But verse, alas! your majesty disdains; 405 The zeal of fools offends at any time, And, most of all, the zeal of fools in rhyme. That when I aim at praise, they say 31 bite. A vile 4encomium doubly ridicules: 410 There's nothing blackens like the ink of fools. 415 (Like 'journals, odes, and such forgotten things, As Eusden, Philips, Settle, writ of kings) Clothe spice, line trunks, or flutt'ring in a row, 419 Si, quantum cuperem, possem quoque; sed neque par- Nec prave factis decorari versibus opto: IMITATED. DEAR Col'nel, Cobham's and your country's friend! You love a verse; take such as I can send. 'A Frenchman comes, presents you with his boy, Bows and begins---" This lad, sir, is of Blois : "Observe his shape how clean! his locks how curl'd! "My only son, I'd have him see the world: "His French is pure; his voice too---you shall hear : Sir, he's your slave for twenty pound a-year. "Mere wax as yet, you fashion him with ease, "Your barber, cook, upholst'rer; what you please: "A perfect genius at an op'ra song-- "To say too much might do my honour wrong. II HOR. LIB. II. EPIST. II. FLORE, bono claroque fidelis amice Neroni, Si quis forte velit puerum tibi vendere natum Tibure vel Gabiis, et tecum sic agat: "Hic et "Candidus, et talos a vertice pulcher ad imos; "Fiet eritque tuus nummorum millibus octo; "Verna ministeriis ad nutus aptus heriles; "Literulis Græcis imbutus, idoneus arti "Cuilibet: argilla quidvis imitaberis uda : "Quin etiam canet indoctum, sed dulce bibenti. "Multa fidem promissa levant, ubi plenius æquo "Take him with all his virtues, on my word; If, after this, you took the graceless lad, 2Consider then, and judge me in this light; 15 20 25 30 "Laudat venales, qui vult extrudere, merces. "Res urget me nulla:---semel hic cessavit; et (ut fit) "In scalis latuit metuens pendentis habenæ. "Des nummos, excepta nihil te si fuga lædat." Ille ferat pretium, pœnæ securus, opinor. Prudens emisti vitiosum; dicta tibi est lex; Insequeris tamen hunc, et lite moraris iniqua? 2Dixi me pigrum proficiscenti tibi; dixi Talibus officiis prope mancum: ne mea sævus Jurgares ad te quod epistola nulla veniret. Quid tum profeci, mecum facientia jura Nay, worse, to ask for verse at such a time! D'ye think me good for nothing but to rhyme? In Anna's wars, a soldier, poor, and old, 35 40 Prodigious well!" his great commander cry'd, Gave him much praise, and some reward beside. Next pleas'd his Excellence a town to batter; (Its name I know not, and 'tis no great matter) "Go on, my friend," he cry'd, see yonder walls! "Advance and conquer! go where glory calls! 66 Si tamen attentas? quæreris super hoc etiam, quod Expectata tibi non mittam carmina mendax? Luculli miles collecta viatica, multis Ærumnis lassus dum noctu stertit, ad assem : 45 Perdiderat post hoc vehemens lupus, et sibi et hosti Præsidium regale loco dejecit, ut aiunt, "More honours, more rewards, attend the brave." 50 The better art, to know the good from bad; 55 (And little sure imported to remove, To hunt for truth in Maudlin's learned grove.) But knottier points we knew not half so well, And certain laws, by suff'rers thought unjust, 60 Deny'd all posts of profit, or of trust; Hopes after hopes of pious Papists fail'd, While mighty William's thund'ring arm prevail'd. Verbis, quæ timido quoque possent addere mentem. |