Pleas`d let me own, in Esher's peaceful Grove
(Where Kent and Nature vye for Pelham's Love)
The Scene, the Master, opening to my view,
I fit and dream I see my Cragos anew!
Ev’n in a Bishop I can spy Desert;

70
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 instant, I declare, he has my

Love:

7: I fun his Zenith, court his mild Decline; Thus Sommers once, and Halifax, were mine.

whose personal attachments to the king appeared from his steady adherence to the royal interest, after his resignation of his great employment of Master of the Horse; and whose known honour and virtue made him eft med by all parties,

VER, 66. Ejbser's peaceful Grove,] The house and gardens of Esher in Surry, belonging to the Honourable Mr. Pelbam, Brother of the Duke of Newcaftle. The author could not have given a more amiable idea of his Character than in comparing bim to Mr. Craggs.

VER. 74. But does the Court a wortby Man remove?] The poet means, remove him for his wortb : not that he esteemed the being in or out a proof either of corruption, or virtue. “I “ had a glympse of a letter of yours lately (says he to Dr. Swift) « by which I find you are, like the vulgar, apter to think well of “ pecple out of power, than of people in power. Perhaps ’tis on 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 seals in 1700. The author had the honour of knowing him in 1705. A faithful, able, and incorrupt minifter;

3

Oft, in the clear, fill Mirror of Retreat,
I ftudy'd SHREWSBURY, the wife and great:
CARLETON's calm Sense, and STANHOPE's noble
Flame,

80
Compard, and knew their gen'roos End the fame :
How pleasing ATTERBURY's fofter hour!
How shind the Soul, unconquer'd in the Tow'r!
How can I PULT'NEY, CHESTERFIELD forget,
While Roman Spirit charms, and Artic Wit : 85
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 Passions, and his own.

who, to the qualities of a consummate ftatesman, added those 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 disgraced 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 several times quitted his employments, and was often recalled, He died in 1718.

VER. 80. Warleion.] Hen. „Boyle, Lord Carleton (nephew of "the famous Robert Boyle) who was Secretary of State under William Ill. 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. Wandhan ] Sir William Wyndham, Chancellor of the Exchequer under Queen Anne, made early a confiderable figure; but since a much greater both by his ability and eloquence, joined with the utmost judgment and temper.

101

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

91
And if yet higher the proud Lift should end,
'Still let me fay! No Follower, but a Friend.

Yet think not, "Friendship only prompts my lays;
I 'follow Virtue; where the fines, I praíse: 95
Point she to Priest or Elder, Whig or Tory,
Or round a Quaker's Beaver, cast a Glory.
I never (to my forrow I declare)
Din'd with the Man of Ross, or my LORD MAY'R.
Some, in their choice of Friends (nay, look not grave)
Have still a secret Byass to a Knäve:
To find an honest man I beat about,
And love him, court him, praise him, in or out.
F. Then why so few commended ?

P. Not so fierce ;
Find you the Virtue, and I'll find the Verse.

105
But random Praise----the tak can ne'er be done ;
Each Mother aks it for her booby Son,
Each Widow asks it for the Best of Men,
For him the weeps, and him the weds agen.
Praise cannot stoop, like Satire, to the ground; 110
The Number may be hang'd, but not be crown'd.
Enough for half the Greatest of these days,
To 'scape my Cenfure, not expect my Praife,
Are they nọt rich? what more can they pretend?
Dare they to hope-a: Poet for their Friend? IIS

1

I 20

What Richelieu wanted, Louis scarce could gain,
And what young Ammon wish'd, but wish'd in vain.
No Pow'r the Muse's Friendship can command;
No Pow'r, when Virtue claims it, can withstand:
To Cato, Virgil pay'd one honest line ;
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 strangely round about.

125
F. They too may be corrupted, you'll allow !
P. I only call those 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, 130
And Lyttelton a dark, designing 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, besides, a Tyrant to his Wife.

But, pray, when others praise him, do I blame?
Call Verres, Wolsey, any odious name?

135

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

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

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146

E Why rail they then, if but a Wreath of mine,
Oh All-accomplish'd St. John ! deck thy shrine ?

What? shall each spurgalld Hackney of the day,
When Paxton gives him double Pots and Pay, 141.
Or each new-pension'd Sycophant, pretend
To break

my

Windows if I treat a Friend?
Then wisely plead, to me they meant no hurt,
But 'twas my Guest at whom they threw the dirt ?
Sure, if I spare the Minister, no rules
Of Honour bind me, not to maul his Tools;
Sure, if they cannot cut, it may be said
His Saws are toothless, and his Hatchet's 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 gawe, .
Knew one a Man of honour, one a Knave;
The prudent Gen'ral turn'd it to a jeft,
And begg’d, he'd take the pains to kick the rest : 155
Which not at present having time to do-
F. Hold Sir! for God's-sake 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 diftich all commend 160
[In Pow'r a Servant, out of Pow'r a friend)

Ver. 160. the Bard] A verse taken out of a poem to Sir
R. W.
VOL. IV.

R