35 To laugh, were want of goodness and of grace, With honeft anguish, and an aching head; And drop at last, but in unwilling ears, This faving counsel," Keep your piece nine years." 40 Nine years! cries he, who high in Drury-lane, Lull'd by foft Zephyrs through the broken pane, Rhymes ere he wakes, and prints before Term ends, Oblig'd by hunger, and requeft of friends: "The piece, you think, is incorrect? why take it, 45 "I'm all fubmiffion, what you'd have it, make it." Three things another's modest wishes bound, My Friendship, and a Prologue, and ten pound. Pitholeon fends to me: "You know his Grace: "I want a Patron; afk him for a Place." Pitholeon libel'd me-" but here's a letter "Informs you, Sir, 'twas when he knew no better. "Dare you refufe him? Curll invites to dine, "He'll write a Journal, or he'll turn Divine." Blefs me! a packet.-" 'Tis a stranger fues, "A Virgin Tragedy, an Orphan Mufe." If I dislike it, "Furies, death and rage!" If I approve, « Commend it to the Stage." 50 55 VARIATION. Ver. 53. in the MS. If you refufe, he goes, as fates incline, There There (thank my stars) my whole commiffion ends, 60 Fir'd that the house reject him, " 'Sdeath I'll print it, "And shame the fools-Your intereft, Sir, with Lintot." Lintot, dull rogue! will think your price too much : "Not, Sir, if you revise it, and retouch.” All my demurs but double his attacks: Do; and we go fnacks." At laft he whispers, " 'Tis fung, when Midas' ears began to spring, (Midas, a facred person and a King) His very Minifter, who fpy'd them first, (Some fay his Queen) was forc'd to speak, or burst. And is not mine, my friend, a forer case, When every coxcomb perks them in my face? 65 79 A. Good friend, forbear! you deal in dangerous things, The truth once told (and wherefore should we lie?) 8a You think this cruel? Take it for a rule, No creature fmarts fo little as a fool. Let peals of laughter, Codrus! round thee break, 85 Thou unconcern'd canst hear the mighty crack: Pít, VARIATION. Ver. 60. in the former Ed. Cibber and I are luckily no friends. Pit, box, and gallery, in convulfions hurl'd, 'The creature's at his dirty work again, Still to one Bishop Philips seem a wit? 90 95 100 Still Sappho-A. Hold; for God's fake-you'll offend, No names-be calm-learn prudence of a friend: I too could write, and I am twice as tall; But foes like thefe-P. One Flatterer's worse than all. Of all mad creatures, if the learn'd are right, It is the flaver kills, and not the bite. Alas! 'tis ten times worse when they repent. And ridicules beyond a hundred foes: VARIATION. Ver. 111. in the MS. For fong, for filence fome expect a bribe: 105 110 This This prints my Letters, that expects a bribe, 115 There are, who to my perfon pay their court: All that difgrac'd my Betters, met in me. I left no calling for this idle trade, No duty broke, no father difobey'd: 120 125 130 The VARIATIONS. Time, praife, or money, is the least they crave; After ver. 124. in the MS. But, friend, this shape, which You and Curll a admire, a Curll fet up his head for a fign. b His Father was crooked. His Mother was much afflicted with headachs. The Mufe but ferv'd to ease fome friend, not Wife, But why then publish? Granville the polite, And St. John's felf (great Dryden's friends before) 135 140 From these the world will judge of men and books, 145 150 I never answer'd, I was not in debt, If want provok'd, or madness made them print, 155 Did fome more fober Critic come abroad; 160 Commas |