That very Cæfar born in Scipio's days, COMMENTARY. 220 be VER. 222. In this one Paffion, &c.] But now it may objected to our philofophic Poet, that he has indeed fhewn the true means of coming to the knowledge and characters of men, by a Principle certain and infallible, when found; yet it is, by his own account, of fo difficult investigation, that its Counterfeit (and it is always attended with one) may be easily mistaken for it. To remove this difficulty, therefore, and confequently the objection that arifes from it, the Poet has given (from 221 to 228.) one certain and infallible criterion of the Ruling Paffion; which is this, that all the other paffions, in the course of time, change and wear away; while this is ever conftant and vigorous; and still going on from ftrength to ftrength, to the very moment of its demolishing the miferable machine which it has now at length, over-worked. Of this great truth, the Poet (from ver. 227 to the end) gives various inftances, in all the principal Ruling Paffions of our nature, as they are to be found in the Man of business, the Man of pleasure, the NOTES. VER. 223. As Fits give vigour, juft avhen they deftroy.] The fimilitude is extremely appofite; as most of the inftances he has afterwards given of the vigorous exertion of the Ruling Paffion in the last moments, are from such who had haftened their death by an immoderate indulgence of that paffion. Time, that on all things lays his lenient hand, And totter on in bus'ness to the laft; 225 As weak, as earnest; and as gravely out, 230 Behold a rev'rend fire, whom want of grace Has made the father of a nameless race, COMMENTARY. 235 Epicure, the Parfimonious, the Toaft, the Courtier, the Mifer, and the Patriot; which laft inftance, the Poet has had the art, under the appearance of fatire, to turn into the noblest compliment on the perfon to whom the epiftle is addreffed. NOTES. VER. 225.-It flicks to our laft fand.] " M. de Lagny "mourut le 12 Avril, 1734. Dans les derniers momens, ❝ ou il ne connoiffoit plus aucun de ceux qui etoient autour de fon lit, quelqu'un, pour faire une experience philofophique, s'avifa de lui demander quel étoit le ❝quarré de douze: Il repondit dans l'instant, et appare. ment fans favoir qu'il repondit, cent quarante quatre." Fontanelle, Eloge de M. de Lagny. 66 VER. 227. Here honeft Nature ends as he begins.] Human nature is here humorously called honeft, as the impulse of the ruling paffion (which the gives and cherishes) makes her more and more impatient of difguife. VER. 231. Lanefo'row] An ancient Nobleman, who con Still to his wench he crawls on knocking knees, 240 A falmon's belly, Helluo, was thy fate; The doctor call'd, declares all help too late: "Mercy! cries Helluo, mercy on my foul! "Is there no hope?-Alas!-then bring the jowl." The frugal Crone, whom praying priests attend, Still tries to fave the hallow'd taper's end, Collects her breath, as ebbing life retires, For one puff more, and in that puff expires. 245 "Odious! in woollen! 'twould a Saint provoke, (Were the laft words that poor Narciffa spoke) "No, let a charming Chintz, and Bruffels lace Wrap my cold limbs, and fhade my lifeless face: "One would not, fure, be frightful when one's dead"And-Betty—give this Cheek a little Red." 251 The Courtier smooth, who forty years had fhin'd An humble fervant to all human kind, NOTES. tinued this practice long after his legs were difabled by the gout. Upon the death of Prince George of Denmark, he demanded an audience of the Queen, to advise her to preserve her health and difpel her grief by Dancing. P. VER. 242. The frugal Crone,] A fact told him, by Lady Bol. of an old Countess at Paris. VER. 247. the last words that poor Narciffa fpoke] This ftory, as well as the others, is founded on fact, tho' the author had the goodness not to mention the names. Several attribute this in particular to a very celebrated Actress, who, in deteftation of the thought of being buried in woollen, gave these her laft orders with her dying breath. P. Juft brought out this, when scarce his tongue could ftir, "If where I'm going-I could ferve you, Sir?" 256 "I give and I devife (old Euclio said, And figh'd)" my lands and tenements to Ned. Your money, Sir?" My money, Sir, what all? "Why, if I must-(then wept) I give it Paul. "The Manor, Sir?" The Manor! hold, he cry'd, "Not that,—I cannot part with that”—and dy’d. And you! brave COBHAM, to the latest breath Shall feel your ruling paffion ftrong in death: Such in thofe moments as in all the past; "Oh, fave my Country, Heav'n!" fhall be your last. NOTES. VER. 255.] A Pawnbroker of Paris, in his last agonies, obferving that the Priest, as ufual, presented a little Silver Crucifix before his eyes, miftook it for a pawn; and had juft ftrength enough left to say, Alas! I can afford but a Small matter upon that. Q 3 MORAL ESSAYS. EPISTLE II. TO A LA D Y. Of the Characters of WOMEN. OTHING so true as what you once let fall, Matter too foft a lafting mark to bear, And beft diftinguish'd by black, brown, or fair. NOTES. Of the Characters of WOMEN ] There is nothing in Mr. Pope's works more highly finish'd, or written with greater fpirit, than this Epiftle: Yet its fuccefs was in no proportion to the pains he took in compofing it, or the effort of genius difplayed in adorning it. Something he chanced. to drop in a fhort advertisement prefixed to it, on its first publication, may perhaps account for the fmall attention the Public gave to it. He faid, that no one character in it was drawn from the Lift. They believed him on his word; and expreffed little curiofity about a fatire in which there was nothing perfonal. VER. 1. Nothing fo true, &c.] The reader perhaps may be disappointed to find that this epiftle, which propofes the |