P. Each mortal has his pleasure: none deny. The doubling luftres dance as faft as fhe; 45 50 As downright SHIPPEN, or as old Montagne *: The foul ftood forth, nor kept a thought within; Is vice too high, reserve it for the next: 55 60 My head and heart thus flowing thro' my quill, While Tories call me Whig, and Whigs a Tory. Thieves, fupercargoes, fharpers and directors. Swords, pikes, and guns, with everlasting ruft! * 65 They had this, indeed, in common, to use great liberties of speech, and to profefs faying what they thought. Montagne had many qualities, that had gained him the love and esteem of his readers: the other had one, which always gained him the favourable attention of his hearers. For as a celebrated Roman orator observes, “ Maledicit INERUDITUS apertius et fæpius, ‹ cum periculo etiam fuo. Affert et ista res OPINIONEM, quia libentiffime "homines audiunt ea quæ dicere ipfi noluiffent." †The names, at that time, ufually bestowed on those whom the trading companies fent with their ships, and entrusted with their concerns abroad. Peace Peace is my dear delight—not FLEURY's more: 75 Then, learned Sir! (to cut the matter short) F. Alas young man! your days can ne'er be long, Plums and directors, Shylock and his wife, Will club their tefters, now, to take your life! 80 85 90 95 ICO. P. What? arm'd for virtue when I point the pen, 105 Brand the bold front of fhameless guilty men: Dash the proud gamefter in his gilded car ; 110 Could Could Laureate Dryden * Pimp and Fry'r engage, 115 Unplac'd, unpenfion'd, no man's heir or flave? I will, or perish in the gen'rous cause: Hear this and tremble! you, who 'scape the laws. Shall walk the world, in credit, to his grave. 120 To VIRTUE ONLY and HER FRIENDS A FRIEND. 125 And HE, whofe lightning pierc'd th' Iberian lines, § Now forms my quincunx, and now ranks my vines, 130 Or tames the genius of the stubborn plain, Almoft as quickly as he conquer'd Spain. Envy muft own, I live among the great, No pimp of pleasure, and no spy of state, With eyes that pry not, tongue that ne'er repeats, 135 Fond to fpread friendfhips, but to cover heats; To help who want, to forward who excel; This, all who know me know; who love me, tell; 140 It was Horace's purpose to compliment the former times, and there. fore he gives the virtuous examples of Scipio and Lælius; it was Mr. Pope's to fatirize the prefent, and therefore he gives the vicious examples of Louis, Charles and James. Either way the instances are equally pertinent; but in the latter, they have rather greater force. Only the line, Uni æquus virtuti atque ejus amicis, lofes fomething of its spirit in the imitation; for the amici, referred to, were Scipio and Lælius. § Charles Mordaunt, earl of Peterborow, who in the year 1705 took Barcelona, and in the winter following, with only 280 horfe and 900 foot, enterprized and accomplished the conqueft of Valentia, This This is my plea, on this I reft my cause- F. Your plea is good; but ftill I fay, beware! P. Libels and Satires! lawless things indeed! F. Indeed! § The cafe is alter'd-you may then proceed; 145 150 155 * A great French lawyer explains this matter very truly. "L'Ariftocra"tie eft le Gouvernement qui profcrit les plus les Ouvrages fatiriques. Les Magistrats y font de petits fouverains, qui ne font pas affez grands pour meprifer les injures. Si dans la Monarchie quelque trait va contre le Monarque, il eft fi haut que le trait n'arrive point jufqu' à lui; un Seigneur Aristocratique en eft percé de part en part. Auffi les Decemvirs, qui formoient une Ariftocratie punirent-ils de mort les Ecrits Satiriques." De L'Efprit des Loix, L. xii. c. 13. 66 66 Some critics tell us, it is want of taste to put this line in the mouth of Trebatius. But our poet confutes this cenfure, by fhewing how well the fenfe of it agrees to his friend's character.. The lawyer is cautious and fearful; but as foon as Sir ROBERT, the patron both of law and gospel, is named as approving them, he changes his note, and, in the language of old Plouden, owns, the cafe is altered. Now was it not as natural, when Horace had given a hint that Auguftus himself supported him, for Trebatius, a court advocate, who had been long a client to him and his uncle, to confess the cafe was altered. SA THE SECOND SATIRE of the SECOND BOOK O F HOR A CE. SATIRE II. To Mr. BE THE L. WHAT, and how great the virtue and the art To live on little with a chearful heart; (A doctrine fage, but truly none of mine) Not when a guilt buffet's reflected pride 5 Turns you from found philosophy afide; Not when from plate to plate your eye-balls roll, * Hear BETHEL's fermon, one not vers'd in schools, But ftrong in fenfe, and wife without the rules. Go work, hunt, exercife! (he thus began) If then plain bread and milk will do the feat, * The fame to whom several of Mr. Pope's Letters are addressed. VOL. II. E 15 |