in joining together Parts incoherent, or too minutely resembling, or in the Repetition of the fame too frequently, ver. 105, &c. A word or two of falfe Taste in Books, in Mufic, in Painting, even in Preaching and Prayer, and lastly in Entertainments, ver. 133, &c. Yet PROVIDENCE is juftified in giving Wealth to be squandered in this manner, fince it is difperfed to the Poor and Laborious part of mankind, ver. 169. [recurring to what is laid down in the first Book, Ep. ii. and in the Epiftle preceding this, ver. 159, &c.] What are the proper Objects of Magnificence, and a proper field for the Expence of Great Men, ver. 177, &c. and finally the Great and Public Works which become a Prince, ver. 191, to the end. EPISTLE IV. THE extremes of Avarice and Profufion being treated of in the foregoing Epiftle; this takes up one particular branch of the latter, the Vanity of Expence in people of wealth and quality; and is therefore a corollary to the preceding, juft as the epistle on the Characters of Women is to that of the Knowledge and Characters of Men. It is equally remarkable for exactness of method with the reft. But the nature of the fubject, which is lefs philofophical, makes it capable. of being analyzed in a much narrower compass. 'T IS ftrange, the Mifer fhould his Cares employ To gain those riches he can ne'er enjoy : Is it lefs ftrange, the Prodigal should waste His wealth, to purchase what he ne'er can taste? Not for himself he fees, or hears, or eats; Artifts muft chufe his Pictures, Mufic, Meats: He buys for Topham Drawings and Defigns; For Pembroke Statues, dirty Gods, and Coins; Rare monkish Manufcripts for Hearne alone, And Books for Mead, and Butterflies for Sloane. Think we all thefe are for himself? no more Than his fine Wife, alas! or finer Whore. For what has Virro painted, built, and planted? Only to fhew, how many taftes he wanted. What brought Sir Visto's ill-got wealth to waste? Some Dæmon whisper'd, "Vifto! have a Taste." 5 IQ 15 Heaven Heaven vifits with a Taste the wealthy Fool, Who random drawings from your sheets fhall take, 1 That, lac'd with bits of ruftic, makes a Front. 20 25 30 35 40 Some VARIATION. After ver. 22. in the MS. Muft Bishops, Lawyers, Statesmen, have the skill' To build, to plant, judge paintings, what you will? Then why not Kent as well our treaties draw, Bridgman explain the Gofpel, Gibbs the Law? Something there is more needful than Expence, To build, to plant, whatever you intend, But treat the Goddess like a modest fair, 45 50 He gains all points, who pleasingly confounds, 55 Surprizes, varies, and conceals the Bounds. Confult the Genius of the Place in all; Without Without it, proud Verfailles! thy glory falls: And Nero's Terraces defert their walls: The vaft Parterres a thousand hands fhall make, 80 Nor in an Hermitage fet Dr. Clarke. With filver-quivering rills mæander'd o'er 85 Enjoy them, you! Villario can no more; Tir'd of the fcene Parterres and Fountains yield. 90 Through his young Woods how pleas'd Sabinus ftray'd, Or fate delighted in the thickening fhade, With annual joy the reddening shoots to greet, Or fee the ftretching branches long to meet! His Son's fine Taste an opener Vista loves, Foe to the Dryads of his Father's groves; One boundless Green, or flourish'd Carpet views, With all the mournful family of Yews : The thriving plants ignoble broomsticks made, Now sweep thofe Alleys they were born to shade. At Timon's Villa let us pass a day, Where all cry out, "What fums are thrown away!" 95 So |