompts my lays;
I follow Virtue; where the fhines, I praife:
Point she to Prieft or Elder, Whig or Tory,
Or round a Quaker's Beaver, caft a Glory.
I never (to my forrow I declare)

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Din'd with the Man of Ross, or my LORD MAYʼR. Some, in their choice of Friends (nay, look not grave) Have ftill a fecret Byafs to a Knave:

To find an honeft man I beat about,

And love him, court him, praise him, in or out.
F. Then why fo few commended?

Find

P. Not fo fierce ;

you the Virtue, and I'll find the Verfe.

But random Praise---the task can ne'er be done;

Each Mother asks it for her booby Son,
Each Widow afks it for the Best of Men,

For him the weeps, and him the weds agen.

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Praise cannot ftoop, like Satire, to the ground; 110
The Number may be hang'd, but not be crown'd.
Enough for half the Greatest of thefe days,

To 'scape my Cenfure, not expect my Praife,
Are they not rich? what more can they pretend?

Dial. II. What RICHELIEU wanted, Louis fcarce could gain, And what young AMMON wish'd, but wish'd in vain. No Pow'r the Mufe's Friendship can command; No Pow'r, when Virtue claims it, can withstand: To Cato, Virgil pay'd one honeft line;

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O let my Country's Friends illumin mine! ---What are you thinking? F. Faith the thought's no fin,

I think

your Friends are out, and would be in.
P. If merely to come in, Sir, they go out,
The way they take is ftrangely round about.
F. They too may be corrupted, you'll allow !
P. I only call thofe Knaves who are so now.
Is that too little? Come then, I'll comply----
Spirit of Arnall! aid me while I lie.

COBHAM'S a Coward, POLWARTH is a Slave,
And LYTTELTON a dark, defigning Knave,
ST. JOHN has ever been a wealthy Fool----
But let me add, Sir ROBERT's mighty dull,
Has never made a Friend in private life,
And was, befides, a Tyrant to his Wife.

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But, pray, when others praise him, do I blame?

Call Verres, Wolfey, any odious name?

VER. 129. Spirit of Arnall!] Look for him in his place. Dunc. B. ii. ver. 315.

VER. 130. Polwarth.] The Hon. Hugh Hume, Son of Alexander Earl of Marchmont, Grandfon of Patric Earl of March. mont, and diftinguished like them, in the cause of Liberty.

Why rail they then, if but a Wreath of mine,
Oh All-accomplish'd ST. JOHN! deck thy fhrine?
What? shall each spurgall'd Hackney of the day,
When Paxton gives him double Pots and Pay, 141.
Or each new-penfion'd Sycophant, pretend
To break my Windows if I treat a Friend?
Then wifely plead, to me they meant no hurt,
But 'twas my Gueft at whom they threw the dirt?
Sure, if I fpare the Minifter, no rules

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Of Honour bind me, not to maul his Tools;
Sure, if they cannot cut, it may be faid

His Saws are toothless, and his Hatchet's Lead.
It anger'd TURENNE, once upon a day,

To fee a Footman kick'd that took his pay:
But when he heard th' Affront the Fellow gave,
Knew one a Man of honour, one a Knave;
The prudent Gen'ral turn'd it to a jeft,

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And begg'd, he'd take the pains to kick the reft: 155 Which not at present 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?
Or P-ge pour'd forth the Torrent of Wit?
Or grant the Bard whose distich all commend
[In Pow'r a Servant, out of Pow'r a friend]

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VER. 160. the Bard] A verfe taken out of a poem to Sir R. W.

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