And when it comes, the Court fee nothing in't. After ver. 2. in the MS. You don't, I hope, pretend to quit the trade, VER. 1. Not twice a twelve month, &c.] These two lines are from Horace; and the only lines that are fo in the whole Poem; being meant to give a handle to that which follows in the Character of an impertinent Cenfurer, 'Tis all from Horace ; &c, Decay of Parts, alas! we all must feel 5 Why now, this moment, don't I fee you fteal? But Horace, Sir, was delicate, was nice;' In rev'rend Bishops note fome small Neglects, Who cropt our Ears, and fent them to the King. Could please at Court, and make AUGUSTUS finile: His Friend and Shame, and was a kind of Screen. P. Sir, what I write, fhould be correctly writ. 21 VER. 14. B-ggins] Formerly Jaylor of the Fleet prifɔn, enrich'3 himself by many exactions, for which he was tried and expelled. VER. 18. Who cropt our Ears,] Said to be executed by the Captain of a Spanish fhip. on one Junkins, a Captain of an English one. He cut off his ears, and bid him carry them to the King his master. VFR. 22. Screen.] Omne vafer vitium ridenti Flaccus amico Perf But 'faith your very Friends will foon be fore: Patriots there are, who wish you'd jeft no more→ And where's the Glory! 'twill be only thought 25 The Great man never offer'd you a groat, Go fee Sir ROBERT P. See Sir ROBERT!-hum And never laugh-for all my life to come? Of Social Pleafore, ill-exchang'd for Pow'r ; He does not think me what he thinks mankind. 30 35 F. Why yes with Scripture ftill you may be free; A Horfe-laugh, if you pleafe, at Honefty; A Joke on JEKYL, or fome odd Old Whig Whom all Lord Chamberlains allow the Stage: 40 VER. 39. A Joke on Jekyl] Sir Jofeph Jekyl, Master of the Rolls, a true Whig in his principles, and a man of the utmost probity. He fometimes voted against the Court, which drew upon him the laugh here defèribed of ONE who bestowed it equally upon Rel gion and Honefty. He died a few months after the publication of this poem. If any ask you, "Who's the Man, fo near 45 "His Prince, that writes in Verfe, and has his ear?" Laugh at your friends, and if your Friends are fore, To Vice and Folly to confine the jest, Sets half the world, God knows, against the reft; At Senfe and Virtue, balance all agen. And charitably comfort Knave and Fool. P. Dear Sir, forgive the Prejudice of Youth: Adieu Distinction, Satire, Warmth, and Truth ? 50 54: 60 VER. 47. Why, answer, Lyttelton.] George Lyttelton, Secretary to the Prince of Wales, diftinguifhed both for his writings and speeches in the spirit of Liberty. VER. 51. Sejanus, Wolfey,] The one, the Wicked minifter of Tiberius: the other, of Henry VIII. The writers against the Court ufually beftowed thefe and other odious names on the Minifter, without diftinction, and in the most injurious See Dial. 11. ver. 137. manner. Ibid. Fleury,] Cardinal; and M'nifter to Louis XV. It was a Patriot-fashion, at that time, to cry up his wisdom and honesty. Come, harmless Characters that no one hit; 65 And all the well-whipt Cream of Courtly Senfe 70 That First was H-vy's, F-'s next, and then The S-te's, and then H-vy's once agen. O come, that easy Ciceronian style, So Latin, yet fo English all the while, As, tho' the pride of Middleton and Bland, 75 All Boys may read, and Girls may understand! Then might I fing, without the least offence, And all I fung fhould be the Nation's Sense; 80 No Gazetteer more innocent than I And let, a God's-name, ev'ry Fool and Knave 85 Be grac'd thro' Life, and flatter'd in his Grave. For Merit will by turns forfake them all; Would you know when? exactly when they fall. 90 VER. 66. Henly Osborn.] See them in their places in the Dunciad. |