From furious Sappho scarce a milder fate, Its proper pow'r to hurt, each creature feels; 85 So drink with Walters, or with Chartres eat, 90 Then, learned Sir! (to cut the matter short) Like Lee or Budgel, I will rhyme and print. 95 100 F. Alas, young man! your days can ne'er be long; In flow'r of age you perish for a song! Plums and directors, Shylock and his wife, Will club their testers, now, to take life! your P. What? arm'd for virtue when I point the pen, Brand the bold front of shameless guilty men; 106 Dash the proud gamester in his gilded car; Bare the mean heart that lurks beneath a star ; Can VER. 100. Like Lee or Budgel,] Lee, the dramatic writer, a true genius, is here coupled with Budgel. Can there be wanting, to defend her cause, Unplac'd, unpension'd, no man's heir, or slave? I will, or perish in the gen'rous cause: Hear this, and tremble! you, who 'scape the laws. Yes, while I live, no rich or noble knave Shall walk the world, in credit, to his grave. 120 125 TO VIRTUE ONLY and HER FRIENDS A FRIEND, 131 Envy VER. 129. And HE, whose lightning, &c.] Charles Mordaunt Earl of Peterborow, who in the year 1705 took Barcelona, and in the winter following, with only 280 horse and 900 foot, enterprised and accomplished the conquest of Valentia. Envy must 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, Fond to spread friendships, but to cover heats; 136 To help who want, to forward who excel; This all who know me, know; who love me, tell; See Libels, Satires-here you have it read. 140 145 P. Libels and Satires! lawless things indeed! 150 But grave epistles, bringing vice to light, Such as a king might read, a bishop write. F. Indeed? The case is alter'd-you may then proceed; 155 THE SECOND SATIRE OF THE SECOND BOOK OF HORACE. TO MR. BETHEL. WHAT, and how great, the virtue and the art (A doctrine sage, but truly none of mine;) 5 ΙΟ Hear BETHEL's sermon, one not vers'd in schools, But strong in sense, and wise without the rules. Go work, hunt, exercise! (he thus began,) Then scorn a homely dinner, if you can. Your wine lock'd up, your butler stroll❜d abroad, Or fish deny'd, (the river yet unthaw'd,) If then plain bread and milk will do the feat, 15 The pleasure lies in you, and not the meat. Preach as I please, I doubt our curious men Will choose a pheasant still before a hen; Yet VER. 9. BETHEL] The same to whom several of Mr. Pope's Letters are addressed. |