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When this Heroics only deigns to praise,
Sharp Satire that, and that Pindaric lays?
One likes the Pheafant's wing, and one the leg;
The vulgar boil, the learned roaft an egg;
Hard task to hit the palate of such guests,
When Oldfield loves, what Dartineuf detefts.
But grant I may relapfe, for want of grace,
Again to rhime; can London be the place?
Who there his Muse, or self, or foul attends,

85

90

In crouds, and courts, law, bufinefs, feafts, and

friends?

My counsel fends to execute a deed:

A Poet begs me, I will hear him read:

In Palace-yard at nine you'll find me there—

At ten for certain, Sir, in Bloomfb'ry fquare- 95 Before the Lords at twelve my Cause comes on

There's a Rehearsal, Sir, exact at one.

"Oh but a Wit can study in the streets,
"And raise his mind above the mob he meets."
Not quite fo well however as one ought;

A hackney coach may chance to spoil a thought;
And then a nodding beam, or pig of lead,
God knows, may hurt the very ableft head.

NOTES.

100

as intimating that the demand for verfe is only a fpecies of luxury.

Triftia robuftis luctantur funera plauftris :

Hac rabiofa fugit canis, hac lutulenta ruit fus.

* I nunc, et verfus tecum meditare canoros.

Scriptorum chorus omnis amat nemus, et fugit urbes, Rite cliens Bacchi, fomno gaudentis et umbra.

Tu me inter ftrepitus nocturnos atque diurnos

Vis canere, et contracta fequi veftigia vatum ?

'Ingenium, fibi quod vacuas defumfit Athenas,

Et ftudiis annos feptem dedit, infenuitque

Libris et curis, statua taciturnius exit

Plerumque, et rifu populum quatit: hic ego rerum Fluctibus in mediis, et tempeftatibus urbis,

NOTES.

VER. 104. Have you not feen, etc.] The fatirical pleafantry of this image, and the humourous manner of reprefenting it, raifes the imitation, in this place, far above the original.

VER. 113. Would drink and doze, etc.] This has not the delicacy, or elegant ambiguity of,

Rite cliens Bacchi, fomno gaudentis et umbra..

Have you not feen, at Guild-hall's narrow pass,

Two Aldermen difpute it with an Afs?

And Peers give way, exalted as they are,
Ev'n to their own S-r-v--nce in a Car?

105

* Go, lofty Poet! and in fuch a croud,
Sing thy fonorous verfe- but not aloud.
Alas! to Grotto's and to Groves we run,
To ease and filence, ev'ry Mufe's fon
Blackmore himself, for any grand effort,

Would drink and doze at Tooting or Earl's-Court.
How fhall I rhime in this eternal roar?

110

How match the bards whom none e'er match'd before?
'The Man, who, ftretch'd in Ifis' calm retreat, 116
To books and study gives fev'n years compleat,
See! ftrow'd with learned duft, his night-cap on,
He walks, an object new beneath the fun!

The boys flock round him, and the people ftare:
So ftiff, fo mute! fome ftatue you would swear,
Stept from its pedestal to take the air!

}

And here, while town, and court, and city roars, With mobs, and duns, and foldiers, at their doors; NOTES.

where the intemperance of Poets is not the obvious, but the Secret meaning. For Bacchus was the patron of the Drama as well as of the Bottle; and fleep was courted for inspiration, as well as to relieve a debauch.

Ibid. Tooting-Earl's Court.] Two villages within a few miles of London.

P.

VER. 124. With mobs, and duns, and foldiers at their

Verba lyrae motura fonum connectere digner?

Frater erat Romae confulti rhetor; ut alter

Alterius fermone meros audiret honores :

Gracchus ut hic illi foret, huic ut Mucius ille.

Qui minus argutos vexat furor ifte poetas?

"Carmina compono, hic elegos; mirabile vifu, Caelatumque novem Musis opus. afpice primum, Quanto cum faftu, quanto molimine circum

fpectemus vacuam Romanis vatibus aedem.

Mox etiam (fi forte vacas) fequere, et procul audi, Quid ferat, et quare fibi nectat uterque coronam.

Caedimur, et totidem plagis confumimus hoftem,

NOTES.

doors;] The licence, luxury, and mutiny of an opulent city are not ill defcribed.

VER. 132. And shook his head at Murray, as a Wit.] It is the filly confolation of blockheads in all profeffions, that he, whom Nature has formed to excell, does it not by his fuperior knowledge, but his wit; and fo they keep themselves in countenance as not fairly outdone, but only out-witted.

Shall I, in London, act this idle part?
Compofing fongs, for Fools to get by heart?

The Temple late two brother Serjeants faw,

Who deem'd each other Oracles of Law;

With equal talents, these congenial fouls

125

One lull'd th' Exchequer, and one stunn'd the Rolls; Each had a gravity would make you split,

And shook his head at Murray, as a Wit.

131

" 'Twas, Sir, your law"--and "Sir, your eloquence" "Yours, Cowper's manner-and yours, Talbot's ❝ fenfe.

"Thus we difpofe of all poetic merit,

135

Yours Milton's genius, and mine Homer's fpirit.
Call Tibbald Shakespear, and he'll fwear the Nine,
Dear Cibber! never match'd one Ode of thine.
Lord! how we ftrut thro'. Merlin's Cave, to fee
No Poets there, but Stephen, you, and me.
Walk with respect behind, while we at ease
Weave laurel Crowns, and take what names we please.
My dear Tibullus!" if that will not do,

"Let me be Horace, and be Ovid you:

NOTES.

140

VBR. 139. Merlin's Cave,] In the Royal Gardens at Richmond. By this it fhould feem as if the collection of poetry, in that place, was not to our Author's tafte.

VER. 140. But Stephen] Mr. Stephen Duck, a modest and worthy man, who had the honour (which many, who thought themselves his betters in poetry, had not) of being esteemed by Mr. Pope.

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