UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
AT LOS ANGELES
THE
WORKS
O F
ALEXANDER POPE, Efq;
VOL II.
The LAST EDITION CORRECTED,
WITH
Explanatory NOTES and ADDITIONS
never before printed.
Speedily will be Publilhed,
The DUNG I AD,
In the fame Size and Letter with this
Volume, which makes a Third Vo-
lume of Mr. POPE'S Works.
THE
WORKS
O F
ALEXANDER POPE,
VOL. II.
L O N D N:
Printed for L, G i L L i v E R, 1735%
THE
AUTHOR to the READER.
AL L I had to fay of my Writings
is contained in my Preface to the
firft of thefe Volumes, printed for J. Ton-
fon, and B. Lmtot in quarto -and folio in
the year 1717: And all I have to fay of
Myjelf^\\\ be found in my laft Epiftle.
I have nothing to add, but that this
Volume and the abovemention'd con-
tain whatfoever I have defign'd for
the prefc; except my Tranilation of
the Iliad, with my Preface and Notes
of twelve Books of the Odyjfty with the
Pofifcript, (not the Notes) the Preface to
Shake/pear and a few Spectators and
Guardians. Whatever befides I have
written, or join'd in writing with Dr.
Swift, Dr. Arbutbmt, or Mr. Gay, (the
only perfons with whom I ever wrotein
' >n) ^ r p. ^ bp ^-':nd in * be four
V- :ellanics by us publim-
ed I think them too inconfiderable to
1 arated and reprinted here j never-
thelc ;ie of my faults may be
i: d LO another, I muft own, that
of the Profe-part, the Thoughts, on vari-
ous' Subjects at the end of the fecond vo-
lume, were wholly mine; and of the
V' ribs, the Happy Life of a Country
Parfon, the Alley in imitation of Spen-
fer, the Characters of Macer, Artimefia,
and Phryne, the Verfes to Mrs. M. B.
on her birth-day, and a few Epigrams.
It is but juftice to me to believe
that nothing more is mine, notwith-
ftanding all that hath been publim'd in
my Name, or added to my Mifcellanies
fmce 1717, by any Bookfeller whatfo-
ever.
A. POPE.
Jan. i, 1734.
ETHIC EPISTLES,
THE
FIRST BOOK,
T O
HENRY St. JOHN
L. BOLTNGBROKE.
Written in the Year 1732.
THE
DESIGN
HAVING propofed to. write fome pieces on Human
Life and Manners, fucb as ( to ufe my Lord Ba-
conV expreffion) come home to Men's bufinefs
and bofoms, I thought it more fatisfatfory to begin 'with
conjtdering Man in the Abftracl, his Nature and hi i State :
jlnce to prove any moral Duty, to enforce any moral Pre-
cept, or to examine the Perfection or Imperfection of any
Creature vohatfoever, it is neceffary firft to know what
condition and relation it is placed in, and what is the
proper end and purpofe of its Being.
The Science of Human Nature is, Tike all other Sciences*
reduced to a few, clear points: There are not many
certain Truths in this World. It is therefore in the
Anatomy of the Mind, as in that of the Body ; more good
will accrue to mankind by attending to the large, open %
and perceptible parts, than byftudying too much fetch finer
nerves and veffels as iui// fir ever efcape our obferwa*
tion. The Difputes are all upon theje lajl, and I nuill
venture to fay, they have lefsjharpe nd the Wits than the
Hearts of Men againjt each other, and have diminiflfd
the Practice, more than advanced the Theory, of Morality.
If I couldflatter myfelfthat this EJfay has any merit, it
is in Jleering betwixt Doftrines feemingly oppojite, in
pajjing over Terms utterly unintelligible, and in forming
out of all, a temperate^?/ not inconfiftent, and a fhort
yet not imperfect Sv/iem of Ethics.
Tbh
2 The DESIGN.
This I might have done in Profe ; but I chofe Verfe,
and even Rhyme, for two reafons. The one wi// appear
obvious ; that Principles, maxims, or precepts fo 'writ-
tea, both Jlrike the reader more flrongly at jirfl, and are
more eafily retain d by him afterwards. The other may
feem odd, but is true ; I found I could exprefs them more
fhortly this way than in Profe itfelf; and nothing is truer
than that much of the Force as well as Grace of Argu-
ments or Injlruft ions depends on /#/; concifenefs. / was
unable to treat this part of my fubjefl more in detail,
without becoming dry and tedious : or more poetically,
witbettt facrijtcito P er fpicuity to Ornament, without waa-
dring from the Precijton, or breaking the Chain of Rea-
foning. If an-j man can unite all thefe without diminu-
tion of any of' them, 1 freely confejs he will compafs a
thing above my capacity.
What is now publijff d, is only to be conjidered as ft
general Map of MAN, marking out no more than the
Greater Parts, their Extent, their Limits, and their
Connection, but leaving the particular to be more fully
delineated in the Charts which are 'to follow. Con-
fequently, thefe Epiftles in their progrefs will become
lefs dry, and more fufceptible of Ornament. I am here
only opening the Fountains, and clearing the pajfage;
To deduce the Rivers, to follow them in their courfe, and
to sbferve their ejfefls, may be a task more agreeable.
THE
THE
CONTENTS.
EPISTLE I.
Of the NATURE and STATE of MAN,
with refpeft to the UNIVERSE.
OF Man, in the Abftraft. That we can
judge only with regard to our c<vcn Syftem, be-
ing ignorant of the Relations of S) Items and
Things, VER. 17, &c. to 69. That Man is not to
be deemed Imperfeff, but a Being fuited to his Place
and Rank in the Creation, agreeable to the General
Order of things, and conformable to Ends and Relations
to him unknown, 69, &c. That it is partly upon his
Ignorance of future Events, and partly upon the Hope
of a Future State, that all his Happinefs in the prefent
depends, 73, &c. The Pride of aiming at more
Knowledge, and pretending, to more Perfection, the
caufe of man's Error and Miiery. The Impiety of putting
himfelf in the place of God, and judging of the fitnefs
or uofitnefs, perfection or hnperfe&ion, jullice or injuftice
of his difpenfations, 109 to 120. The Mfurdity of
conceiting himfelf the final Caufe of the Creation, or
expecting that Perfection in the moral world which is
not in the natural, 127/0164. The Unreafcnablenejs
of his complaints againlr. Providence, while on the one
hand he demands the perfections of the Angels, on the
other the bodily qualifications of the Brutes, 165.
A z ' Thac
The CONTENTS.
That to poflefs any of the fenjiti-ve faculties in a higher
degree, would render him mHerable, 181 to 198.
That throughout the whole vifible world, an univerfal
Order and Gradation in the fenfual and mental Faculties
is ohferved, which caufes a fubordination of creature to
creature, and of all creatures to man. The gradations
of fenfe, htjlinfi, thought, rcfle&ion, reafon; that Rea-
ibn alone countervails all the other faculties, 199 to
224. How much farther this Order and fubordination
of living creatures may extend, above and below us ?
were any part of which broken, not that part only, but
the whole connected Creation muft be deftroyed. The
Extravagance, Madnefs, and Pride of fuch a defire,
22? tv 260. The Confequence of all, the abfolute
Submijjion due to Providence, both as to our prefent and
uture ftate, 273, &c.
E P T S T L E II.
Of the NATURE and STATE of MAN, with
refpedl to HIMSELF as an Individual.
TPH E bufmefs of Pvlan not to pry into God, but to
^ ftudy kimfflf. His Middle Nature ; his Powers and
Frailties, and the Limits of his Capacity, 43. The two
Principles of Man, SelfJ&ue and Reafon, both neceflary ;
Self- love the ftronger, and why ? their End the fame,
83. The PASSIONS, and their U/f, 83 to 120. The
Predominant Pa/fion, and its force, 122 to 150. its ne-
cfflt-;, in direding men to different purpofes, 153, &c.
its 'providential ufe, in fixing our principle and afcer-
taining our virtue, 167. Virtue and fiV* joined in our
mixt nature ; the limits near, yet the things feparate,
and
ne CONSENTS.
and evident. What is the office of Reafon? 187, &c- .
How odious Vice in itfelf, and how we deceive ourfelves
into it, 209. That however, the Ends of Providence ami
general Good are anfwered in our Pajfiovs, and Imper-
feftions, 230, &c. How ufefully theie are diftributed
to all Orders of Men, 233. how ufclul they are to So-
ciety, 241. and to the Individuals, 253. In every State,
and in every Age of life, 263, &c.
EPISTLE III.
Of the NATURE and STATE of MAN, with
refpeft to SOCIETY.
'T'HE whole Univerfe one Syftem of Society, VER. 7,
A &c. Nothing is made wholly for itfelf, nor yet
wholly for another, 27. The happinefs of Animals mu-
tual, 53. Reafon or In/tin ft operate alike to the good of
each Individual, 83. Reafon or Inftinft operate alfo to
Society, in all animals, 109. How far Society carry 'd
by Inftinft, 119. how much farther by Reafon, 132.
Of that which is called the State of Nature, \ 48. Reafon
inftruftedby Inftindt in the invention of Arts, 170. and
in the Forms of Society, 1 80. Origin of political Socities,
199. Origin of Monarchy, 211. Patriarchal government,
2 1 6. Origin of true Religion and Government, from
the fame principle, of Love, 235, &c. Origin of Super-
jlition and Tyranny, from the fame principle, of Fear,
241, &c. The influence of Self-love operating to the
foetal and publick good, 269. Reftoration of true Reli-
gion and Government on their firft principle, 285.
Mixt Government, 289. Various Forms of each, and
the true End of all. 303, &c.
A 3 E P I-
6 <Tbe C N T E & ? S.
EPISTLE IV.
Of the NATURE and STATE of MAN, with
refpedl to HAPPINESS.
T T Appinefs ill defined by the Philofophers.VER.ig.
JL X That it is the End of all men, and attainable by all,
2.8. God governs by genera/, not particular Laics : intends
Happinels to be equal; and to be fo it muft be facial, fince
all particular happinefs depends on general, 35. As it is
neceflary for Order > and the peace and welfare of Society ,
l\\&\.External goods fhould be unequal. Happinefs is not made
to confift in thefe, 47. But, notwithstanding that inequality,
the Balance of Happinefs among mankind is kept even by
Providence, by the two Paffions ot'Hopeznd Fear, 66. What
the happinefs of Individuals is, as far as is confident with
theConHituticn of this World: and that the Goodman has
here the advantage, 76. The error of imputing to Virtue
\vhat are only the calamities of Nature, or of 'Fortune, 92.
The folly of expecting that God fhould alter his General
Laws in favour of particulars, 1 1 8. That we are not jud-
ges who are good? but that whoever they are, they muft
be happiej}, \ 30, &c. That external goods are not the pro-
per rewards, but often inconfiflent with, or deftruclive of,
Virtue, 1 66. That even thefe can make no man happy
without Virtue. Inftanced in Riches, 1 76. Honours, 1 84.
B'irth, 203. Greatnefs, 213. Fame, 233. Superior Talents,
25 7. with Pictures of human Infelicity in men poffeit of
them all, 275, &c. That VIRTUE ONLY constitutes a
Happinels, whofe Objecl is Univerfat,and whole Profpedl
Eternal, 304, &c.That the Perfection of Vir tue and Hap-
pinefs confitfs in a Conformity to the ORDER of PROVI^
PENCE here, and a Rejignation to it here and hereafter,
326, $c.
EPISTLE I.
AWAKE! my ST. JOHN ! leave all meaner things
To low ambition and the pride of Kings.
Let us (fince Life can little more fupply
Than juft to look about us, and to die)
Expatiate free o'er all this fcene of Man ; c
A mighty maze ! but not without a plan ;
A wild, where weeds and flow'rs promifcuous fhoot,
Or garden, tempting with forbidden fruit.
Together let us beat this ample field,
Try what the open, what the covert yield, 10
The latent trafts, the giddy heights explore
Of all who blindly creep, or fightlefs foar,
Eye Nature's walks, {hoot folly as it flies,
And catch the manners living as they rife,
Laugh where we muft, be candid where we can* 15
But vindicate the ways of God to man.
Say firft, of God above, or Man below,
What can we reafon, but from what we know?
Of the NATURE and STATE of MAN withrefpeft
to the UNIVERSE. VER. 17, &c.] He can reafon only
from Things known* and judge only with regard to bis
own Syftem.
A 4 Of
8 ETHIC EPISTLES.
Of Man, what fee we but his Station here,
From which to reafon, or to which refer ? 20
Thro' worlds unnumber'd tho' the God be known,
'Tis ours to trace him, only in our own.
He who thro' vaft immenfity can pierce,
See worlds on worlds compofe one univerfe,
Obferve how fyitem into fyftem runs, 25
What other planets, and what other funs ?
What vary'd being peoples every flar?
May tell, why heav'n made all things as they are.
But of this frame the bearings, and the ties,
The ftrong connections, nice dependencies, 30
Gradations juft, has thy pervading foul
Look'd thro' ? or can a part contain the whole ?
Is the great Chain that draws all to agree,
And drawn fupports, upheld by God, or thee ?
Prefumptuous man ! the reafon wouldll thou find 35
Why form'd fo weak, fo little, and fo blind ?
Firit, if thou canit, the harder reafon guefs
Why form'd no weaker, blinder, and no lefs ?
Ask of thy mother earth, why oaks are made
Taller or ftronger than the weeds they lhade ? 40
Or ask of yonder argent ffeWfejabove,
Why JOVE'S Satellites are lefrthan JOVE?
VER. 36, &c. He is not therefore a Judge of his own
jerfettion or imperfeftion, but is certainly fuch a Being
W is Jutted to bis Place and Rank in the Creation.
Of
ETHIC EPISTLES. 9
OfSyftemspoflible, if'tis confeft
That Wifdom infinite muft form the heft,
Where all muft full or not coherent be, 45
And all that rifes, rife in due degree ;
Then, 19 the fcale of life and fenfe, 'tis plain
There muft be, fame nuhere, fuch a rank as Man ;
And all the queftion (wrangle e're fo long)
Is only this, if God has plac\i him wrong ? 50
Refpefting man whatever wrong we call,
May, muft be right, as relative to all.
In human works, though labour'd on with pain,
A thoufand movements fcarce one purpofe gain ;
In God's, one fingle can its end produce, 55
Yet ferves to fecond too fome other ufe.
So man, who here feems principal alone,
Perhaps adls fecond to fome fphere unknown,
Touches fome wheel, or verges to fome gole ;
'Tis but a part we fee, and not a whole. 60
When the proud Meed fhall know, why man reftrains
His fiery courfe, or drives him o'er the plains ;
When the dull ox, why now he breaks the clod,
Now wears a garland, an dSgypti/in god ;
' Then fhaM man's pride apWuTnefs comprehend 65
His action's, pafiion's, Wing's, ufe and end ;
Why doing, fufFring, check'd, impdi'd ; and why
This hour a flave, the next a deity ?
Then fay not Man's imperfect, heav'n in fault;
Say rather, man's as perfect as he ought ; 70
His being meafur'd to his llate, and place,
Hib time a moment, and a point his fpace.
io ETHIC EPISTLES.
Heav'n from all creatures hides the book of fate,
All but the page prefcrib'd, their prefent Jiate,
From brutes what men, from men what fpirits know, 75
Or who could fuffer Being here below ?
The Lamb thy riot dooms to bleed to day,
Had he thy Reafon, would he skip and play ?
Pleas'd to the laft, he crops the flow'ry food,
And licks the hand juft rais'd to med his blood. go
Oh blindnefe to the future ! kindly giv'n,
That each may fill the circle rnark'd by heav'n,
Who fees with equal eye, as God of all,
A Hero perifh, or a fparrow fall,
Atoms, or Syftems, into ruin hurl'd, 85
And now a bubble burft, and now a World !
Hope humbly then ; with trembling pinions foar ;
Wait the great teacher, Death, and God adore !
What future blifs, he gives not thee to know,
But gives that hope to be thy blefling now. 90
Hope fprings eternal in the human breaft;
Man never is, but always to be bleft ;
YER. 73.] His bappinefs, depends on his Ignorance to a.
isrtnin degrf.f. \
\ ER. 75, &c.] See this purfued inEpift. 3. Verf. 70,
&c. 83, &c.
VKR. 87.] And on bis Hope of a Relation to a
future State.
VER.QO] Further open'd in Epift. 2. Verf. 265.
Kpift. 3. Verf. 78 Epift. 4, Verf. 336, &c.
The
ETHIC EPI STL ES. 11
The foul uneafy, and confin'd at home,
Refts, and expatiates, in a life to come.
Lo ! the poor Indian, whofe untutor'd mind 95
Sees God in clouds, or hears him in the wind j
His foul, proud fcience never taught to llray
Far as the fblar walk, or milky way ;
Yet fimple nature to his hope has giv'n
Behind the cloud-topt hill, an hQmbler heav'n, 100
Some fafer world, in depth of woods embrac'd,
Some happier ifland in the watry wafle,
Where flaves once more their native land behold,
No fiends torment, no Chriftiahs thirfl for gold,
To be, contents his natural de/ire, 105
He asks no angel's wing, or feraph's fire,
But thinks, admitted to that equal sky,
His faithful dog fhall bear him company.
Go, wifer thou ! and in thy fcale of fenfe
Weigh thy Opinion againft Providence : lie
Call Imperfection what thou fancy'lt fuch,
Say, here he gives too little, there too much;
Deftroy all creatures for thy fport or guft,
Yet cry, if man's unhappy, God's unjuft,
If man, alone, engrofs not heav'n's high care, 115
Alone made perfeft here, immortal there :
VER. 109 ] The Pride, of aiming at more Knowledge
find Perfection, and the Impiety cf pretending to judge of
the Difpenjatiws of Providence t the caufes of his iirrcr
<WMifery.
Snatch
12 ETHIC EPISTLES.
Snatch from his hand the balance and the rod,
Re-judge his juftice, be the Go D of Go D .'
In reas'ning Pride (my friend) our error lies ;
All quit their fphere, and rufh into the skies. 1 20
Pride ttill is aiming at the bleft abodes,
Men would be Angels, Angels would be Gods.
Afpiring to be Gods, if angels fell,
Afpiring to be angels, men rebel :
And who but wifhes to invert the laws 1 25
Of ORDER, fins againft th' Eternal Caufe.
Ask for what end the heav'nly bodies fhine ?
Farth for whofe ufe ? Pride anfwers, " ' Fis for mine :
For me kind Nature wakes her genial pow'r,
Suckles each herb, and fpreads out ev'ry flow'r; 130
Annual forme, the grape, the rofe renew
The juice neftareous, and the balmy dew ;
For me, the mine a thoufand treafures brings,
For me, Health gufhes from a thoufand fprings ;
Seas roll to waft me, Suns to light me rife; 135
My footltool Earth, my canopy the Skies.
But errs not Nature from this gracious end,
From barning funs when livid deaths defcend,
When earthquakes fwallow, or when tempefls fweep
Towns to one grave, or nations to the deep ? 140
VfcR.izy.] The Abfurdity of conceiting himfelf the
Final Caufe if the Creation, or expefting that Perfection
;/; the moral world which is not in the natural.
No
ETHIC EPI STLES. 13
No ftis reply'd) the firft Almighty Caufe
<l Ads not by partial, but by genral Laws ;
" Th' exceptions few ; fome change fmce all began,
" And what created, perfect ?" Why then Man?
If the great -end be human happinefs, 1 45
Then Nature deviates, and can Man do lefs ?
As much that end a conitant cotirfe requires
Of ihow'rs and funfhine, as ef man's deiires,
As much eternal fprings and cloudlefs skies,
As men for ever temp'rate, calm, and wife. 150
If plagues or earthquakes break not heav'n's defign,
Why then a Borgia or a Catiline ?
From pride, from pride, our very reasoning fprings ;
Account for moral, as for nat'ral things :
Why charge we heav'n in thofe, in thefe acquit ? 155
In both, to reafon right, is to fubmit.
Better for Us, perhaps, it might appear,
Were there all harmony, all virtue hete;
That never air or ocean felt the wind ;
That never paffion difcompos'd the mind: 1 60
But ALL fubfifts by elemental ftrife ;
And Paflions are the Elements of life.
The gen'ral ORDER, fmce the whole began,
Is kept in Nature, and is kept in Man.
VER. 162.] See this fubjeft extended in Epift. 2.
from Verf. 90, to 112, 155, &c.
What
14 ETHIC EPISTLES.
What would this Man ? now upward will he foar,
And little lefs than Angel, would be more; 166
Now looking downward, juft as griev'd appears
To want the ftrength of Bulls, the fur of Bears.
Made for his ufe all creatures if he call,
Say what their Ufe, had he the pow'rs of all ? 170
Nature to thefe, without profufion kind,
The proper organs, proper pow'rs affign'd ;
Each feeming want compenfated of courfe
Here, with degrees of fwiftnefs, there, offeree;
All in exacl: proportion to the ftate, 175
Nothing to add, and nothing to abate.
Each beaft, each infeft, happy in its own,
Is heav'n unkind to man, and man alone ?
Shall he alone, whom rational we call,
Be pleas'd with nothing, if not blefs'd with all ? 1 80
The blifs of man (could pride that bleffing find)
Is, not to acl, or think, beyond mankind ;
No pow'rs of body or of foul to mare,
But what his nature and his ftate can bear.
VER. 1 66.] The Unreafonablenefs of the Complaints
agaiflft Providence, and that to poffejs more Faculties
*wtuid make us mlferable.
VER. 1-74.. Here, with degrees of fwiftnefs, there,
of -force.] It is a certain Axiom in the Anatomy of
Creatures, that in proportion as they are form'd for
ftrength, their fwiftnefs is leffen'd ; or as they are form'd
for fwiftnefs, their ftrength is abated.
VER. 177.] Vid. Epift. 3. Verf. 83, &c. and i io,&c.
W hy
ETHIC EPISTLES. 15
Why has not man a microfcopic eye ? 1 85
For this plain reafon, man is not a fly.
Say what the uie, were finer optics giv'n,
T' infpeft a mite, not comprehend the heav'n ?
The touch, if tremblingly alive all o'er,
To fmart and agonize at ev'ry pore ? 190
Or quick effluvia darting thro' the brain,
Dye of a Rofe in aromatic pain ?
If nature thunder'd in his opening ears,
And ftunn'd him with the mufick of the fpheres,
How would he wiih, that heav'n had left him ilill 195
The whifpering zephyr, and the purling rill ?
Who finds not Providence all-good and wile,
Alike in what it gives, and what denies ?
Far as Creation's ample range extends,
The fcale offenfual, mental pow'rs afcends : 200
Mark how it mounts, to man's imperial race
From the green myriads in the peopled grafs !
What modes of fight, betwixt each wide extreme,
The mole's dim curtain, and the lynx's beam :
VER.ZOO. ] There is an uniiierfal ORDER and
GRADATION thro the whole 'uifible world, c fthe fen-
fib le and mental Faculties, 'which caufet /^Subordina-
tion of Creature to Creature, and of all Creatures to Man,
ixbofe Reafon alone CQuritcrvailf all the other Facul-
ties,
Of
16 ETHIC EPISTLES.
Of fmell, the headlong lionefs between, ztfj
And hound fagacious on the tainted green :
Of hearing, from the life that fills the flood,
To that which warbles through the vernal wood :
The fpider's touch, how exquifitely fine,
Feels at each thread, and lives along the line : 2iO
In the nice bee, what fenfe fo fubdy true
Prom pois'nous herbs extrads the healing dew.
How Injiinfl varies, in the groveling fwine,
Compar'd, half reas'ning elephant ! with thine ;
'fwixt that, and Renfon, what a nice barrier, 215
For ever fep'rate, yet for ever near :
Ranembrance and Refleffion, how ally'd ;
What thin partitions $<=#/ from Thought divide :
And middle natures^ how they long to join,
Yet never pafs th' infuperable line ! 220
Without this juil Gradation, could they be
Subjected thefe to thofe, or all to thee ^
The Pow'rs of all fubdu'd by thee alone I
Is not thy realbn ail thofe pow'rs in one ?
VER. 205. the headlong Lionefe ] The manner
of the Lions hunting their prey in the deferts of Africa
is this ; at their firil going out in the night-time they fet
op aloud roar, and then Jiften to the noife made by the
Beafts in their flight, purfuing them by the ear, and not
by the noftril. It is probable, the ftory of the JackalPs
hunting for the Lion was occafion'd by obiervation of
the defect of Scent in that terrible Animal.
See,
ETHIC EPISTLES. 17
See, thro' this air, this ocean, and this earth, 225
All matter quick, and bu riling into birth.
Above, how high progreffive life may go ?
Around how wider how deep extend below?
Vaft chain of Being ! which from God began,
Natures ;e:hereal, human, angel, man, 230
Beafl, bird, fifh, infect ! what no eye can fee,
No glafs can reach ! from Infinite to thee,
From thee to Nothing ! On fuperior pow'rs
Were we to prefs, inferior might on ours :
Or in the full creation leave a Void, 235
Where, one ftep broken, the great fcale's deftroy'd j
From Nature's chain whatever link you ftrike,
Tenth or ten thoufandth, breaks the chain alike.
And if each Syftem in gradation roll,
Alike effemial to th'amazing whole ; 240
The leaft confufion but in one, not all
That fyflem only, but the whole mufl fall.
Let Earth unbalanc'd from her orbit fly,
Planets and funs rufli lawlefs thro* the sky,
Let ruling Angfls from their fpheres be hurPd, 245
Being on being wreck'd, and world on world,
Heav'n's whole foundations to their centre nod,
And Nature tremble, to the throne of God !
VER. 225.] Honv tmuh farther this Gradation and
Subordination may extend? 'were any part of which
broken, the whole connected Creation mujl be deftroyd.
i8 ETHIC EPISTLES.
All this dread ORDER break ! For whom ? For thee ?
Vile worm ! OMadnefs! Pride ! Impiety ! 250
What if the foot ordain'd the duft to tread,
Or hand to toil, afpit'd to be the Head ?
What if the head, the eye, or ear repin'd
To fcrve mere engines to the ruling Mind ?
Juft as abfurd, for any part to claim 255
To be another, in tins gen'ral frame :
]uft a? abfurd, to mourn the tasks or pains,
The great directing M i N D of A L L ordains.
All are but parts of one ftupendous whole,
Whofe body Nature i.% and God the foul ; 260
That, chang'd thro' all, and yet in all the fame,
Great in the earth, as in th' zethereal frame,
Warms in the fun, refreshes in the breeze,
Glows in the ftars, and blofforus in the trees,
l,ives thro' all life, extends thro' all extent, ' 265
Spreads undivided, operates unfpenr,
I>re?.r]ies in our foul, informs our mortal part,
As full, as perfect, in a hair, as heait,
As full, as perfeft, in \ i'e man that mourns,
As the rapt Seraph that adores and burns ; 270
To him, no high, no low, no great, no fmall ;
He filis, he bounds, connects, and equals all.
VER.2so] The Extravagance, Impiety, and Pride
of ' fuch a dejire.
V" F R. 257.] Vid. the profecution and application of
this in Epift. 4. Ver. 160.
Ceafe
ETHIC EPISTLES. 19
Ceafe then, nor ORDER imperfefiion name;
Our proper blifs depends on what we blame..
Know thy own point: This kind, this due degree 275
Of bliridnefs, weaknefs, heav'n beftows on thee.
Submit in this, or any other fphere,
Secure to be as bleft as thou canft bear :
Safe in the hand of one difpofing pow'r,
Or in the natal, or the mortal hour. 280
All nature is but art, unknown tcr thee ;
All chance, direction which thou canft not fee :
All difcord, harmony not underftood :
All partial evil, univerfal good :
And fpight of pride, in erring reafon's fpight, 285
One truth is clear ; Whatever Is, is RIGHT."
VER. 273.] The Confequence of alt, the abfolute Sub-
miffion due to Providence, both as to our prefent an$
future State.
B2 EPISTLg
EPISTLE II.
KNOW then thy-felf, prefume net God to fcan;
The proper ftudy of mankind is man.
Plac'd on this iithmus of a midcle ftate,
A being darkly wife, and rudely great:
With too much knowledge for the Sceptic fide, <j
With too much \veakr.efs for the Stoic's pride,
He har.g- beuveen ; in doubt to acl, or reft,
To deem himfeif a part of God, or beaft ;
In doubt, his mind or body to prefer,
Born but to die, and reab'ning but to err ; 10
Alike in ignorance, his reafon fuch,
Whether he chinks too little, cr 100 much :
Chaos of thought and pafficn, all confus'd ;
liimfelf abus'd, or dif-abua'd ;
Created half to rife, and half to fall ; 1 5
Great lord of all things, yet a prey to all;
Sole judge of truth, in endlefs error hurl'd :
The glory, jeft, and riddle, of the world!
/ Go wondrous creature ! mount where Science guides,
Go meafure earth, weigh air, and ftate the tide?, 20
OF the NATURE *</ STATE of MAX as an INDI-
VIDUAL. ?be bufinefs of Man not to pry into God, but
to ftudy bimfelf. His Middle Nature, his Powers,
Frailties, and the Limits of his Capacity.
Show
ETHIC EPISTLES. 21
Show by what laws the wandring Planets ftray,
Correft old Time, and teach the Sun his way.
Go foar with Plato to th' empyreal fphere,
To the firft good, firft perfed, and firft fair ;
Or tread the mazy round his follow'rs trod, 25
And quitting fenie call imitating God,
As eaitern priells in giddy circles run,
And turn their heads to imitate the Sun.
Go, teach Eternal Wifdom how to rule
Then drop into thy-felf, and be a fool ! 30
Superior Beings, when of late they faw
A mortal man unfold all Nature's law,
Admir'd fuch wildom in an earthly fhape,
And fhew'd a NEWTON as we fhew an Ape.
Could He, whofd rules the whirling Comet bind, 35
Defcribe, or fix, one movement of the Mind ? '
Who faw the Stars here rife, and there defcend,
Explain his own 'beginning, or his end ?
Alas what wonder! Man's fuperior part
Uncheck'd may rife, and climb from Art to art ; 40
But when his own great work is but begun,
What Reafon weaves, by Paffion is undone,
Two Principles in human nature reign j
Self-love, to urge, and Reafon, to reilrain ;
Nor this a good, nor that a bad we call, 45
Each works its end, to move, or govern all :
VER.43-] The Two PRINCIPLES ^MAN,, SELF-
LOVE </REASON, both neceffary, 49 Self-love the
ftronger, and nuty ? 57. their End the fame, 7 1 .
B 3 And
h ETHIC EPISTLES.
And to their proper operation ftill,
Afcribe all Good, to their improper, III.
Self-love, the fpring of motion, ads the foul ;
Pea/on 's Comparing balance rules the whole. 50
Man but for that, no off ion could attend,
And but for this, were active to no end.
Fix'd like a plant on his peculiar fpot,
To draw nutrition, propagate, and rot ;
Or meteor-like, flame lawlefs thro' the void, 55
Deftroying others, by himfelf deftroy'd.
Mofty?mz/ the moving Principle requires ;
A&ive its tak, it prompts, impels, infpirei :
Sedate and quiet the comparing lies,
Form'd but to check, delib'rate, and advife. 60
Self-love ftill ftronger, as its objects nigh ;
Reafon"s at diftance, and in profpeft lie ;
That fee's immediate good, by prefent fenfe,
Reafon, the future, and the confequence ;
Thicker than arguments, temptations throng, 65
At bed more watchful thi?$ but that moreftrong.
The action of the ftrohger to fufpehd,
.Reafon ftill ufe t to reafon ftill attend:
Attention, Habit and Experience gain?;
Each ftrengthens Reafon, and Self-love reftrains. 70
Let fubtile Schoolmen teach thefe friends to fight>
More ftudious to divide, than to unite,
And grace and virtue, fenfe and reafon fplit,
With all the ram dexterity of Wit.
Wit?, juft like fools, at war about a name, 75
Hive full as oft, no meaning, or the fame.
Self-love
ETHIC EPISTLES. 23
Self-love and Reafon to one end afpire,
Pain their averfion, Pleafure their defirej
But greedy that its objeft would devour,
This tafte the honey, and not wound the flower : 80
Pleafure, or wrong or rightly underilood,
Our greateft evil, or our greateft good.
Modes of Self-love the PASSIONS we may call ;
'Tis real good, or feeming, moves them a 1 ;
But fince not every good we can divide, 85
And reafon bids us for our own provide ;
Paflions tho'/e//:/^, if their means be fair,
Lift under Reafon, and deierve her care :
Thofe that imparted, court a nobler aim,
Exalt their kind, and take fome Virtues name. 90
In lazy Apathy let Stoics boaft
Their virtue fix'd, 'tis fix'd as in a froft,
Contracted all, retiring to the breaft ;
But Strength of mind is exercife, not reft :
The rifmg tempeft puts in aft the foul, 95
Parts it may ravage, but prefervesthe whole.
On Life's vaft ocean diverfely we fail,
Reafon the card, but Paffion is the gale :
Nor GOD alone in the ftill Calm we find ;
He mounts the ftorm, and walks upon the Wind. \ oo
Paflions, like elements, tho' born to fight,
V'et mix'd and foftned, in his work unite :
Thele, 'tis enough to temper and employ,
But what compofes man can man deft ray ?
The PASSIONS,
B 4 Suffice
24 ETHIC EPISTLES.
Suffice that Reafon keep to Nature's road, 1 05
Subjeft, compound them, follow her and GOD.
Love, hope^ and joy, fair p'eafure's fmiling train,
Hate, fear, and grief, the family of pain,
Thefe mix'd with art, and to due bounds confin'd,
Make, and maintain, the balance of the mind : no
The lights and fhades, whofe well-accorded ftrife
Gives all t\\& Jirengtb and colour of our life.
Pleafures are ever in our hands or eyes,
And when in aft they ceafe, in profpeft rife ;
Piefent to grafp, and future ftill to find, 115
The whole employ of bcdy and of mind.
All fpread their charm?, but charm not all alike j
On diff'rent Senfes different objefts ftrike ;
Hence difF'rent Paffions more or lefs inflame,
Asftrong, or weak, the organs of the frame; 120
And hence one Mailer Paflion in the breaft,
Like Karons ferpent, fwallows up the reft.
As man, perhaps, the moment of his breath,
Receives the lurking principle of death ;
The young difeafe that muft fubdue at length, 1 25
Grows with his growth, and ftrengthenswith hisftrength:
So, caft and mingled with his very frame,
The mind's difeafe, its ruling pajfion came :
VER. I22j &c.] The PREDOMINANT PASSION, and
its Force.
The Ufe of this dodlrine, as apply'd to the Know-
ledge of mankind, is one of the fubjedls of the fecond
book.
Each
ETHIC EPISTLES. 25
Each vital humour which Ihould feed the ivhole>
Soon flows to this, in body and in foul ; 1 30
Whatever warms the heart, or fills the head,
As the mind opens, and its functions fpread,
Imagination plies her dang'rous art,
And pours it all upon the peccant part.
Nature its mother, Habit is its nurfe ; 135
Wit, fpirit,*' faculties, but make it worfe ;
Reafon itfelf but gives it edge and pow'r, .
As heav'n's bleft beam turns vinegar moie fowre ;
We, wretched fubjefts, tho' to lawful fvvay,
In this weak^m?, fome Fa--v'rite ftill obey. 140
Ah ! if me lend not arms, as well as rules,
What can me more, than tell us we are fools ?
Teach us to mourn our nature, not to mend,
A iharp accufer, but a helplefs/r/VW/
Or from a judge turn pleader, to perfuade 145
The choice we make, or juftify it made :
Proud of an eafy conqueft all along,
She but removes weak paffions for the firong ;
So, when fmall humours gather to a gout,
The Doctor fancies he has driv'n 'em out. 150
Yes, Nature's road muft ever be prefer'd ;
Reafon is here no guide, but ftill a guard;
'Tis her's to rettify, not voevtbrova t
And treat this paffion more as friend than foe :
A mightier POW'R. the ftrong direction fends, 155
And fev'ral men impells to fev'ral Ends.
VER. 15;.] Jti Neceffity, in direSing >men indiffe-
rent purpfis. The particular application of this to the
federal
26 ETHIC EPISTLES.
Like varying winds, by other paflions toft,
Ibis drives them conftant to a certain coaft.
Let pow'r or knowledge, gold or glory pleafe,
Or (oft more ftrong than all) the love of Eafe: l6c
Thro' life 'tis follow'd, ev'n at life's expence ;
The merchant's toil, the fage's indolence,
The monk's, humility, the hero's pride, ..
AD, all alike, find Reafon on their fide.
Th' ETE-RNAL ART, educing good from ill, 16:
Grafts on this paffion our bejl Principle :
Ti? thus, the Mercury of man is fix'd,
Strong grows theVirtue with his nature mix'd ;
The drois cements what elfe were too refin'd,
And in one int'reft Body afts with Mind. 173
As fruits ungrateful to the planter's care,
On fa<vage ftocki inferted, learn to bear ;
The fureft virtues thus from paflions Ihoor,
Wild nature'; vigour working at the root.
What crops of wit and honefty appear, 1 75
From fpfeen, from obftinacy, hate, or fear !
See anger, zeal and fortitude fupply ;
Ev'n av'rice, prudence ; floth, philofophy ;
Luft, thro 1 fome certain ftramers well refin'd,
Is gentle love, and charms all womankind : 180
Envy, to which th' ignoble mind's a flave,
Is emulation in the learn'd or brave :
federal Purfuits of Men, and the General Good refulting
thence, falls alfo into the fucceeding books.
VER.. i6.] Its providential Ufe, in fixing cur? KIK-
C I P L E , and a f cert (lining our V I R T u K .
Nor
ETHIC EPISTLES. 27
Nor virtue, male or Female, can we name,
But what will grow on Pride, or grow on Shame.
Thus Nature gives us (let it check our pride) 185
The virtue neareft to our vice ally'd ;
Reafon the byafs turns to good -from ill,
And Nero reigns a TV/a/, if he will.
The fiery foul abhorr'd in Catiline,
In Decius charms, in Curtius is divine. 1 90
The fame ambition can deftroy or fave,
And makes a patriot, as it makes a knave.
This light and darknefs in our chaos joiii'd,
What mall divide ? The God within the mind.
Extremes in nature equal ends produce, 1 95
In man, they join to fome myrtef ious ufe :
Tho' each by turns the other's bound invade,
As in fome well-wrought picture, light and fhade,
And oft fo mix, the diff'^nce is too nice
Where ends the virtue, or begins the vice. 200
Fools ! who from hence into the notion fall,
That vice or virtue there is none at all.
If white and black, blend, foften, and unite
A thoufand ways, is there no black or white ?
Ask your mvn heart ; and nothing is fo plain ; 205
*Tis to miftake them, cofts the time and pain.
Vice is a monfter of fo frightful mien,
As, to be hated, needs but to be feen ;
VER. 185, &c.] VIRTUE a ,>,<>' V i c E joined in our
Mixt Nature ; the Limits near, yet the things ieparate,
*nd evident. The Office of Reafon,
Yet
*8 ETHIC EPISTLES.
Yet feen too oft, familiar with her face,
We firft endure, then pity, then embrace. 210
But where th 1 'Extreme of vice, was ne'er agreed :
Ask, where's the North ? at York 'tis on theTqcmj',
In Scotland at the Orcades, and there
^.Greenland. 'Lembla, or the Lord knows where.
No creature owns it in the firft degree, 215
But thinks his neighbour farther gone than he.
Ev'n thofe who dwell beneath its very Zone,
Or never feel the rage, or never own ;
What happier natures flirink at with affright,
The hard Inhabitant contends is right. 220
Virtuous and vicious ev'ry man muft be,
Few in th' extreme, but all in the degree j
The rogue and foo! by fits is fair and wife,
And ev'n the beft by fits what they defpife.
*Tis but by parts we foiiow^ood or ill, 225
For, vice or virtue, SELF directs it flill ;
Each individual feeks a fev*ral goal :
Bu t H E A v ' N ': .-eat view is one, and that the WH o L E :
That couijixr- works each folly and caprice ;
That diiappoints th' rfFec"l of ev'ry vice : 230
VER. 205.] VICE odious in iff elf, and how we de-
ceive ourf elves into it.
VER. 219, &c ] TRENDS of PROVIDENCE and
General Good anfiver'd in our Paffions and Imperfec-
tions. Hnv ufffully tbefe are dijlributed to all Orders
of men.
That,
ETHIC EPISTLES. 29
That, happy frailties to all ranks apply'd,
Shame to the virgin-, to the matron pride,
Fear to the ftatefman, rajhnefs to the chief,
To Kings prefumptioti, and to crowds belief,
That, Virtue's ends from Vanity can raife,' 235
Which feeks no int'reft, no reward but praife ;
And builds on <wants, and on dtfefa of mind,
The joy, the peace, the glory of mankind.
Heav'n, forming each on other to depend,
A mafter, or a fervant, or a friend, 240
Bids each on other for afliftance call,
Till one man's weaknefs grows the ftrength of all.
Wants, frailties, paffions, clofer ftill ally
The common int'reft, or endear the tye :
To thefe we owe true friendfhip, love fmcere, 245
Each home-felt joy that life inherits here :
Yet from the fame we learn, in its decline,
Thofe joys, thofe loves, thofe int'refts to refign.
Taught half by reafon, half by mere decay,
To welcome death, and calmly pafs away. 250
Whate'er the paffton, knowledge, fame, or pelf,
Not one will change his neighbour with himfelf :
The learn'd is happy, nature to explore ;
The fool is happy, that he knows no more ;
The rich is happy in the plenty given ; 255
The poor contents him with -the care of heaven.
VER.237-] How ufeful thefe are to SOCIETY In
general, and to INDIVIDUALS in particular, in every
STATE, 250, and tv'ry AGE of Life, 260,
Sre
3 o ETHIC EPISTLES.
See the blind beggar dance, the cripple fing,
The fot a hero, lunatic a king,
The ftarving Chymift in his golden views
Supremely bleft, the Poet in his mufe. 260
See ! fome ftrange Comfort ev'ry Jlate attend,
And Pride beftow'd on all, a common friend ;
See ! fome fit Paflion ev'ry age fupply,
Hope travels thro 1 , nor quits us when we die.
Till then, Opinion gilds with varying rays 265
Thofe painted clouds that beautify our days ;
Each want of happinefs by Hope fupply'd,
And each vacuity of fenfe by Pride :
Thefe build as faft as knowledge can deftroy :
In folly's cup ftill laughs the bubble, joy ; 270
One profpeft loft, another ftill we gain ;
And not a Vanity is giv'n in vain j
Even mean SELF-LOVE becomes by force divine,
The fcale to meafure others wants by thine.
See ! and confefs, one comfort ftill muft rife, 275
Tis this, tho' Man's a fool, yet GOD is WISE.
V. 273. See farther, of the Life of this Principle in
Man. Epift. 3. Ver. 121, 124, ^35, 145, 200, &c.
270, &c. 316, &c. And Epift. 4. Ver. 348, and 358.
EPISTLE
EPISTLE III.
HERE then we reft : " The univerfal caufe
" A&s to one end, but afts by various laws"
In all the madnefs of fuperfluous health,
The trim of pride, the impudence of wealth,
Let this great truth be prefent night and day ; 5
But moft be prefent, if we preach, or pray.
Look round our world : behold the chain of love
Combining all below, and all above.
See, plaftic Nature working to this end,
The (ingle atoms each to other tend, 10
Attradt, attracted to, the next in place,
Form'd and impell'd, its neighbour to embrace.
See matter next, with various life endu'd,
Prefs to one centre ftill, the gen' rat good.
See dying vegetables life fuftain, 15
See life diflblving vegetate again :
All forms that perim, other forms fupply,
By turns they catch the vital breath, and die;
Like bubbles on the fea of matter born,
They rife, they break, and to that fea return. 20
Nothing is foreign : parts relate to whole:
One all-extending, all-preferving foul
Of the NATURE and STATE of Man with refpeft
to SOCIETY. The whole Untverfe one Syftem of So-
ciety.
Connect'-
3 2 ETHIC EPISTLES.
Connects each being, greateft with the leaft ;
Made beaft in aid of man, and man of beaft :
All ferv'd, all ferving ! nothing Hands alone; 25
The chain holds' on, and where it ends, unknown !
Has God, thou fool! work'd folely for thy good,
Thy joy, thy paftime, thy attire, thy food?
Who for thy table feeds the wanton fawn,
For him as kindly fpread the flow'ry lawn, 30
Is it for thee the lark afcends and fmgs ?
Joy tunes his voice, joy elevates his wings :
Is it for thee the linnet pours his throat ?
Loves of his own, and raptures fwell the note.
The bounding deed you pompoufly beftride, 35
Shares with his lord the pleaiure and the pride.
Is thine alone the feed that ftrows the plain ?
The birds of heav'n fhall vindicate their grain :
Thine the full harvefl of the golden year ?
Part p:iys, and juftly, the deferring ileer. 40
The hog that plows not, nor obeys thy call,
Lives on the labours of this lord of all.
Know, Nature's children all divide her care;
The Furr that warms a monarch, vvarm'd a bear.
While man exclaims, " fee all things for my ufe! 45
*' See man for mine," replies a pamper'd goofe ;
What care to tend, to lodge, to cram, to treat him ?
All this he knows, but not that 'tis to eat him.
V. 27. Nothing made wholly for Itffjf, nor yet wholly
for another, but the Happinefs cf allanimals mutual.
And
ETHIC EPISTLES. 33
Aild juft as liiort of reafon, Man will fall,
Who thinks all made for one, not one for all.
Grant, that the pow'rful ftiil the weak cohtroul,
Be Man the wit, and tyrant, of the whole :
Nature that tyrant checks ; he only knows 55
And helps s another creature's wants and woes.
Say will the fa.coh, ftooping From above,
Smit with her vary ing plumage, fpare the dove?
Admires the jay the infeft's gilded wings,
Or hears the hawk, when Philomela Jings ? 60
Man cares for all : to birds he gives his woods,
To beafts his patfures, and to fifh his floods ;
For fome, his int'reft prompts him to provide,
For more his plealure, yet for more his pride :
All feed on one vain patron^ and enjoy 6$
Th' exteufive bleffing of iiis luxury.
That very life his learned hunger craves,
He faves from famine, from the favage faves >
Nay feafts the animal he dooms his feaft,
And, till he ends the Being, makes it bleft, 70
Which fees no more the fuoke, or feels the pain,
Than favoured Man, by touch aetherial flain.
The creature had his feaft of life before ;
Thou too mud perifh, when thy feaft is o'er.
VER.ja.} Several of the Ancients, and txany of the
Orientals fence, ejleenid tkofe ivho ^ere ftruck by Light- .
fiing as /acred perfons, and the particular favourites of
Heaven.
C To
34 ETHIC EPISTLES.
To teach unthinking being Heav'n a friend, 75
Gives not the ufelefs knowledge of its End;
To Man imparts it; but with fuch a view
As, while he dreads it, makes him hope it too :
The hour conceal'd, and fo remote the fear,
Death ftill draws nearer, never feeming near. 8
Great {landing Miracle ! that heav'n affign'd
Its only thinking thing, this turn of mind.
Whether with Reafon, or with Inftinct blefr,
Know, all enjoy that pow'r which fuits 'em belt,
To blifs, alike, by that direction tend, 85
And find the means proportion'd to their end.
Say, where full Inftinc~l is th' unerring guide,
What Pope or Council can they need befide ?
Reafon, however able, cool at beft,
Cares not for fervice, or but ferves when preft, qo
Stays till we call, and then not often near ;
But honeft inftinc~l conies a Volunteer :
This too ferves always, reafon never long ;
One muft go right, the other may go wrong.
See then the acting and comparing pow'rs ' y$
One in their nature, which are two in ours,
And reafon raife o'er inftincl, as you can,
In this 'tis God direfts, in that 'tis Man.
Who taught the nations of the field and wood
To fhun their poifon, and to choofe their food ? 100
VER. 83.] Reafon or Inftintt alike operate to the
good of each Individual, and they operate alfo to SO-
CIETY, in all Aniqials.
Praefcient,
ETHIC EPISTLES. 3$
Praefcient, the tides or tempefts to withftand,
Build on the wave, or arch beneath the fand f
Who made the fpider parallels defign,
Sure as De moi<vre, without rule or line ?
Who bid the ftork, Columbus like, explore 1 05
Heav'ns not his own, and worlds unknown before?
Who calls the council, ftates the certain day,
Who forms the phalanx, and who points the way ?
GOD, in the nature of each being, founds
Its proper Blifs, and fets its proper Bounds : 1 1
But as he fram'd a Whole, the whole to blefs
On mutual Wants built mutual Happinefs :
So from the firft eternal ORDER ran,
And Creature link'd to Creature, Man to Man.
Whate'er of life all-quickening aether keeps, 115
Or breathes thro' air, or {hoots beneath the deeps,
Or pours profufe on earth ; one nature feeds
The vital flame, and fwells the genial feeds.
Not man alone, but all that roam the wood,
Or wing the fky, or roll along the flood, 1 20
Each loves itfelf, but not itfelf alone,
Each Sex defires alike, till two are one :
Nor ends the pleafure with the fierce embrace ;
They love themfelves, a third time, in their Race.
Thus beaft and bird their common charge attend, 1 25
The mothers nurfe it, and the fires defend ;
VER. 115.] How far SOCIETY carry 'd by IN-
STINCT.
Cz The
36 EfHIC EPISTLES.
The young difmifs'd to wander earth or air,
There Hops the Inftinct, and there ends the care ;
The link diflblves, each feeks a frefti embrace, 1 30
Another love fucceeds, another race.
A longer care Man's helplefs kind demands ;
That longer care contracts more lafting bands :
Reflection, Reafon, ftill the ties improve,
At once extend the int'reft, and the love : 1 3 >
With Choice we fix, with Sympathy we burn,
Each Virtue in each Pafllon takes its turn ;
And ftill new needs, new helps, new habits rife,
That graft benevolence on charities.
Still as one brood, and as another rofe, 140
Thefe nat'ral love maintain'd, habitual thofe ;
The laft fcarce ripen'd into perfect man,
Saw helplefs him from whom their life began :
Mem'ry and Forecaft, jufl returns engage,
That pointed back to youth, this on to age ; 145
While Pleafure, Gratitude, and Hope combin'd
Scill fpread the int'reft, and preferv'd the kind.
Nor think, in NATURE'S STATE they blindly trod ;
The State of Nature was the Reign of GOD :
Self Love, and Social, at her birth began, 150
Union the Bond of all things, and of Man.
Pride then was not ; nor Arts, that pride to aid ;
Man walk'd with beaft, joint tenant of the made ;
VER. 132.] How much farther SOCIETY is carry'd
by REASON.
VER. 148.] Of the STATE of NATURE: That it
wasSociAt.
The
ETHIC EPISTLES. 37
The fame his table, and the fame his bed ;
No murder cloath'd him, and no murder fed. 155
In the fame temple, the refounding wood,
All vocal beings hymn'd their equal God :
The Ihrine with Gore unftain'd, with Gold undreft,
Unbrib'd, unbloody, flood the blamelefs Prieft :
Heav'ns Attribute was Urriverfal Care, 1 60
And Man's prerogative to rule, but fpare.
Ah how unlike the man of times to come ?
Of half that live, the Butcher, and the Tomb;
Who, foe to nature, hears the gen'ral groan,
Murders their ipecies, and betrays his own. i6j
But juft difeafe to luxury fucceeds,
And ev'ry death its- own avenger breeds ;
The Fury-Paffions from that blood began,
And turn'd on man a fiercer favage, Man.
See him from nature rifing flow to art ! 1 70
To copy inftinft then was reafon's part ;
Thus then to man the voice of Nature fpake
Go ! from the creatures thy inftruftions take ;
Learn from the birds what food the thickets yield;
Learn from the beaits, the phyfick of the field : z 75
Thy arts of building from the bee receive ;
Learn of he mole to plow, the worm to weave j
Learn of the little Nautilus to fail,
Spread the thin oar, and catch the driving gale.
VER.I70.] Reafon inftru&ed- by Inftinft in the In-
vention of ARTS, and in theFoRMS of Society.
VER. 178.] Oppian. Halieut. Lib. 1. defcribes this
Fifh in the following manner. They /wim on the furface
C 3 f
ETHIC EPISTLES.
Here too all Forms of focial Union find, 1 80
And hence let Reafon, late, inftrucl: mankind :
Here fubrerranean works and cities fee,
There towns aerial on the waving tree.
Learn each fmall people's Genius, Policies;
The ants Republic, and the Realm of bees; 185
How thofe in common all their ftores beftow,
And Anarchy without ccnfufion know,
And thefe for ever, tho' a Monarch reign,
Their fep'rate cells and properties maintain.
Mark what unvary'd laws preferve their ftate, igc>
Laws wife as nature, and as fix'd as fate.
In vain thy Reafon finer webs fhall draw,
Entangle Juftice in her net of Law,
And right too rigid harden into wrong,
Still for the ftrong too weak, the weak too ftrong.
Yet go ! and thus o'er all the creatures fway, 196
Thus let the wifer make the reft obey,
And for thofe arts meer Inftinft could afford,
Be crown'd as Monarchs, or as Gods ador'd.
Great Nature fpoke ; obfervant Men obey'd ; 200
Cities were built, Societies were made :
Here role one little State, another near
Grew by like means, and join'd thro' Love, or Fear.
of the Sea. on the back of their Shells, which exatily re-
ferable the hulk of a Sjiip ; they raije two feet like Mafts,
and extend a RIembrane between, which ferves as a.
Sail; the other two feet they employ as Oars at the fide.
They are ufualh feen in the Mediterranean.
VER. zoo.] Origine of POLITICAL SOCIETIES.
Did
ETHIC EPISTLES. 39
Did here the trees with ruddier burdens bend,
And there the ftreams in purer rills defcend ? 205
What War could ravifh, Commerce could beftow,
And he return'd a friend, who came a foe.
Converfe and Love mankind might ftrongly draw,
When Love was Liberty, and Nature Law.
Thus States were form'd ; the name of King unknown,
Till common int'reft plac'd the fway in one. 21 1
'Twas VIRTUE ONLY (or in arts, or arms,
DifFufing bleflings, or averting harms)
The fame which in a Sire the fons obey'd,
A Prince the father of a people made. 215
Till then, by nature crown 'd, each Patriarch fate,
King, Prieft, and Parent of his growing State :
On him, their fecond Providence, they hung,
Their Law his eye ; their Oracle, his tongue.
He, from the wond'ring furrow call'd their food, 220
Taught to command the Fire, controul the Flood,
Draw forth the monfters of th' Abyfs profound,
Or fetch th' aerial Eagle to the ground.
Till drooping, fickning, dying, they began
Whom they rever'd as God, to mourn as Man. 225
Then, looking up from fire to fire, explor'd
One great, Firft father, and that Firft ador'd.
Or plain Tradition that this All begun ,
Convey'd unbroken Faith from fire to fon,
VER.ZII.] Origine of MONARCHY.
VER.2i6.] of PATRIARCHAL GOVERK-
MENT.
C 4 The
.p ETHIC EPISTLES.
The Worker from the work diftinft was known, 23
And fimple Reafon never fought but one :
E're Wit oblique had broke that fteady light,
Man, like his Maker, faw, that all was right,
To virtue in the paths of pleafure trod,
And own'd a Father when he own'd a God. 235
LOVE all the Faith, and all th'Allegiance then ;
For Nature knew no right Divine in Men, '
No ill could fear in God ; and understood
A fovereign Being but a fovereign Good.
True Faith, true Policy, united ran, 24
That was but Love of God, and this of Man.
Who firft taught fpuls enflav'd, and realms undone,
Th' enormous faith of many made for one ?
That proud exception to all Nature's Jaws,
T'invert the world, and counterwork its Caufe ? 245
Force firit made conqueft, and that conqueit, law ;
Till Superftition taught the tyrant awe,
Then fnar'd the tyranny, then lent it aid,
And Gods of Conqu'rors,' Slaves of Subjects made :
She, midft the Lightning's blaze and Thunder's found,
When rock'd the mountains, and when groan'd the
She taught the weak to bend, the proud to pray [ground,
To Pow'r unfeen, and mightier far than they :
She, from the rending earth, and burfting skies,
Saw Cods defcend, and Fiends infernal rife ; 255
VER.236] Origine of TRUE RELIGION and GO-
VERNMENT, from 'the Principle of LOVE : andofSu-
KERSTITION andTyRANNY, from that of FEAR.
Here
ETHIC EPIStLES. 41
Here fix'd the dreadful, there the bleft abodes ;
Fear made her Devils, and weak Hope her Gods :
Gods partial, changeful, paffionate, unjuft,
Whofe Attributes were Rage, Revenge, orLuft,
Such as the fouls of Cowards might conceive, 260
And form'd like Tyrants, tyrants would believe.
Zeal then, not Chanty, became the guide,
And Hell was built on Spite, and Heav'n on Pride.
Tien facred feem'd th' asthereal Vault no more ;
Altars grew marble then, and reek'd with gore : 265
Tien firit the Flamen tailed living food,
Next his grim idol fmear'd with human blood,
With heavVs own Thunders fhook the world below,
And play'd the God an Engine on his foe.
So drives SELF-LOVE, thro 1 juft and thro' unjuft, 270
To one man's Povv'r, Ambition, Lucre, Luft :
The fame Self-love, in all, becomes the caufe
Of what reftrains him, Government and Laws.
For what one likes, if others like as well,
What ferves one will when many wills rebel ? 275
How fhall he keep, what fleeping or awake
A weaker may furprize, a ftronger take ?
His Safety muft his Liberty reilrain ;
All join to guard what each defires to gain,
Forc'd into virtue thus by felf-defence, 280
Ev'n Kings learn'd jultice and benevolence :
VER. 270. 3 The Influence of SELF-LOVE operating
to the SOCIAL and Public Qatd.
Self-
4 ETHIC EPISTLES-
Self-love forfook the path it firft purfu'd,
And found the private in the public good.
'Twas then, the ftudious head, or gen'rous mind,
FolTwer of God, or Friend of Human kind, z8;j
Poet or Patriot, rofe, but to reftore
The Faith and Moral Nature gave before ;
Re-lum'd her ancient light, not kindled new ;
If not God's image, yet his fliadow drew;
Taught pow'rs due ufe to People and to Kings, 25^
Taught not to flack, nor ftrain its tender firings,'
The icfs and greater, fet fo juftl/ true,
That touching one muft ftrike the other too,
Till jarring Int'refts of tHemfelves create
Th' according Mufir of a well mix'd State. zgj
Such is the WORLD'S great harmony, that fprings
From Union, Order, full Confent of things !
Where fmall and great, where weak and mighty, made
To ferve, not fuffer, ftrengthen, not invade,
More pow'rful each, as needful to the reft, 300
And in proportion as it blefles, bleft,
Draw to one point, and to one centre bring
Bealt, Man, or Angel, Servant, Lord, or King.
For Forms of Government let fools conteft,
Whate'er is bed adminiftred, is beft :
for Modes of Faith, let gracelefs zealots fight,
His can't be wrong, whofe Life is in the right :
VER. 284.] Refloration of True Religion and Govern-
ment on their firft Principle. Mixt Governments ; with
the various Forms of each, and the TRUE USB OF
ALL.
All
ETHIC EPI STLES. 43
All muft be falfe, that thwart this one, great End,
And all of God, that blefs mankind, or mend. 310
Man, like the gen'rous Vine, fupported lives,
The ftrength he gains is from th'embrace he gives;
On their own Axis as the Planets run,
Yet make at once their circle round the Sun ;
So two confiftent motions aft the foul, 31$
And one regards Itfelf, and one the Whole.
Thus God and Nature link'd the gen'ral Frame,
And bade Self-love and Social be the fame.
EPISTLE
EPISTLE IV.
O HAPPINESS ! our being's end and aim!
Good, pleafure, eafe. content! whate'er thyname :
That fomething ftill which prompcs th'eternal figh,
For which we bear to live, or dare to die ;
Which ftill fo near us, yer beyond us lies, 5
O'erlook'd, feen double, by the fool, and wife :
Plant of Czeleftial feed ! if dropf below,
Say, in what mortal foil thou ddgn'ft to grow ?
Fair-opening to fome Court's propitious mine,
Or deep with diamonds in the flaming Mine, 10
Twin'd with the wreaths Parnaffian laurels yield,
Or reap'd in Iron harvefts of the field ?
Where grows where grows it not ? If vain our toil,
We ought to blame the Culture, not the Soil :
Fix'd to no fpot is Happinef, fincere, 15
'Tis no where to be found, or ev'ry where,
'Tis never to be bought, but always free,
And fled from monarchs, ST. JOHN ! dwells with thee.
Ask of the Learn'd the way, the Learn'd are blind,
This bids to ferve, and that to mun mankind ; 20
Some place the blifs in aftion, fome in eafe,
Thofe call it pleafure, and contentment thefe :
Of the NATURE andSTATE of MAN, with refpeft
to HAPPINESS.
Who
ETHIC EPISTLES. 45
Who thus define it, fay they more or lefs
Than this, that Happinefs is Happincfs ?
One grants his Pleafure is but reft from pain ; 25
One doubts of all ; one owns ev'n Virtue vain.
Take Nature's path, and mad Opinion's leave.
All ftates can reach it, and all heads conceive ;
Obvious her goods, in no extreme they dwell,
There needs but thinking right, and meaning well ;
And mourn our various portions as we pleafe, 31
Equal is common Senfe, ancf common Eafe*
Remember, Man, " the Univerfal caufe
" Afts not by partial but by gen'ral Laws ;
And makes what Happinefs we juftly call, 35
Subfiftnot in the Good of one, but all.
There's not a blefling Individuals find,
But fome way leans and hearkens to the Kind.
No Bandit fierce, no Tyrant mad with pride,
No cavern'd Hermit, reft felf-fatisfy'd ; 40
Who moft to fhun or hate mankind pretend,
Seek an Admirer, or wou'd fix a Friend :
Abftracl what others feel, what others think,
All Pleafures ficken, and all Glories fink ;
VE-R. 2.7.] HAPPIKESS the END of all Men, and
attainable by all.
VER. 32.] GOD governs by general not particular
Laws ; intends Happinefs to be. equal, and to be lo, it
mult be fociaJ, fince all perfect Happinefs depends on
general.
Each
46 ETHIC EPISTLES.
Each has his (hare, and who wou'd more obtain 45
Shall find, the pleafure pays not half the pain.
ORDER is Heav'n's firft Law ; and this confeft,
Some are, and mult be, greater than the reft,
More rich, more wife : but who infers from hence
That fuch are happier, fhocks all common fenfe. 50
Heav'n to mankind impartial we confefs,
If all are equal in their Happinefs :
But mutual wants this happinefs increafe,
All Nature's difference keeps all Nature's peace.
Condition, Circumftance is not the thing: 55
Slifs is the fame, in Subjeft or in King,
In who obtain defence, or who defend,
In him who is, or him who finds, a friend :
Heav'n breathes thro' ev'ry member of the whole
One common Blefling, as one common Soul. 60
But Fortune's gifts if each alike poffeft,
And each were equal, muft not all contejl ?
If then to all men happinefs was meant,
God in Externals could not place content.
Fortune her gifts may varioufly difpofe, <5>
And thefe be happy call'd, unhappy thofe ;
But heav'n's juft balance equal will appear,
While thofe are plac'd in Hope, and thefe in Fear :
VER. 47.] It it neceffary for ORDER and the com-
mon Peace, that External Goods be unequal, therefore
Happinefs is not conftituted in thefe.
VER. 65.] The balance of human happinefs kept
equal (notwithftanding Externals] by HOPE and FEAR.
Not
ETHIC EPISTLES, 47
Not prefent Good or 111, the joy or curfe,
But future views, of better, or of worfe. 70
Oh Sons of earth ! attempt ye ftill to rife
By mountains pil'd on mountains, to the Skies?
Heav'n ftill with laughter the vain toil furveys, .
And buries madmen in the Heaps they raifc.
Know, all the Good that individuals find, 75
Or God and nature meant to meer mankind,
Reafon's whole pleafures, all the joys of Senfe,
Lie in three words, Health, Peace, and Competence.
But Health confifls with temperance alone,
And Peace, O Virtue ! Peace is all thy own ; 80
The good or bad the gifts of Fortune gain ;
But thefe lefs taite them, as they worfe obtain.
Say, inpurfuit of profit 'or delight,
Who rifque the moft, that take wrong means or right ?
Of Vice or Virtue, whether bleft or curft, 85
Which meets contempt, or which companion firft ?
Count all th'advantage profp'rous Vice attains,
'Tis but what Virtue flies from, and difdains ;
And grant the bad what happinefs they wou'd,
One they mult want, which is, to pafs for good. 90
Oh blind to truth, and God's whole Scheme below *
Who fancy blifs to Vice, to Virtue woe:
Who fees and follows that great fcheme the beft,
Beft knows the blefiing, and will moft be bleft.
VER. 75.] I.i what the Happinefs of Individuals
cbnfitts, and that the Go on MAN has the advantage,
even in this world.
VER. 91.] That no man is unhappy thro* VIRTUE.
But
48 ETHIC EPISTLES:
But Fools the Good alonevunhappy call; 9^
For ills or accidents that chance to All.
See FALKLAND dies, the virtuous and the jufl !
See godlike Tu R EN N E proftrate on the duft !
See SIDNEY bleeds amid the martial ftrife !
Was this their Vi rtue, or Contempt of Life ? i o
Say was it Virtue, more tho' Heav'n ne'er gave,
Lamented DIGB y ! funk thee to the ^rave ?
Tell me, if Virtue made the Son expire,
Why, full of days and Honour, lives the Sire?
Why drew Marseille's good bifhop purer breath, 105
When nature ficken'd and each gale was death ?
Or why fo long (in life if long can b.e)
Lent heav'n a Parent to the Poor> and me ?
What makes all Phyfical or Moral ill ?
There! deviates Nature, and here wanders Will. 1 16
God fends not 111 ; if rightly underitood,
Or partial 111 is Univerfal Good,
Or Change admits, or Nature lets it fall
Short and but rare, till Man improv'd it all.
We juit as wifely might of Heav'n complain, 1 1 5
That righteous Abel was deftroy'd by Cain,
As that the virtuous fon is ill at eafc,
When his lewd father gave the dire diieafe.
Think we like fome weak prince th'Eternal Caufe,
Prone for his Fav'rites to reverfe his laws ? 1 20
Shall burning JEtna, if a fage requires,
Forget to thunder, and recall her fires .'
On Air or Sea new motions be impreft,
O blamelefs Eetbel! to relieve thy breaft ?
When
ETHIC EPISTLES. 49
When the loofe Mountain trembles from on high, 1 25
Shall gravitation ceafe, if you go by ?
Or fome old temple nodding to its fall,
For Chart res' head referve the hanging wall?
But ftill this world (fo fitted for the knave)
Contents us not. A better mail we have ? 130
A kingdom of the juft then let it be :
But firft confider how thofe juft agree ?
The good muft merit God's peculiar care;
But who but God can tell us who they are ?
On thinks on Calvin heav'n's own fpirit fell, 135
Another deems him Inftrument of hell ;
If Calvin feel heav'n's bleffing, or its rod,
This cries there is, and that, there is no God."
What mocks one part will edify the reft,
Nor with one Syftem can they all be bleft. 140
The very belt will variously incline,
And what rewards your Virtue, punifh mine.
" Whatever is, is RIGHT." This world, 'tis true,
Was made for Ctefar but for Titus too :
And which more /*/?.? who chain'd his Country, fay,
Or he, whofe virtue figh'd to loie a day ? 146
" But fometimes Virtue ftarves while Vice is fed."
What then? is the reward of virtue, bread ?
That, Vice may merit ; 'tis the price of Toil :
The knave deferves it when he tills the foil, 150
The knave deferves it when he tempts the main,
Where Folly fights, for Tyrants, or for Gain.
The good man may be weak, be indolent,
Nor is his claim to Plenty, but Content.
D But
50 ETHIC EPISTLES.
But grant him riches, your demand is o'er ? 155
*' No fhall the good wantHealth, the good wantPow'r ?
Add health, and pow'r, and ev'ry earthly thing :
" Why bounded pow'r? why private ? why no King ?
Nay, why external for internal giv'n,
Why is not Man a God, and Earth a Heav'n ? 1 60
Who ask and reafon thus, will fcarce conceive
God gives enough while he has more to give:
Immenfe the pow'r, immenfe were the demand;
Say, at what part of nature will they ftand ?
What nothing earthly gives, or can deftroy, 165
The foul's calm fun-mine, and the heart-felt joy,
Is Virtue's prize : A better would you fix ?
Then give Humility a Coach and fix,
Juftice a Conqu'ror's fword, or Truth a Gown,
Or Publick Spirit its great cure, a Crown : 1 70
Rewards, that either would to Virtue bring
No joy, or be deftrudlive of the thing.
How oft by thefe at fixty are undone
The virtues of a Saint at twenty one ?
For Riches, can they give, but to the Juft, 1 75
His own contentment, or another's truft ?
Judges and Senates have been bought for gold,
Efteem and love were never to be fold.
O Fool ! to think, God hates the worthy mind,
The Lover, and the Love,- of Human kind, 1 80
VER. 167.] That External Goods are not the proper
Rewards of Virtue, often inconfiltent with, or deftruc-
tive of it ; but that all thefe can make no man happy
without Virtue. Inftanced in each of them.
i. RICHES. Whofc
ETHIC EPISTLES. 51
Whofe life is healthful, and whofe confcience clear j
Becaufe he wants a thoufand pounds a year!
Honour and fhame from no Condition rife }
Aft well your part, there all the Honour lies.
Fortune in men has fome fmall difference made, 1 85
One flaunts in rag?, one flutters in brocade.
The Coble r apron'd, and the Parfon gown'dj
The Fryar hooded, and the Monarch crown'd.
" What differ more (you cry) than crown and cowl ?"
I'll tell you, friend : a Wife man and a Fool. 190
You'll find, if once the monarch afts the monk,
Or cobler-like, the parfon will be drunk,
Worth makes the Man, and want of it the Fellow ;
The reft, is all but Leather or Prunella.
Stuck oe'r with Tides, and hung round with firings,
That thou may'ft be, by Kings, or Whores of kings.
Thy boafted Blood, a thoufand years or fo, 197
May from Lucre tia to Lucretia flow;
But by your Fathers worth if yours you rate,
Count me thofe only who were good and great. 20
Go ! if your antient but ignoble blood
Has crept thro' Scoundrels- ever fmce the Flood,
Go ! and pretend your Family is young }
Not own your fathers have been fools fo long.
What can ennoble Sots, or Slaves, or Cowards I 20$
Alas! not all the blood of all the Ho WARDS.
Look next on G reatnels, fay where Greatnefs lies ?
" Where, but among the Heroes, and the Wife ?
2. HONOURS, 3. TITLES, 4. BIRTH,
5. GREATNESS.
D 2 Heroes
52 ETHIC EPISTLES.
Heroes are much the fame, the point's agreed,
From Macedonia*, Madman to the Swede ; 210
The whole ftrange purpofe of their lives, to find
Or make, an enemy of all mankind ;
Not one looks backward, onward ftill he goes,
Yet ne'er looks forward farther than his nofe.
No lefs alike the Politick and wife, 2 1 5
All fly, flow things, with circumfpeftive eyes ;
Men in their loofe, unguarded hours they take,
Nor that themfelves are wife, but others weak.
But grant that thofe can conquer, thefe can cheat,
' Tis phrafe abfurd to call a Villain Great: 220
Who wickedly is wife, or madly brave,
Is but the more a fool, the more a knave.
Who noble ends by noble means obtains,
Or failing, fmiles in Exile or in chain?,
Like good Aurelius let him reign, or bleed 225
Like Socrates, that Man is great indeed.
What's Fame? that fancy 'd Life in others breath,
A rhing beyond us, ev'n before our death.
Juft what you hear, you have, and what's unknown
The fame (my Lord) if Tulifs, or your own. 230
All that we feel of it begins and ends
In the fmall circle of our foes or friends ;
To all befide, as much an empty Shade
An Eugene living, as a Cajar dead,
Alike, or when or where, they (hone or fhine, 235
Or on the Rubicon, or on the Rhine.
. 6. FAME.
A wit's
ETHIC EPISTLES. 55
A Wit's a Feather, and a Chief a Rod ;
An honeft man's the nobleft work cf God :
Fame but from death a villain's name can fave,
As juftice tears his body from the grave ; 240
When what t'oblivion better were refignM
Is hung on high, to poifon half mankind.
AH Fame is foreign, but of true Defert,
Plays round the head, but comes not to the heart.
One felf-approving hour whole years out-weighs 245
Of ftupid flarers, and of loud huzza's ;
And more true joy Marcellus exil'd feels,
Than defar with a Senate at his heels.
In Parts fuperior what advantage lies !
Tell (for Tou can) what is it to be wife ? 250
'Tis but to know, how little can be known ;
To fee all others faults, and feel our own ;
Condemn'd in Bufmefs or in Arts to drudge
Without a Second, or without a Judge :
Truths would you teach, or fave a finking land ? 255
All fear, none aid you, and few understand.
Painful Preheminence ! your felf to view
Above Life's Weaknefs, and its Comforts too.
Bring then thefe bleflings to a ftrift account,
Make fair deduftions, fee to what they mount ? 260
How much of other each is fure to coft ?
How each for other oft is wholly loft?
How inconfiftent greater goods with thefe ?
How fometimes Life is riiqu'd, and always Eafe ?
7. SUPERIOR PARTS.
D 3 Think,
54 ETHIC EPISTLES.
Think, and if ftill the Things thy envy call, 265
Say, would'ft thou be the Man to whom they fall ?
To figh for ribbands if thou art fo filly,
Mark how they grace Lord Umbra, or Sir Billy.
Is yellow dirt the paffion of thy life ?
Look but on Gripus, or on Gripus 1 wife. 270
If parts allure thee, think how Bacon ftiin'd,
The wifeft, brighteft, meaneft of mankind.
Or ravifh'd with the whittling of a name,
See Cromwell, damn'd to everlafting fame !
If all, united, thy ambition call, 275
From ancient Story learn to fcorn them all.
There, in the rich, the honour'd, fam'd, and great,
See the falfe fcale of Happinefs compleat !
Jn hearts of Kings or arms of Queens who lay,
(How happy ') thole to ruin, thefe betray. 280
.Mark by what wretched fteps their glory grows,
From dirt and fea-weed as proud Venice rofe;
In each, how guilt and greatnefs equal ran,
And all that rais'd the Hero funk the Man.
Now Europe's laurels on their brows behold, 285
But ftain'd with blood, or ill exchang'd for gold :
Then fee them broke with Toils, or funk in Eafe,
Or infamous for plunder'd Provinces.
Oh Wealth ill-fated ! which no aft of fame
E'er taught to mine, or lanctifyM from fhame ? 290
What greater blifs attends their clofe of life ?
Some greedy Minion, or imperious Wife,
The trophy'd Arches, ftory'd Halls invade
And haunt their {lumbers in the pompous Shade.
Alas !
ETHIC EPISTLES. 55
Alas ! not dazled with their noontide ray, 395
Compute the morn and evening to the day :
The whole amount of that enormous fame,
A tale ! that blends their Glory with their Shame.
Know then this truth (enough for man to know)
" VIRTUE alone is Happinefs below: 300
The only point where human blifs Hands ftill,
And taftes the good without the fall to ill ;
Where only, merit conftant pay receives,
Is blefs'd in what it takes, and what it gives ; ,
The joy unequal'd, if its end it gain, 305
And if it lofe, attended with no pain :
Without fetiety, tho' e'er fo blefs'd,
And but more relifh'd as the more diflrefs'd :
The broadeft mirth unfeeling Folly wears,
Lefs pleafing far than Virtue's very tears, 310
Good, from each object, from each place acquir'd,
For ever exercis'd, yet never tir'd ;
Never elated, white one man's opprefs'd,
Never dejefted, while another's blefs'd ;
And where no wants, no wifties can remain, 3 1 5
Since but to wifh more virtue, is to gain.
See ! the fole blifs Heav'n could on All beftow,
Which who but feels, can tafte, but thinks, can know:
VER. 300.] Thac VIRTUE only conftitutes a Hap-
pinefs, whofe Objeft is Univerfal, and whofe Profpeft
Eternal.
VER. 318, &c.] That the Perfection of Happinefs
confifts in a Conformity to the Order of Providence here,
and a Resignation to it, here and hereafter.
D 4 Yet
5 6 ETHIC EPISTLES.
Yet poor with Fortune, and with Learning blind,
The Bad mult mifs, the Good untaught will find, 320
Slave to no fedt, who takes no private road,
But looks thro' Nature up to Nature's GOD,
Purities that chain which links th'immenfe defign,
Joins Heav'n and Earth, and mortal, and divine j
Sees, that no being any blifs can know 3 25
But touches fome above, and fome below;
Learns, from t his Union of the rifing Whole,
The firft, laft purpofe of the human foul ;
'And knows, where Faith, Law, Morals all began,
All end, in LOVE of GOD, and LOVE of JMAN. 330
For him alone, Hope leads from gole to gole,
And opens jHll, and opens on his foul,
Till lengthen'd on to Faith, and unconfin'd.
It pours the blifs that fills up all the mind.
He fees, why Narure plants in Man alone 335
Hope of known blifs, and Faith in bliis unknown ?
(Nature, whofe dictates to no other kind
Are giv'n in vain, but what they feek they find)
Wife is the Prefent : (he connects in this
His greateft Virtue with his greateft Blijs, 340
At once his own bright profpecl; to be bleft,
And ftrongeft motive to afiift the reft.
Self-Love thus pufli'd to focial, to divine,
Gives thee to make thy Neighbour's bleffing thine :
Is this too little for the boundlefs heart?
Extend it, let thy Enemies have part: 345
Grafp che whole worlds, ofreafon, life, and fenfe,
In one clofe fyilem of Benevolence.
Happier,
ETHIC EPISTLES. 57
Happier, as kinder ! in whate'er degree,
And height of Blifs but height of CHARITY. 350
God loves from whole to parts : but human foul
Muft rife from individual to the whole.
Self-love but ferves the virtuous mind to wake,
As the fmall pebble ftirs the peaceful Irke,
The centre mov'd, a circle ftrait fucceeds, 355
Another ftill, and ftill another fprr-r^s,
Friend, parent, neighbour, firft it wili embrace,
His country next, and next all human-race ;
Wide, and more wide, th'c'erflowings of the mind
Take ev'ry creature in, of ev'ry kind ; 360
Earth fmiles around, with boundlefs bounty bleft,
And Heav'n beholds its image in his breaft.
Come then, my Friend! my Genius come along,
Oh mafter of the Poet, and the Song !
And while the Mufe now ftoops, or now afcends, 365
To Man's low paffions, or their glorious Ends,
Teach me like thee, in various nature wife,
To fall with dignity, with temper rife ;
Form'd by thy converfe, happily to fleer
From grave to gay, from lively to fevere, 370
Correct with fpirit, eloquent with eafe,
Intent to reafon, or polite to pleafe.
O ! while along the ftream of Time, thy name
Expanded flies, and gathers all its fame,
Say, mail my little bark attendant fail, 375
Purfue the triumph, and partake the gale ?
When Statefmen, Heroes, King?, in duft repofe,
Whofe fons {hall blufh their fathers were thy foes,
ShaH
5 8 ETHIC EPISTLES.
Shall then this verfe to future age pretend
Thou wert my Guide, Philofopher, and Friend ?
That urg'd by thee, I turn'd the tuneful art
From founds to things, from Fancy to the Heart ; 380
For Wit's falfe mirror held up Nature's light;
Shew'd erring Pride, Whatever/;, is RIGHT ;
That REASON, PASSION, anfwer oxEgreat AIM :
That true SELF-LOVE and SOCIAL are the SAME ;
That VIRTUE only makes bnrBi.Hl below; 385
And all our Knowledge is, OURSELVES TO KNOW.
End cf the Firji Book.
ETHIC
ETHIC EPISTLES,
THE
SECOND BOOK.
CONTENTS,
EPISTLE I.
Of the KNOWLEDGE and CHARACTERS of
MEN, To Sir RICHARD TEMPLE, Ld. Vifot
COBHAM.
fW^HAT for this Knowledge it is not fufficient to con-
fiderMan in the Abjlraft : Books will not ferve
-* the purpofe, nor yet our own Obfervation, fingly,
VER. I . General Maxims, unlefs they be form'd upon
both, will be but notional, 10. Some Peculiarity in every
Man, charafteriftic to himfelf, yet varying from him-
felf, 15; the further difficulty of feparating and fixing
this, arifmgfromourownPaffions,Fancks,Faculties, sV.
23. The fhortnefs of life, to obferve in, and the uncer-
tainty of the Principles cf Aftion in Men, to obferve by,
29. Our oou Principle of Aftion often hid from our-
felves, 41 . No judging of the Motives from the Actions;
the fame Aftions proceeding from contrary Motives, and
the fame Motives influencing contrary Aftions, 5 1 to 70.
Yet to form Cbarafitrs, we can only take tiizftrangeft
Aftions of a man's life, and try to make them agree
The utter Uncertainty of this, from Nature itfelf, and
from Policy, 7 1 . Cbarafiers given according to the Rank
of Men in the World, and fome Reafon for it, 87. Edu-
cation alters the Nature, or at leaft Character of many,
101. Some few Characters plain, but in general con-
founded, diffembled, or inconfiftent, 122. The tame
Man utterly different in different places and feafons,, j 30.
Unimaginable Weakneffes in the Greateft, 1 40. Nothing
conftant and certain but GOD and NATURE. Of Man
fbe CONTENTS.
we cannot judge, by his Nature, his Aftions, his Paffions,
his Opinions, his Manners, Humours, or Principles, all
fubjed to change, 1 60, &c. It only remains to find (if
we can) his RULING PASSION: That will certainly
influence all the reft, and only can reconcile the feeming
or real Inconfiftency of his Aftions, 176. Inftanced in
the extraordinary Character of Clodio, 1 8 1 . A Caution
againft miftaking fecond Dualities for firjl, which will
deftroy all poffibility of the Knowledge of Mankind,
212. Examples of the Strength of the Ruling PaJJion,
and its Continuation to the laft breath, 224, &c.
EPISTLE II.
Of theCHARACTERSof WOMEN. ToaLADY.
(~)F the Characters of Women (confider'd only as con-
^"^ tradiftinguimed from the other Sex.) That thefe are
yet more inconfiftent and incomprehenfible than thofe
of Men, of which Inftances are given even from fuch
Characters as are plaineft, and moft ftrongly mark'd ;
as in the AffeSed, VER. 7, &c. The Soft-naturd, 29.
the Cunning, 45. the Whimfical, 50. the Wits and Re-
finers, 69. the Stupid and Silly, 80. How Contrarieties
run thro' them all.
But tho' the Particular Charaflers of this Sex are
more various than thofe of Men, the General Cbarafier-
iftick, as to the Ruling PaJJlon^ is more uniform and
confin'd. In what That lies, and whence it proceeds,
109, tffr. Men are beft known in publick Life, Wo-
men in private, 1 10. What are the Aims, and the Fate
of the Sex, both as to Ponvtr and Pleafure? 121, 133,
fcff . Advice for their true Intereft, 151. The Pidture
of an efteemable Woman, made up of the beft Kind of
Contrarieties, 171, &c.
The CONTENTS.
EPISTLE III.
Of the USE of RICHES, To ALLEN Lord
BATHURST.
npHE true Ufe of Riches known to few, moft falling
* into one of the Extremes, Avarice or Profufton,
VER.ijdffc.ThePointdifcufs'd whether the Invention of
Money was more commodious or pernicious to Man-
kind, 21 to 28. Riches can fcarcc afford NecefTaries
either to the Avaritious or Prodigal, much lefs any hap-
pinefs, 8 1, &c. It is never for their own Families, or
for the Poor, that Mifers covet Wealth, but a direft
Phrenfy without an end or purpofe, 100. Conjectures
about the Motives of avaricious men, to 152. That it
can only be accounted for by the ORDER of PROVI-
DENCE, which works General Good out of Extremes,
and brings all to its Great End by perpetual Revolutions,
153 to 178. A Pifture of a Mifer adding upon Princi-
ples which appear to him reafonable, 179. Another of
a Prodigal afting on the contrary Principles, which feem
to him equally right, 199. The due Medium and true
Ufe of Riches, 219/0 248. The Charader and Praifes
of the MAN of Ross, 250. The Fate of the Covetous,
and of the, Profufe, in Two Examples, 298, and 315.
That both are mjierable, in Life and in Death. The
Tale of Sir Balaam, the Degrees of Corruption by
Riches, and the Confequences, 339, &c.
EPISTLE IV.
Of the fame, To RICHARD E. of BURLING TON,
'IP H E Extremes of Avarice and Profuflon being
A treated of in the foregoing Epiftle, this takes up
one particular Branch of the latter ; the Vanity of Ex-
pence
The CONTENTS.
pence in Peop'e of Wealth and Quality. The Abufe of
the word Tajie, VER. 13. that the Firft Principle and
Foundation, in this as in every thing elfe, is GoodSenfe,
40. The chief proof of it is to follow Nature, even in
works of mere Luxury and Elegance. Inftanced in Ar-
chitecture and Gardening, where all muft be adapted to
the Genius and Ufe of the Place, and the Beauties not
forced into it, but refuJting from it, 50. How men
are difappointed in their moft expenfive Undertakings
for want of this true Foundation, without which nothing
can pleafe long, if at all j and the belt Examples and
Ritles will but be perverted into fomething burdenfome
or ridiculous, 65, &c. to 90. A Defcription of the Falfe
Tajie of Magnificence ; tiie firft grand Error of which is
to imagine that Greatnefs confifts in the Size and Di-
menfion, inftead of the Proportion and Harmony, of the
Whole, 93. and the fecond, either in joining together
Parts incoherent, or too minutely refembling, or in the
Repetition of the fame too frequently, 103, &c. A word
or two of Falfe Taile in Booh, in Mujick, in Painting,
even in Preaching and Prayer, and laftly in Entertain-
ments, 125, &c. Yet PROVIDENCE is juiiified in giving
Wealth to be fquandered in this manner, fmce it is
difperfed to the Poor and Laborious part of mankind,
161 . (recurring to what is laid down in the firit book,
Epift. 2. and in the Epiftle preceding this, V. 165.)
What are tke proper Objefis of Magnificence, and a pro-
per Field for the Expence of Great Men, 169, C5V.
and finally the Great and Publick Works which be-
come a Prince, 187/0 the End,
[ I ]
EPISTLE I.
T O
Sir Ri CHARD TEMPLE,
Lord Vifcount C o B H A M.
YES, you defpife the Man to Books confin'd,
Who from his Study rails at human kind ;
Tho' what he learns he fpeaks, and may advance
Some gen'ral Maxims, or be right by Chance.
The coxcomb Bird, fo talkative and grave, 5
That from his Cage cries Cuckold, Whore, and Knave,
Tho' many a Paflenger he rightly call,
You hold him no Philofopher at all.
And yet the fate of all Extremes is fuch,
Men may be read, as well as Books, too much. 10
VER. i. &c. Of the KNOWLEDGE and CHARAC-
TERS of MEN. That it is not fufficient for this
Knowledge to confider Men in the Abftra.8.
V. 10. Not to be learn'd either by Books or our
own Obfervation fmgly, but both.
A To
2 ETHIC EPISTLES.
To obfervations which ourfelves we make,
We grow more partial for th' Obferver's fake;
To written Wifdom, as another's, lefs :
Maxims are drawn from Notions, thefe from Guers.
There's forae Peculiar in each Leaf and Grain; 15
Some unmark'd Fibre, or Ibme varying Vein :
Shall only Man be taken in the grofs ?
Grant but as many forts of Mind, as Mofs.
That each from other differs, firft confefs ;
Next, that he varies from himfelf no lefs : 20
Add Nature's, Cuftom's, Reafon's, Paffion's flrife,
And all Opinion's Colours call on Life.
Yet more; the difference is as great between
The Optics feeing, as the Objects feen.
AH Manners take a tinfture from our own, 25
Or come difcolour'd thro' our Paflions fhown,
Or Fancy's beam inlarges, multiplies,
Contracts, inverts, and gives ten thoufand dyes.
Our Depths who fathoms, or our Shallows finds ?
Quick Whirls, and fhifdng Eddies, of our minds? 30
V. 15. General Maxims notional, a Peculiarity in
ev'ry Man.
V. 19. The difficulties of difcovering and fixing this
Peculiarity.
V". 29. The Uncertainty of the Principles of Aftion
in Men.
V. 1 8. There are above 300 Sorts of Mofs obferved
fy Nafura/ifts.
Life's
ETHIC EPISTLES. 3
Life's Stream for Obfervation will not ftay,
It hurries all too faft to mark their way. .
In vain fedate reflections we would make,
When half our knowledge we muft fnatch, not take.
On human Actions reafon tho' you can, 35
It may be Reafon, but it is not Man ;
His Principle of Adlion once explore,
That inftant, 'tis his Principle no more;
Like following Life thro' Creatures you difTeft,
You lofe it, in the moment you detedl. 40
Oft, in the Paflions wild rotation toft,
Our Spring of Aclion to ourfelves is loft:
Tir'd, not determin'd, to the laft we yield.
And what comes then is mailer of the field.
As the laft Image of that troubled heap, 45
When Senfe fubfides, and Fancy fports in fleep,
(Tho' paft the recollection of the thought)
Becomes the fluff of which our Dream is wrought;
Something, as dim to our internal view,
Is thus perhaps the caufe of all we do. 50
In vain the grave, with retrofpeftive eye,
Would from th' apparent what conclude the wly*
Infer the Motive from the Deed, and mow
That what we chancd, was what we meant to do.
V. 41. Our own Principle of Aftion, often unknown
to ourfelves.
V. 51, &c. to 70. No judging of the Motives from
the Attions, the fame A&ions proceeding from contrary
Motives, and contrary Adlions from the fame Motives,
A 2 Behold!
4 ETHIC EPISTLES.
Behold ! if Fortune, or a Miltrefs frowns, 55
Some plunge in bus'nefs, others fhave their crowns :
To eafe the foul of one oppreffive weight,
This quits an Empire, that embroils a State :
The fame aduft Complexion has impeli'd
Charles to the Convent, Philip to the Field. 60
Not always Acllons mew the Man : we find,
Who does a kindnefs is not therefore kind ;
Perhaps Profperity becalrrTd his Breaft;
Perhaps the Wind juft fhifted from the Eaft;
Not therefore humble he who feeks Retreat, 65
Pride guides his fteps, and bids him fhun the Great.
Who combats bravely, is not therefore brave ;
He dreads a Death-bed like the meaneft flave.
Who reafons wifely, is not therefore wife;
His pride in reas'ning, not in acting lies. 70
But grant that Actions beft difcover Man ;
Take the mofty?ro^, and fort them as you can:
liutjfw that glare, each Character muil mark,
You balance not the many in the dark.
What will you do with fuch as difagree ? 75
Supprefs them, or mifcall them Policy ?
Mufi then at once (the Character to lave)
:\ plain, rough Hero turn a crafty Knave ?
V. 60. C H A R L E S V. P H I L I P II.
V. 71. To form Characters, we can only take the
llrongeit acid moft fhining Aftions of a Man's Life, and
try to make them confiftent. The Uncertainty of this.
Alas!
ETHIC EPISTLES. 5
Alas! in truth the man but chang'd his mind,
Perhaps was fick, in love, or had not din'd. 80
Ask why from Britain, C^far made retreat ?
C<zfar perhaps had told you, he was beat :
The mighty Czar what mov'd to wed a Punk ?
The mighty Czar might anfwer, he was drunk :
But fage Hiftorians ! 'tis your task to prove 85
One adtion Conduft, one Heroic Love,
'Tis from high Life high Characters are drawn ;
A Saint in crape is twice a Saint in lawn ;
A Judge is juft, a Chanc'lor jufter ftill ;
A Gownman learn'd; a Bifhop, what you will: 90
Wife, if a Minifter ; but if a King,
More wife, more learn'd, more juft, more ev'ry thing.
Court- Virtues bear, like Gems, the higheit rate,
Born where heav'ns influence fcarce can penetrate.
In Life's low vale, (the foil the Virtues like) 95
They pleafe as beauties, here as wonders ftrike.
Tho' tlie fame Sun with all diffufive rays
Blufh in the rofe, and in the diamond blaze,
We prize the ftronger effort of his pow'r,
And always fet the Gem above the Flow'r. ico
'Tis Education forms the vulgar mind ;
Juft as the Twig is bent, the Tree's inclin'd.
Boaftful and rough, your firft Son is a Squire;
The next a Tradefman, meek, and much a Liar;
V 87. Charafters given meerly according to the
Rank of men in the world.
V. 101 . Education alters the Character of moft men.
A 3 Tom
6 ETHIC EPISTLES.
Tom ftruts a Soldier, open, bold, and brave ; 105
Will fneaks a Scriv'ner, an exceeding Knave :
Is he a Churchman ? then he's fond of pow'r >
A Quaker ? fly ; a Presbyterian ? four j
A fman Free thinker ? all things in an hour.
True, fome are open and to all Men known j no
Others fo very clofe, they're hid from none ;
(So Darknefs fills the eye no lefs than Light)
Thus gracious CHAN DOS is belov'd at fight :
And ev'ry Child hates Shylock, tho' his Soul
Still fits at fquat, and peeps not from its hole. 1 1 5
At half Mankind when gen'roiis Manly raves,
All know 'tis Virtue, for he thinks them Knaves :
When univerfal homage Umbra pays,
All fee 'tis Vice, and itch of vulgar praife.
Who but detefts th' Endearments of Courting? i 20
While One there is, who charms us with his Spleen.
But thefe plain Characters we rarely find,
Tho' ftrong the Bent, yet quick the Turns of mind.
Or puzzling Contraries confound the whole,
Or Affe&ations quite reverfe the Soul. 1 25
The dull, flat Falfehood ferves for Policy,
And in the Cunning, Truth itfelf's a Lye.
Unthought of Frailties cheat us in the Wife,
The Fool lies hid in Inconfiitencies.
V. no. Of plain Charaaers.
V. 122. Of the Caufes confounding Characters,
and the Jnconfiftency of a Man with himfelf.
See
ETHIC EPISTLES. 7
See the fame Man, in vigour, in the gout> 130
Alone, in company ; in place, or out;
Early at Bus'nefs, and at Hazard late ; ,
Mad at a Fox-chafe, wife at a Debate ;
Drunk at a Borough, civil at a Ball ;
Friendly at Hackney, faithlefs at Whitehall. 135
Catius is ever moral, ever grave,
Thinks who endures a Knave, is next a knave;
Save juft at Dinner then prefers, no doubt,
A Rogue with VenTon to a Saint without.
Who would not praife Patritios high defert ? 1 40
His hand unitain'd, his uncorrupted heart,
His comprehenfive head ; all Int'refts weigh'd,
All Europe fav'd, yet Britain not betray'd.
He thanks you not ; his pride was in Piquette,
Newmarket-fame, and judgment at a Bett. 145
Triumphant Leaders, at an Army's head,
Hemm'd round with Glories, pilfer cloth or bread,
As meanly plunder, as they bravely fought,
Now fave a People, and now fave a groat.
What made (fay Montagne, or more fage Charron!} \ 50
Qtbo a Warrior, Cromwell a Buffoon ?.
A perjur'd Prince a leaden Saint revere ?
A god-lefs Regent tremble at a Star ?
V. 1 40. Unimaginable Weakneffes in the greateft Men.
V. 152. A perjurd Prince, &c. Lewis XI. of France.
V. 155, &c. Victor Amadeo II. King of Sardinia, -iibo
rejigrfd bis Crown to his Son, and afterwards icing
inclined to refume it, was Imprifoned till he died.
The
8 ETHIC EPISTLES,
The Throne a Bigot keep, a Genius quit,
Faithlefs thro' Piety, and dup'd thro' Wit ? j$ij
Europe, a Woman, Child, or Dotard rule ;
And juft her ableft Monarch made a fool ?
Know, GOD and NATURE only are the fame:
In Man, the judgment moots at flying game;
A Bird of paflage ! loft, as foon as found ; 1 60
Now in the Moon perhaps, now under ground !
Ask mens Opinions : Scoto now mall tell
How trade increafes, and the world goes well ;
Strike off his Penfion by the fetting Sun,
And Britain, if not Europe, is undone. 1 65 [Climes,
Manners with Fortunes, Humours change with
Tenets with Books, and Principles with Times.
Judge we by Nature ? Habit can efface,
Int'reft o'ercome, or Policy take place :
By ASions? thofe Uncertainty divides : ijO
By Paffions ? thefe Diffimulation hides :
Affections ? they ftill take a wider range :
Find, if you can. in what you cannot change ?
'Tis in the ruling PaJJion : there alone,
The wild are conftant, and the cunning known, 1 75
V. 158. Nothing conftant and certain, but GOD
and NATURE.
V. 1 62, &c. No certain judging of Men by their
Opinions, Manners, Humours, Principles, Conftitu-
tion, A&ion?, Affections, Pallions . only by the
RULING PASSION.
V. 1 75. This, if to be found, reconciles the feeming,
or real Inconfiftencies of Men's Adlions. An Exam-
ple, in a Character of the ftrongeft Contradictions,
ETHIC EPISTLES. 9
The fool confiftent, and the falfe fincere ;
Prierts, Princes, Women, no diflemblers here.
This Clue once found, unravels all the reft;
The Profpeft clears, and Clodh ftands confeft.
Clodio, the Scorn and Wonder of our days, 80
Whofe ruling paffion was the Lufl ofPraifc;
Born with whatever could win it from the Wife,
Women and Fools muft like him, or he dies. -
Tho* wond'ring Senates hung on all he fpoke,
The Club mull hail him Matter of the Joke. \ 85
t Shall parts fo various aim at nothing new?
' He'll mine a 'fully, and a Wilmot too :
Then turns repentant, and his God adores
With the fame Spirit that he drinks and whores :
Enough, if all around him but admire, 1 90
And now the Punk applaud, and now the Fry'r.
Thus, with each gift of Nature and of Art,
And wanting nothing but an honeft heart ;
Grown all to all, from no one Vice exempt,
And moft contemptible to mun Contempt ; 195
His Paffion ftill to covet gen'ral praife,
His Life, to forfeit it a thouiand ways ;
A conitant Bounty, which no friend has made ;
An Angel Tongue which no man can perfuade;
A Fool, with more of Wit than half mankind, 200
Too ram for Thought, for Adtion too refin'd ;
A Tyrant to the Wife his heart approves ;
A Rebel to the very King he loves ;
He dies, fad out-caft f each Church and State?
And (harder ftill) flagitious, yet' not great .' 205
Ask
io ETHIC EPISTLES.
Ask you why Clodio broke thro' every rule?
Twas all for fear, the Knaves mould call him Fool.
Nature well known, no Miracles remain,
Comets are regular, and Clodio plain.
Yet in the fearch, the wifeft may miftake, 210
If fecond Qualities for firft they take.
When Catiline by rapine fwell'd his ftore,
When Ccefar made a noble Dame a whore,
In this the Luft, in that the Avarice
Were means, not ends; Ambition was the vice. 215
That very Ctefar, born in Scipios days,
Had aim'd, like him, by Chaftity at praife :
Lucullusy when Frugality could charm,
Had roafted Turnips in the Sabin farm .
Jn vain th* Obferver eyes the Builder's toil, 220
But quite miftakes the Scaffold for the Pile.
In this one Paffion Man can ftrength enjoy,
As Fits give vigour, juft when they deftroy.
Time, that on all things lays his lenient hand,
Yet tames not this : it fticks to ourlaft fand. 225
Confident in our follies, and our fins,
Here honeft Nature ends as me begins.
Behold a rev'rend Sire, whom Want of Grace
Has made the father of a namelefs race,
V. 2 to. A caution againft the miftake of fecond
GtiiaKties for firft, which will deftroy all poffibility
of the Knowledge of Mankind.
V. 222, fcf<r. Examples of the ftrength, and certain
C'^ce of the Rulirg Paffion to Death.
Ciawl
ETHIC EPISTLES. n
Crawl thro' the ftreet, fhov'd on, or rudely prefs'd 230
By his own fons, that pafs him by un-blefs'd !
Still to his Wench he creeps, on knocking knees,
And envies ev'ry Sparrow that he fees.
A Salmon's belly, Helluo, was thy late :
The Doftor call'd declares all help too late. 235
Mercy ! cries Helluo, mercy on my foul !
Is there no hope ? alas ! then bring the Jowl. (
" Odious ! in Woollen ! 'twou'd a Saint provoke,
(Were the laft words that poor NarciJ/a fpoke)
" No, let a charming Chintz, and Bruffels lace 240
** Wrap my cold limbs, and fhade my lifelefs face :
" One would not, fure, be frightful when one's dead
" And, Betty! give this cheek a little Red.
Old Politicians chew on Wifdom paft,
And blunder on in Bus'nefs to the laft ; 245
As weak as earneft ; and as gravely out,
As fober Lanesb'roiu, dancing in the Gout.
The Courtier fmooth, who forty years had fhin'd
An humble Servant to all Human kind,
V . 247. An ancient Nobleman, ivho continued this
praflife long after his Legs <vcere dijabled by the
Gout. Upon the death of Prince George of Denmark,
be demanded an Audience of the Queen, to advife
her to preferve her Health, and dlfpell her Grief by
Dancing.
'[he reft of thefe In fiances are ft r icily true, thd
i'> Per fons are not named.
Juft
12 ETHIC EPISTLES.
Juft brought out this, when fcarce his tongue could ftir,
" If where I'm going . I could ferve you, Sir."
" I give and I devife (old Euclio faid,
And figh'd) " my Lands and Tenements to Ned*
Your Money, Sir ? " My Money, fir ! what all ?
Why if I muft (then wept) I give it Pout" 255
The Manner, fir ? " The Manner ! hold, he cry'd,
" Not that I cannot part with that" and dy'd.
And you! brave COB HAM, to the lateft breath,
Shall feel your ruling PaJJion ftrong in death :
Such in thofe moments, as in all the paft, 620
" Oh fave my Country, Heav'n ! " Hull be your laft.
EPISTLE
ETHIC EPISTLES.
EPISTLE II.
To a LADY.
NOTHING fo true as what you once let fall,
" Moft Women have no Characters at all."
Matter too foft a lading mark to bear,
And beft diftinguiftYd by black, brown, or fair.
How many Pictures of one Nymph we view, 5
All how unlike each other, all how true !
Arcadids Countefs, here, in ermin'd pride,
There, Pajlortlla by a Fountain fide.
Here Fannia, leering on her own good man,
And there, a naked Leda with a Swan. 10
Let then the Fair-one beautifully cry,
In Magdalene loofe hair and lifted eye,
Of the CHARACTERS of WOMEN, [a Corollary
to the former Epiftle] treating of this Sex only as con-
tradiftingui/hed from the other.
V. i. &c. That their particular Characters are
not fo ftrongly mark'd as thofe of Men, feldom fo
fixed, and ftill more inconfiftent with themfelves.
Or
14 ETHIC EPISTLES.
Or dreft in fmiles of fweet Cecilia ihine,
With fimp'ring Angels, Palm?, and Harps divine ;
Whether the Charmer finner it, or faint it, 1 5
If Folly grows romantic, mull I paint it ?
Come then, the Colours and the ground prepare !
Dip in the Rainbow, trick her off in Air,
Chufe a firm Cloud, before it fall, and in it
Catch, e're me change, the Cynthia of this minute. 20
Ritfa, whofe eye quick-glancing o'er the Park,
Attrafts each light gay Meteor of a Spark,
Agrees as ill with Rufa Undying Locke,
As Sapho's diamonds with her dirty fmock,
Or Sapho's felf in glue (her rifing task) 25
And ifliiing flagrant to an evening JVlask :
So morning Infefts that in muck begun,
Shine, buzz, and fly-blow, in the fetting-fun.
How foft is Silia ! fearful to offend,
The frail one's Advocate, the weak one's friend : 30
To her, Califta prov'd her Condud nice,
And good SimpKcittt asks of her Advice.
Sudden, fhe florms ! me raves \ You tip the wink,
But fpare your cenfure; Silia does not drink.
Injlancet of this Pofltion, given even from fuch
Characters, as are moil ftrongly mark'd, and feem-
ingly therefore moil conjijlent. As firit, Contrarieties
in the Aftfted. Ver. zi.
II. Contrarieties in the Soft-natur'd, V r er. 29, and 37.
All
ETHIC EPISTLES- 15
All eyes may fee from what the change arofe, 35
All eyes may fee a Pimple on her nofe.
Papillia, wedded to her am'rous Spark,
Sighs for the fhades " How charming is a Park !
A Park is purchased, but the Fair he fees
All bath' d in tears" Oh odious, odious Trees! 40
Ladies like variegated Tulips fhow,
'Tis to their Changes half their charms we owe;
Such happy fpots the nice Admirer fake,
Fine by defec\, and delicately weak.
"Twas thus Calypfo once our hearts alarm'd, 45
Aw'd without Virtue, without Beauty charm'd;
Her Tongue bewitch'd as odly as her Eyes,
Lefs Wit than Mimic, more a Wit than wife :
Strange graces ftill, and ftranger flights me had,
Was jult not ugly, and was juft not mad ; 50
Yet ne'er fo fure our paffion to create,
As when fhe touch'd the brink of all we hate.
Narciffas nature, tolerably mild,
To make a walh, would hardly ilew a child,
Has ev'n been prov'd to grant a Lover's pray'r, 55
And paid a Tradefman once to make him Hare,
Gave alms at Ea/ier, in a chriftian trim,
And made a Widow happy, for a whim.
Why then declare Good-nature is her fcorn,
When 'tis by that alone me can be born ? 60
III. Contrarieties in the Cunning and Artful
Ver. 45.
IV. In the Whimfical.. Ver 53, Why
i6 ETHIC EPISTLtS
Why pique all mortals, yet affeft a name ?
A fool to Pleafure, yet a flave to Fame !
Now deep in Taylor and the Book of Martyrs,
Now drinking citron with his Grace and Chart res.
Now Conference chills her, and now Paffion burns ; 6$
And Atheifm and Religion take their turns ;
A very Heathen in the carnal part,
Yet ftill a fad, good Chriftian at her heart.
P/awia's a Wit, has too much fenfe to pray,
To toaft our wants and wifhes, is her way ;
Nor asks of Ga^but of her Stars to give
The mighty bleffing, " while we live, to live."
Then all for Death, that Opiate of the foul \
Lucretia's dagger, Rofamondas bowl.
Say, what cancaufe fuch impotence of mind? 75
A Spark too fickle, or a Spoufe too kind.
Wife Wretch ! with Pleafures too refin'd to pleafe,
With too much Spirit to be e'er at eafe,
With too much Qurcknefs ever to be taught,
With too muchThinking to have common Thought : b'o
You purchafe Pain with all that Joy can give,
And die of nothing but a Rage to live.
Turn then from Wits ; and look on Simp's Mate,
No Afs fo meek, no Afs fo obitinate :
Or her, that owns her Faults, but never mends 85
Becaufe fhe's honeft, and the beft of Friends :
V. Contrarieties in the Witty and Refin'd. .69.
Or
ETHIC EPISTLES. 17
Or her, whofe life the Church and Scandal mare,
For ever in a Paffion, or a Pray'r :
Or her who laughs at Hell, but (like her Grace)
Cries, oh how charming if there's no fuch place ! go
Or who in fweet viciffitude appears
Of Mirth and Opium, Ratafie and Tears,
The daily Anodyne, and nightly Draught,
To kill thofe foes to Fair ones, Time and Thought.
Woman and Fool are two hard things to hit, 95
For true No-meaning puzzles more than Wit.
Pictures like thefe, (dear Madam) to defign,
Asks no firm hand, and no unerring line ;
Some wandring touches, fome reflected light,
Some flying ftroke, alone can hit them right: toe.
For how mould equal colours do the knack,
Cameleons who can paint in white and black ?
* In publick Stations Men fometimes are mown,
A Woman's feen in Private life alone : ,
Our bolder Talents in full view difplay'd, 105
Your Virtues open faireft in the made.
* Be t<ween this and the forme r lines, and alfo in fome
follonving Parts, a want of Connexion may be perceived)
occajioned by the omijjion of certain Examples and Illu-
ftrations to the Maxims laid doivn, ivbich may put the
Reader in mind of what the Author has f aid in his Imi-
tation of Horace,
Publifh the prefent Age, but where the Text
Is Vice too high, referve it for the next.
T5 Bred
1 8 ETHIC EPISTLES.
Bred to difguife, in publick 'tis you hide ;
Where none diftinguifti 'twixt your Shame or Pride,
Weaknefs or Delicacy ; all fo nice,
Each is a fort of Virtue and of Vice. 1 10
* In Men, we various Ruling Paffions find,
In Women, two almoit divide the Kind ;
Thofe only fix'd they firft or lafl obey,
The Love of Pleafures, and the Love of Sway.
That, Nature gives ; and where the LeJ/bn taught 1 I 5
Is but to pleafe, can Pleafure feem a fault ?
Experience, this ; by Man's Opprefiion curft,
They feek the fecond not to lofe the firft.
Men, fome to Bufinefs, fome to Pleafure take,
JSut every Woman is, at heart, a Rake: 120
Men, fome to Quiet, fome to publick Strife,
But every Lady would be Queen for life.
Yet mark the fate of a whole Sex of Queens \
Pc-itSr all their end, but Beauty all the means.
In Youth they conquer, with fo wild a rage, 125
As leaves them fcarce a Subject in their Age:
V. in. The former part having (hewn that the
Particular Characters of Women are more various
than thofe of. Men, it is neverthelefs obferv'd, that the
General Churaderiftic of the Sex, as to the Ruling
P/iJ/iou . is more uniform.
V. 115. This is occafioned partly by their Nature,
partly their Education, and in fome degree by Necejfitv.
V. 123. What are the Jims and the Fate of this
Sex - 1. as to Power.
For
ETHIC EPISTLES.
9
For foreign glory, foreign joy, they roam ;
No thought of Peace or Happinefs at home.
But Wjfdom's Triumph is well-tim'd Retreat,
As hard a fcience to the Fair as Great I 130
Beauties like Tyrants, old and friendlefs grown,
Yet hate Repofe, and dread to be alone,
Worn out in publick, weary ev'ry eye,
Nor leave one figh behind them when they die.
Pleafures the Sex, as Children birds, purfue, 135
Still out of reach, yet never out of view,
Sure, if they catch, to fpoil the Toy at moft,
To covet flying, and regret when loft :
At laft, to Follies Youth could fcarce defend
It grows their Age's prudence to pretend; 140
Afham'd to own they gave delight before,
Reduc'd to feign it, when they give no more:
As Hags hold Sabbaths, lefs for joy than fpight,
So thefe their merry, miferable Night ;
Still round and round the Ghofts of Beauty glide, 145
And haunt the Places where their Honour dy'd.
See how the World its Veterans rewards !
A Youth of Frolicks, an old Age of Cards,
Fair to no purpofe, artful to no end,
Young without Lovers, old without a Friend, 150
A Fop their Paffion, but their Prize a Soc,
Alive, ridiculous, and dead, forgot !
Ah Friend ! to dazzle let the Vain defign,
To raife the Thought and touch the Heart, be thine'
II . A s to Pleafure. V . 13,-,
B 2 Tha;
-t> ETHIC 'EPISTLES.
That Charm mall grow, while what fatigues the Ring i $ $
Flaunts and goes down, an unregarded thing.
So when the Sun's broad beam has tir'd the fight,
All mild afcends the Moon's more fober light,
Serene in Virgin Modefty me mines,
And unobferv'd the glaring Orb declines. 1 60
Oh ! bleft with Temper, whofe unclouded ray
Can make to morrow chearful as to day ;
She, who ean own a Siller's charms, or hears
Sighs for a Daughter with unwounded ears ;
That never anfwers til) a Husband cools, 165
Or, if me rules him, never mows (he rules ;
Charms by accepting, by fubmitting fways,
Vet has her humour molt, when me obeys ;
Lets Fops or Fortune fly which way they will }
Difdains all lofs of Tickets, or Codille; 170
s pleen, Vapours, or Small-pox, above them all,
And Miftrefs of herfelf, tho' China fall.
And yet believe me, good as well as ill,
Woman's at beft a Contradiction ftill.
Heav'n, when it ftrives to polilh all it can 175
Its laft, beft work, but forms a /offer Man;
Ticks from each fex, to make the Fav'rite bleft,
"our love of Pleafure, our defire of Reft,
Blends, in exception to all gen'ral rules,
Your Tafte of Follies, with our Scorn of Fools, 180
V. 153. Advice for their true Intereft.
V. 1 7;. The Piaure of an eiteemable Woman, with
fhe beil kind of Contrarieties.
Re-
ETHIC EPJSTLES. 2
elerve with Franknefs, Art with Truth ally'd,
Courage with Softnefs, Modefty with Pride,
Fix'd Principles, with Fancy ever new;
Shakes all together, and* produces < '.You.
Ev'n fuch is Woman's Fame : With this un-bleft, 185
Toaffs live a fcorn, and Queens may die a jeft.
This Phoebus promis'd, (I forget the Year,)
When thofe blue eyes firft open'd on the fphere ;
Afcendant Phoebus watch'd that hour with care,
Averted half your Parents fimple Pray'r, IQO
And gave you Beauty, but deny'd the Pelf
That buys your Sex a Tyrant o'er itfelf :
The gen'rous God, who Wit and Gold refines,
And ripens Spirits as he ripens Mines,
Kept Drofs for Ducheffes, the world fhall know it, 195
Tp you gave Senfe, Good-humour, and a Poet.
B 3 EPISTLE
22 ETHIC EPISTLES.
EPISTLE HI.
T O
ALLEN Lord BAT HURST.
WHO (hall decide, when Decors difagree,
And foundeft Cafuifts doubt, like you and me ?
You hold theWord, from Jove toMomusgw'n,
Thar Man was made the {landing Jeft of heav'n,
And GobitialLStat to keep the fools in play, _ 5
For half to heap, and half to throw away.
But I, who think more highly of our Kind,
(And furely Heav'n and I are of a mind)
Opine, that Nature, as in duty bound,
Deep hid the mining mifcbief under ground : i o
But when, by Man's audacious labour won,
Flam'd forth this Rival to its fire the Sun,
Then, in plain profe, were made two forts of men,
To fquander fome, and fome to hide agen.
.
OF THE USE OF RICHES. Tfraf tie true ufe of
Riches is known to fe~JC, mcjl falling into one of the
Extremes, Avarice or Profufion. V. i, C5Y.
Like
ETHIC EPISTLES. 2;
Like Doctors thus, when much difpute has pair,, 1 5
We find our Tenets juft the fame at kit.
Both fairly owning, Riches in effect
No Grace of heav'n, or token of th' Elect ;
Giv'n to the Fool, the Mad, the Vain, the Evil,
To Ward, to Waters, Cbartres, and the Devil. 20
What
V. 20. JOHN WARD of Hackney, Efq; Member of
Parliament, being profecuted by the Ducheis of Buck-
ingham, and convicted of Forgery, was firft expelled
the Houfe, and then Hood in the Pillory on the i ^th
of March 1727. He was fufpected of joining in
a Conveyance with Sir John Blunt to fecrete fifty
thoufand pounds of that Director's Eflate, forfeited to
the South Sea Company by Aft of Parliament. The
Company recovered the fifty thoufand pounds againft
Ward, but he fet up prior Conveyances of his real
Eftate to his Brother and Son, and conceal'd all
his perfonal, which was computed to be one hun-
dred and fifty thoufand pounds : Thefe Conveyances
being alfo fet afide by a Bill in Chancery, Ward
was imprifoned, and hazarded the forfeiture of his
life by not giving in his Effects till the lafl day,
which was that of his Examination. During his con-
finement, his amufement was to give Poifon to Dogs
and Cats, and fee them expire by flower or quicker
torments. To fum up the Worth of this Gentleman,
at the feveral ./Era's of his life ; at his {landing in
the Pillory he was worth above t-i-.-o hundred thou-
fand pounds; at his Commitment to Prifon, he
64 was
24 ETHIC EPISTLES.
was worth one hundred and fifty tboufand, but has
been fince fo far diminiftied in his Reputation, as 1 to
be thought a <worfe Man by ffty or Jixty tkoufanl'.
FR. CHARTRES, a Man infamous for all manner of
Vices. When he was an Enfign in the Army, he
was drumm'd out of the Regiment for a Cheat; he
was next banifh'd Bruffels, and drumm'd out of Ghent
on the fame account. After a hundred Tricks at
the Gaming- Tables, he took to lending of money at
exorbitant intereft, and on great penalties, accu-
mulating Premium, intereft, and capital into a new
Capital, and feizing to a minute when the payments
became due ; in a word, by a conftant Attention to
the Vices, Wants, and Follies of Mankind, he ac-
quired an immenfe fortune. His Houfe was a per-
petual Bawdy-hoiife. He was twice condemn'd for
Rapes, and pardoned, but the laft time not without
Imprisonment in Newgate, and large Confifcatioris.
He died in Scotland in 1731, aged 62. The Po-
pulace at his Funeral rais'd a great riot, almoft tore
the Body out of the Coffin, and caft dead Dogs, c5r.
into the grave along with it. The following Epitaph
contains his Character very juftly drawn by Dr. Ar-
buthnot.
HERE continueth to rot
The Body of FRANCIS CHARTRES,
Who with an INFLEXIBLE CONSTANCY, and
INIMITABLE UNIFORMITY of Life,
PERSISTED,
In fpite of AGE and INFIRMITIES,
In
ETHIC EPISTLES. ^
In the Praaice of EVERY HUMANE VICE;
Excepting PRODIGALITY and HYPOCRISY:
His infatiable AVARICE exempted him from the firft,
His matchlefs IMPUDENCE from the fecond.
Nor was he more fingular in the un-deviating P.ravify
of his Manner f, than fuccefsful in
Accumulating WEALTH,
For, without TRADE or PROFESSION,
Without TRUST of PUBLICK MONEY,
And without BRIBE-WORTHY Service,
He acquired, or more properly Created,
A MINISTERIAL ESTATE.
He was the only Perfon of his Time,
Who cou'd CHEAT without the Mafk of HONESTY,
'Retain his Primeval MEANNESS when poffefs'd of
TEN THOUSAND a Year,
And having daily deferv'd the GIBBET for what he did t
Was at laft condemn'd to it for what he cou/dnot do.
Oh Indignant Reader 1
Think not his Life Ufelefs to Mankind !
PROVIDENCE conniv'd at his execrable Defigns,
To give to After-Ages a confpicuous
PROOF, and EXAMPLE,
Of how fmali Eftimation is EXORBITANT WEALTH
in the Sight of G O D, by his beftowing it on
The moft UNWORTHY of ALL MORTALS.
This Gentleman was worth fei) en thoufand pounds
a year Eftate in Land, and about one hundred thou-
fand'm Money <
Mr,
26 ETHIC EPISTLES.
What Nature wants, commodious Gold bellow?,
*Tis thus we eat the bread another fows :
But how unequal it beftows, obierve,
'Tis thus we riot, while who fow it, ftarve.
What Nature wants (a phrafe I much diltruft) 25
Extends to Luxury, extends to Luft ;
And if we count among the Needs of life
Another's Toil, why not another's Wife ?
Uieful, we grant, it ferves what life requires,
But dreadful too, the dark Affaflin hires : 30
Trade it may help. Society extend ;
But lures the Pyrate, and corrupts the Friend :
It raifes Armies in a Nation's aid,
But bribes a Senate, and the land's betray'd.
Oh ! that fuch bulky Bribes as all might fee 35
Still, as of old, encumber'd Villainy !
In vain may Heroes fight, and Patriots rave,
If fecret Gold faps on from knave to knave.
Mr. WATERS, the third of thefe Worthies, was 2
.man no way refembling the former in his military,
but extremely fo in hit, civil Capacity ; his great for-
tune having been rais'd by the like diligent Attendance
on the- Neceffities of others. But this Gentleman's
Hiftory mull be deferred till his death, when his
Worth may be known more, certainly.
V. 21- What Nature wants, &c.] The Point d(f-
. ufsd, whether the Invention of Money has been more
' ov, or msi'f pernicious to mankind?
Could
ETHIC EPISTLES. 27
Could France or Rome divert our brave defigns,
WitU all their brandies, or with all their wines ? 40
What could they more than Knights and Squires con-
Or water all the Quorum ten miles round ? [tound,
A Statefman's {lumbers how this fpeech would fpoil,
" Sir, Spain has fent a thou&nd jars of oyl ;
" Huge bales of Briti/h cloth blockade the door ; 45
' A hundred Oxen at your Levee roar.
Poor Avarice one torment more. would find,
Nor could Profufiqn fquander all, in kind.
Aftride his cheefe Sir Morgan might we meet,
And Worldly crying Coals from itreet to ftreet, 50
(Whom with a Wig fo wild, and mien fo ma7.'d,
Pity miftakes for fome poor Tradefmau craz'd.)
Had Colepepers whole wealth been Hops and hogs,
Could he himfelf have fent it to the dogs ?
His
V. 50. Some Mifers of great Wealth, Proprietors of
the Coal-mines, had enter'd at this time into an Affo-
ciation to keep up Coals to an extravagant price,
whereby the Poor were reduced almoft to ftarve, till
one of them taking the advantage of un'derfelling the
reit, defeated the defign. One of thele Mifers was
j-Qi-tl: ten tboufatut, another fe<ven thcufand a year.
V. 5;. Colepeper.'] Sir WILLIAM COLEPEPER,
Km ;>. Perfon of an ancient Family and ample For-
tune without one other quality of a Gentleman, who
ruining himfelf at the Gaming-table, paft the
reft of his days in fitting there to lee the ruin of
others ; preferring to fubfiit upon borrowing and beg-
28 ETHIC EPISTLES,
His Grace will game : to White's a Bull be led, 55
With fpurning heels, and with a butting head j
To White's be carry'd, as to ancient Games,
Fair Courfers, Vafes, and alluring Dames.
Shall then Uxorio, if the flakes he fweep,
Bear home fix whores, and make his, Lady weep? 60
Or foft Adonis, fo perfum'd and fine,
Drive to St. James's a whole herd of Swine ?
Oh filthy check on all induftrious skill,
To fpoil the Nation's laft great Trade, Quadrille !
Once, we confefs, beneath the Patriot's cloak, 65
From the crack'd bagg the dropping Guinea /poke,
And gingling down the back-ftairs, told the crew,
" Old Cato is as great a Rogue as you."
Bleft Paper-credit ! that advanc'd fo high.
Now lends Corruption lighter wings to fly !
ing, rather than to enter into any reputable method
of life, and refufing a Poll in the Army which was
offer'd him.
V. 65. beneath tht Patriot's Cloke.'] This is a
Jrue Story which happened in the reign of Wil-
iiam III. to an unfufpefted old Patriot, who coming
out at the back-door fiom having been clofeted by
the King, where he had received a large Bag of
Guineas, the burfting of the bag difcovered his bu-
finefs there.
Gold,
ETHIC EPISTLES. 29
Gold, imp'd with this, can compafs hardeft things,
Can pocket States, or fetch or carry Kings ;
A fingle Leaf can waft an Army o'er,
Or fhip off Senates to fome diftant fhore ;
A Leaf like Sybil's, fcatters to and fro 75
Our fates and fortunes as the winds ftiall blow ;
Pregnant with thoufands flits the fcrap unfeen,
And filent fells a King, or buys a Queen.
Well then, fmce with the World we Hand or fall,
Come take it as we find it, Gold and all. 80
What Riches give us, let us firft enquire :
Meat, fire, and cloaths. What more ? meat, cloaths, and
[fire.
V. 72. fetch or carry Kings} In our Author's
time, many Princes had been fent about the world,
and great Changes of Kings projected in Europe. The
Partition-Treaty had difpos'd of Spain, France had
fet up a King for England, who was fent to Scotland^
and back again ; King Stanijlaus was fent to Poland,
and back again ; the Duke of Anjou was fent to Spain,
and Don Carlos to Italy.
V. 74. Orjhip off Senates to fame dijlant Jhore.] Al-
ludes to leveral Minifters, Counfellors, and Patriots ba-
nifhed iit our times to Siberia, and to that MORE GLO-
RIOUS FATE of the PARLIAMENT of PARIS, ba-
nifhed to Pontoife in the year 1 720.
V. 75. A Leaf like Sybils. Virg. JEn. 6.
V. 8 1. What Riches' give us, &c.] That Riches,
either to the Avaricious or the Prodigal, cannot afftrd
KeceJ/aries, much lefs Happincfs.
3 o ETHIC EPISTLES.
Is this too little ? wou'd you more than live ?
Alas ' 'tis more than Turner finds they give.
Alas 'tis more than (all his Vifions paft) 85
Unhappy Wharton, waking, found at lalt \
What can they give ? to dying Hopkins Heirs ?
To Ghartres Vigour, Japhet, Nofe and ears ?
Can
V. 84. Turner.'] One, who being pofleffed of three
hundred thoufand pounds, laid down his Coach be-
caufe Interelt was reduced from 5 to 4 per cent, and
then put feventy thoufand into the Charitable Corpo-
ration for better intereft : which Sum having loft,
he took it fo much to heart, that he kept his cham-
ber ever after. It is thought he would not have out-
liv'd it, but that he was Heir to another confiderable
Etfate which he daily expefted, and that by this
courfe of life he fav'd both Clothes and all othei;ex-
pences.
V. 86. Unhappy Wbarton!~\ A Nobleman of
great Qualities, but as unfortunate in the application
of them, as if they had been Vices and Follies. See
his Charafter in the firft Epiftle of the fecond book.
V." 87. Hopkins.'} A Citizen whofe Rapacity obtain'd
him the name of Vultur Hopkins. He lived worthlefs,
but died -^ortb three hundred t J:cu fan d pounds: which
he would give to no perfon living, but left it fo as not
to be inherited till after the fecond Generation. His
Counfel reprefeming to him how many years it mult
be, before this could take effect, and that his Money
could only lie at Interest all that time, he expreit
great
ETHIC EPISTLES. 31
Can they, in gems bid pallid Hippia glow,
In F/wVs buckle eafe the throbs below, 90
Or heal, old Narfes, thy obfcener ail,
With all th' embroid'ry plaifter'd at thy tail ?
They might, (were Hat-fax not too wife to fpend)
Give Harfax felf the bleffing of a Friend ;
Or find fome Doctor that would fave the life 95
Of wretched Shykck, fpite of Sfy/oefs Wife :
But thoufands die, without or this or that,
Die, and endow a College, or a Cat :
To fome indeed heav'n grants the happier fate
T'enrich a Baftard, or a Son they hate. too
great Joy thereat, and faid, " They would then be
<f as long in fpending, as he had been in getting it."
But the Chancery afterwards fet afide the Will, and
gave it to the Heir at law.
V. 88. Jacket, Nofe and Ears .] JAPHET CROOK,
alias Sir Peter Stranger, was punifhed with the lofs of
thofe parts, for having forged a Conveyance of an
Eftate to himfelf, upon which he took up feveral
thouland pounds. He was at the fame time fued in
Chancery for having fraudulently obtain'd a Will, by
which he poffefs'd another confiderable Eftate, in
wrong of the Brother of the deceas'd. By thefe
means he was worth a great Sum, which (in reward
for the fmall lofs of liis Ears) he enjoy'd in Prifon
till his death, and quietly left to his Executor.
V. 98. Die, and endonu a College, or a Cat,"] A
famous Duchefs of R. in her laft Will left confiderable
legacies and annuities to her Cats.
Per-
32 ETHIC EPISTLES.
Perhaps you think the Poor might have their part ?
B nd damns the poor, and hates them from his heart :
The grave Sir Gilbert holds it for a rule,
That " every man in warit is knave or fool :
" God cannot love (fays Blunt, with lifted eyes) 105"
" The wretch he ftarves" and pioufly denies :
But rev'rend S * *n with a fofter air,
Admits, and leaves them, Providence's care.
Yet, to be juft to thefe poor men of pelf,
Each does but hate his Neighbour as himfelf : 1 10
V. 202. B*nd damns the Poor
But Reverend S * * with a fofter air
Admits, and leaves them, Providence's care.
In the year 1730, a Corporation was eftablilhed to
lend money to the Poor upon Pledges, by the name of
the Charitable Corporation. It was under the direction
of the Right Honourable Sir R. S. Sir Arch. Grant,
Mr. Denis Bond, Mr. Burroughs, &c. But the whole
was turned only to an iniquitous method of enrich- *
ing particular people, to the ruin of fuch numbers,
that it became a Parliamentary concern to endeavour
the relief of thofe unhappy Sufferers, and three of
the Managers, who were Members of the Houfe, were
expelled. That " God bates the Poor, and That every
' man in want is Knave or Fool, &c." were the genuine
Apothegmes of fome of the peiions here mentioned.
V. 1 10. Each does but hate, &c.] That Avarice is
an abfolute Frenzy, without an End or Purpofe. Con-
jeftures about the Motives of avaricious Men.
Damn'd
ETHIC EPISTLES. 35
Damn'd to the Mines, an equal fate betides
The Slave that digs it, and the Slave that hides.
Whe fufter thus, meer Charity fliould own
Aluft aft on Motives pow'rful tho' unknown :
Some War, fome Plague, fome Famine they forefee,
Some Revelation, hid from you and me. 1 1 6
Why Shylock wants a meal, the caufe is found,
He thinks a Loaf will rife to fifty pound.
What made Direftort cheat in South-fea year?
To live on Ven'fon when it fold fo dear. I2Q
Ask you why Phryne the whole Auftion buys?
Pbryne forefees a General Excife.
Why {he and Sapbo raife that monftrous fum ?
Alas! they fear a Man will coil a plum.
Wife Peter fees the World's refpeft for Gold, 1 2$
And therefore hopes this Nation may be fold :
GIo-
V. 120. To live on Veti/on."] In the extravagance
and luxury of the South-fea year, the price of a haunch
of Venifon was from three to five pounds.
V. 1 22. A General Excife .] Many People about
the year 1 733, had a conceit that fuch a thing was in-
tended, of which it is not improbable this Lady might
have fome Intimation.
V. 125. Wife Peter.~\ PETER WALTER, a Perfon
not only eminent in the Wifdom of his Profeflion, as a
dextrous Attorney, but allow'd to be a good, if not a
iafe, Conveyancer ; extremely refpefted by the Nobility
of this land, tho' free from all manner of Luxury and
Orientation -. His Wealth was never feen, ajid his Bounty
C never
34 ETHIC EPISTLES.
Glorious Ambition ' Peter t fwell thy ftore,
And be what Romes great Ditfius was before.
The Crown of Poland, venal twice an age,
To jutf three millions ftinted modeft Gage. 130
But nobler fcenes Marias dreams unfold,
Hereditary Realms, and worlds of Gold.
Congenial fouls ! whofe life one AvVice joins,
And one fate buries in th' Afturian Mines.
Much-injur'd Blunt! why bears he Britain's hate?
A Wizard told him in thefe words our fate. 136
" At
never heard of ; except to his own Son, for whom he pro-
cur'd an Employment of coniiderable profit, of which he
gave him as much as was necej/ary. Therefore the tax-
ing this Gentleman with any Ambition, is certainly a
great wrong to him.
V. 128. THomes great Didius.'] A Roman Lawyer, fo
rich as to purchafe the Empire when it was fet to fale
upon the death of Pertinax.
V. 129. The Crown of Poland, &c.] The two Perfons
here mentioned were of Quality, each of whom in the
time of the Miffifipi defpis'd to realize above three hundred
thoufand pounds: The Gentleman with a view to die pur-
chafe of the Crown of 'Poland, the Lady on a Vifion of the
like Royal nature. They fince retired into Spain, where
they are Hill in fearch of Gold in the Mines of the AJiuries.
V. 135. Much injnrd Blunt.] Sir JOHN BLUNT, ori-
ginally a Scrivener, was one of the firit Projectors of the
bouch-fea Company, and afterwards one of the Directors
and chief Managers of the famous Scheme in 1 720. He
ETHIC EPISTLES. 35
*' At length Corruption, like a gen'ral flood,
*' (So long by watchful Minifters withftood)
" Shall deluge all ; and Avrice creeping on,
" Spread like a low-born mift, and blot the Saw; 140
" Statefman and Patriot ply alike the ftocks,
** Peerefs and Butler mare alike the Box.
" The Judge fliall job, the Bifhop bite the town,
" And mighty Dukes pack cards for half a crown.
" See Britain funk in Lucre's fordid charms, 145
" And France revenged of A N N E'S andE D w A R D'S Amu!"
Twas no Court-badge, great Scriv'ner ! fir'd thy brain,
Nor Lordly Luxury, nor City Gain :
No, 'twas thy righteous end, aftiam'd to fee
Senates degen' rate, Patriots difagree, 150
And nobly wifhing Party-rage to ceafe,
To buy both fides, and give thy Country peace.
All this is madnefs, cries a fober Sage :
But who, my friend, has reafon in his Rage ?
was alfo one of thofe who fuffer'd moft feverely by the
Bill of Pains and Penalties on the faid Directors. He
was a Diflenter of a moft religious deportment, and pro-
fefb'd to be a great Believer. Whether he did really
credit the Prophecy here mentioned is not certain, but it
was constantly in "this very ftyle he declaimed againlr.
the Corruption and Luxury of the Age, the Parti ility of
Parliaments, and the Miieryof Party-Spirit. He was par-
ticularly eloquent againft Avarice vn Great and Noble Per-
fans, of which he had indeed liv'd to lee many miferable
Examples, He died in the year 173.2,
C z The
3 6 ETHIC EPISTLES.
" The ruling Paffion, be it what it will, 155
' The ruling Paffion conquers Reafon ftill.
Lefs mad the wildeft whimfey we can frame,
Than ev'n that Paffion, if it has no Aim ;
For tho' fuch motives folly you may call,
The folly's greater to have none at all. 160
Hear then thetruth : " 'TisHeav'n each Paffion fends,
" And different men directs to different ends. ,
*' Extremes in Nature equal good produce,
" Extremes in Man concur to general ufe.
Ask we what makes one keep, and one beftow ? 1 65
That POW'R who bids the Ocean ebb and flow,
Bids feed-time, harveft, equal courfe maintain,
Thro 1 reconcil'd extremes of drought and rain,
Builds Life on Death, on Change Duration founds,
And gives th' eternal wheels to know their rounds.
Riches, like Infefts, when conceal'd they lie, 1 7 1
Wait but for wings, and in their feafon, fly.
Who fees pale Mammon pine amidft his ftore,
Sees but a backward Steward for the Poor;
This year a Refervoir, to keep and fpare, 1 75
The next, a Fountain fpouting thro' his Heir,
In lavifh ftreams to quench a Country's thirft,
And men and dogs (hall drink him till they burft.
V. 161, &V. That the Conduft of Men with refreff to
Riches, can only be accounted for by the Order o/ r PRovi-
PENCE, which 'works the General G ood out of Extremes,
and brings all to its Great End by perpetual Re-volutions.
See Book i. Epift. z. V. 155, &c. 197.
Old
ETHIC EPISTLES. 37
Old Cotta fham'd his Fortune and his Birth,
Yet was not Cotta void of wit or worth : 180
What tho' (the ufe of barb'rous fpits forgot)
His kitchen vy'd in coolnefs with his Grot ?
His court with nettles, moat with creffes flor'd,
With foups unbought, and fallads, bleft his board.
If Cotta liv'd on pulfe, it was no more 185
Than Bramins, Saints, and Sages did before ;
To cram the rich, was prodigal expence,
And who would take the poor from Providence ?
Like fome lone Chartreufe Hands the good old hall,
Silence without, and Fails within the wall ; \ 90
No rafter'd roofs with dance and tabor found,
No noontide-bell invites the country round ;
Tenants with fighs the fmoaklefs tow'rs furvey,
And turn th' unwilling Steed another way :
Benighted wanderers, the foreft o'er, 195
Curfe the fav'd candle, and unopening door ;
While the gaunt maftiff, growling at the gate,
Affrights the beggar whom he longs to eat.
Not fo his Son, he mark'd this overfight,
And then miftook reverfe of wrong for right : 200
For what to fhun will no great knowledge need,
But what to follow, is a task indeed.
V. 1 80, &c. How a Miter atts upon Principles which
appear to him rcafsnable.
V. 199. How a Prodigal does the fame.
V. 184. With foups unbought] dapibus menias
onerabat inemptis. VIRG.
C 3 Whole
3 3 ETHIC EPISTLES.
Whole flaughter'd hecatombs, and floods of wine,
Ffll the capacious Squire, and deep Divine.
Yet no mean Motive this profufion draws, 205
His Oxen perifh in his Country's caufe :
"Tis GEORGE and LIBERTY that crowns the cup,
And Zeal for that great Houfe which eats him up.
The woods recede around the naked feat,
The Sy Ivans groan no matter for the Fleet, 210
Next goes his wool to clothe our valiant bands,
Laft, for his Country's love, he fells his Lands.
To town he come?, compleats the nation's hope,
And heads the bold Train bands, and burns a Pope.
And fhall not Britain now reward his toils, 215
Britain, that pays her Patriots with her Spoils I
In vain at Court the Bankrupt pleads his caufe,
His tkinklefs country leaves him to her Laws.
The Senfe to value Riches, with the Art
T'enjoy them, and the Virtue to impart, 220
Not meanly, nor dmbitioufly perfu'd,
Not funk by floth, nor rais'd by fervitude ;
To balance Fortune by a juft expence,
]oin with Oeconomy, Magnificence,
With fplendor, Charity, with plenty, Health; 225
Oh teach us, BAT HURST ! yet unfpoil'd by wealth !
That fecret rare, between th' extremes to move
Of mad Good nature, and of mean Self-love.
To Warrt, or Worth, well-weigh'd, be bounty giv'n,
Andtsfe, or emulate, the care of Heav'n. 230
V. 219. The due Medium and true Ufe of Riches.
Whofe
ETHIC EPISTLES. 39
Whofe meafure full o'erflows on human race,
Mends Fortune's fault* and juftifies her grace.
Wealth in the grofs is death, but life diffused,
As Poifon heals, in juft proportion us'd :
In heaps, like Ambergrife, a ftink it lies, 235
But well difpers'd, is Incenfe to the Skies.
Who flarves by Nobles, or with Nobles eats ?
The Wretch that trufts them, and the Rogue jhat cheats,
Is there a Lord, who knows a chearful noon
Without a Fidler, Flatfrer, or Buffoon? 240
Whofe table, Wit, or modeft Merit (hare,
Un-elbow'd by a Gamejler, Pimp, or Playr ?
Who copies Yours, or OXFORD'S better part,
To eafe th' opprefs'd, and raife the finking heart ?
Where-e'er he mines, oh Fortune gild the fcene, 245
And Angels guard him in the Golden Mean !
There, Englijh Bounty yet a while may ftand,
And Honour linger,, e're it leaves the land.
But all our praifes why mould Lords engrofs ?
Rife honeft Mule ! and fmg the MAN of Ross : 250
Pleas'd
V. 243. OXFORD'S better part.] EdwardHatley Earl
of Oxford, the Son of Robert, created Earl of Oxford
and Earl Mortimer by Queen Anne.
V. 250, faV. T^MANO/ROSS.] The Perfon here
celebrated, who with a fmall Eftate actually performed all
thefe good works, and whofe true Name was almolt loft
(partly by the Title of the Man of Rofs given him by way
of eminence, and partly by being buried withoutfo much
C 4 as
40 ETHIC EPISTLES.
Pleas'd Vaga ecchoes thro' her winding bounds,
And rapid Severn hoarfe applaufe relbunds.
Who hung with woods yon mountain's fultry brow ?
From the dry rock who bade the waters flow I
Not to the sides in ufelefs columns toft, 255
Or in proud falls magnificently loft,
But clear and artlefs, pouring thro 1 the plain
Health to the fick, and folace to the (wain.
Whofe Caufe-way parts the vale with (hady rows ?
Whofe Seats the weary Traveller repofe ? 260
Who taught that heav'n-dire&ed Spire to rife ?
The MAN of Ross, each lifping babe replies.
Behold tne Market-place with poor o'erfpread !
The MAN of Ross divides the weekly bread :
He feeds yon Alms-houfe, neat, but void of ftate, 265
Where Age and Want fit imiling at the gate :
Him portjon'd maids, apprentic'd orphans bleft,
The young who labour, and the old who reft.
Is any fick? the MAN of Ross relieves,
Prefcribes, attends, the med'cine makes, and gives.
Is there a variance? enter but his door, 271
Balk'd are the Courts, and conteft is no more.
Defpairing Quacks with curfes fled the place,
And vile Jlttornies, now an ufelefs race.
" Thrice happy man ! enabled to perfue 275
" What all fo wiih, but want the pow'r to do.
asanlnfcription) was called Mr. John Kyrle. He died in
the year 1 7 24, aged 90, and lies interred in the Chancel
of the Church of Rofs in Herefordfhire.
Oh
ETHIC EPISTLES. 41
" Oh fay, what fums that gen'rous hand fupply ?
*' What mines, to fwell that boundleis charity ?
Of Debts and taxe?, Wife and children clear,
This man pofleft* five hundred pounds a year. 280
Blulh Grandeur, bluih ! proud Courts withdraw your
Ye little Stars ! hide your diminiftied rays. [blaze !
" And what? *\o monument,, hifcription, ftone?
" His race, his form, his name almoil unknown ?
Who builds a Church to God, and not to Fame, 285
Will never mark the marble with his Name :
Go fearch it there*, where to be born and die*
Of rich and poor makes all the hiftory ;
Enough, that Virtue fili'd the fpace between ;
Prov'd, by the Ends of Being, to have been. 290
When Hopkins dies, a thoufand lights attend
The wretch, who living fav'd a candle's end :
Should'ring God's altar a vile Image Hands,
Belies his features, nay extends his hands;
That live-long Wig which Gorgon's felf might own,
Eternal buckle takes in Parian itone. 296
Behold what bleflings Wealth to life can lend !
And fee, what comfort it affords our End.
In the worftlnn's worftroom, with mat half-hung,
The floors of plailter, and the walls of dung, 300
* The Parifh Regifter.
V. 296. Eternal buckle takes in Parian ftone .] ridi-
cules the wretched Talte of carving large Perriwigs on
Bufto\ of which there are feveral vile examples in the
Tombs at Weftminiter and elfevvhere.
V. 299, &c. The Fate of theProfu/e and the Covetous,
in Two Examples ; both miferable in Life and in Death.
42 ETHIC EPISTLES.
On once a flockbed, but repair'd with ftraw,
With tape-ty'd curtains, never meant to draw.
The George and Garter dangling from that bed
Where tawdry yellow ftrove with dirty red,
6reat Fillers lies alas! how chang'd from him, 305
That life of pleafure, and that foul of whim !
Gallant and gay, in dive -den 's proud alcove,
The bow'r of wanton Shrewsbury and Love j
Or juft as gay, at Council, in a ring
Of mimick d Statefmen, and their merry King. 3 i o
No Wit to flatter, left of all his ftore !
No Fool to laugh at, which he valued more.
There, Vidor of his health, of fortune, friends,
And fame, this lord of ufelefs thoufands ends.
His Grace's fate fage Cutler could forefee, 315
And well (he thought) advis'd him, " Live like me."
As well his Grace reply 'd, Like you, Sir John?
" That I can do, when all I have is gone."
Refolve me, Reafon, which of thefe is worfe ?
Want with a full, or with an empty purfe : 3 20
Thy life more wretched, Cutler, was confefs'd,
Arife, and tell me, was thy death more blefs'd ?
Cutler faw tenants break, and houfes fall,
For very want; he could not build a wall.
His only daughter in a ftranger's pow'r, 325
For very want ; he could not pay a dow'r.
V. 305. George Villers, Duke of Buckingham, who
died in this manner.
A few
ETHIC EPISTLES. 43
A few grey hairs his rev'rend temples crown'd,
'Twas very want that fold them for two pound.
What ev'n deny'd a cordial at his end,
Banifh'd the doctor, and expell'd the friend ? 330
What but a want, which you perhaps think mad
Yet numbers feel, the want of what he had.
Cutler and Brutus, dying both exclaim,
*' Virtue ! and Wealth ! what are ye but a Name ?
Say, for fuch .worth are other worlds prepar'd ?
Or are they both, in this, their own reward ? 336
That knotty point, my Lord, mail I difcufs,
Or tell a Tale ? A Tale it follows thus.
Where London 's Column pointing at the skies
Like a tall bully, lifts the head, and iyes : 340
There dwelt a Citizen of fober fame,
A plain good man, and Balaam was his name.
Religious, punftual, frugal, and fo forth ;
His word would pafs for more than he was worth.
One folid dim his week-day meal affords, 345
An added pudding foiemniz'd the Lord's.
Conftant at Church, and Change ; his gains were fure,
His givings rare, fave farthings to the poor.
The Denfl was piqu'd, fuch faintfliip to behold,
And long'd to tempt him like good Job of old : 350
But Satan now is wifer than of yore,
And tempts by making rich, net making poor.
V. 339. Where London^ Column.'] The Monument
built in memory of the Fire of London, with an In-
fcription importing that City to have been burnt by the
Papifts. Rouz'd
44
ETHIC EPISTLES.
Rouz'd by the Prince of Air, the whirlwinds fweep
The furge, and plunge his Father in the deep ;
Then full againft his Cornijh lands they roar, 355
And two rich fhip- wrecks blefs the lucky fhore.
Sir Balaam now, he lives like other folks,
He takes his chirping pint, he cracks his jokes :
" Live like your felf," was foon my Lady's word ;
And lo! two puddings fmoak'd upon the board. 360
Afleep and naked as an Indian lay,-
An honeft Faftor ftole a Gem away :
He pledg'd it to the knight ; the knight had wit,
So kept the Diamond, and the rogue was bit.
Some fcruple roie, but thus he eas'd his thought, 365
" I'll now give fix-pence where I gave a groat,
' Where once I went to church, I'll now go twice
" And am fo dear too of all other vice."
The Tempter faw his time ; the work he ply'd ;
Stocks and Subfcriptions pour on ev'ry fide, 370
Till all the Daemon makes his full defcent,
In one abundant fhow'r of Cent, per Cent,
Sinks deep within him, and poffefles whole,
Then dubs Director, and fecures his foul.
Behold Sir Balaam, now a man of fpirit, 375
Afcribes his gettings to his parts and merit,
What late he call'd a Bleffing, now was Wit,
And God's good Providence, a lucky Hit.
Things change their titles, as our manners turn.
His Lompting-houfe imploy'd the iunday-morn ; 380
Seldom at Church, (twas fuch a bufy life)
But duly fent his Family and Wife.
There
ETHIC EPISTLES. 45
There (fo the Dev'l ordain'd) one Chriftmas-tide
My good old Lady catch'd a cold, and dy'd.
A Nymph of Duality admires our Knight; 385
He marries, bows at Court, and grows polite :
Leaves the dull cits, and joins (to pleafe the fair)
The well-bred cuckolds in St. James's Air :
Firft, for his Son a gay CommiJJlon buys,
Who drinks, whores, fights, and in a duel dies: 390
His Daughter flaunts a Vifeounfs tawdry wife ;
She bears a Coronet and p x for life.
In Britain's Senate he a feat obtains,
And one more Penfioner St. Stephen gains.
My Lady falls to Play: fo bad her chance, 359
He muft repair it ; takes a bribe from France ;
The Houfe impeach him; Coningiby harangues,
The Court forfake him, and Sir Balaam hangs :
Wife, fon, and daughter, Satan, are thy own,
His wealth, yet dearer, forfeit to the Crown :
The Devil and the King divide the prize,
And fad Sir Balaam curfes God and dies.
V. 358. And one more Penfioner St Stephe
atque urwm civem donate Sjfa/ta-.' Juv.
EPISTLE
46 ETHIC EPISTLES.
EPISTLE IV.
T O
RICHARD Earl of BURLINGTON*
TIS flrange, the Mifer fhould his Cares employ,
To gam thofe Riches he can ne'er enjoy :
Is it lefs fcrange, the Prodigal fhould wafte
Kis wealth, to purchafe what he ne'er can tafte ?
Not for himfetf he fees, or hears, or eats ; 5
Artiits rauft chu r e his Piftures, Mufic, Meats :
He buys for Top&am, Drawings and Defigns,
For Poitxtaix Statues, and for Pembroke Coins ;
Rare monkifh Manufcripts for Hearne alone,
And Books for Mead, and Rarities for Sloave. 10
This Epiftle is a Corollary to the preceding : As that
treated of the Extremes of Avarice and Profujion, this
takes up one branch of the latter, the Vanity of Ex-
pence in people of Quality or Fortune.
V. 7. Ttfbam.] A Gentleman famous for a judicious
collection of Drawings.
V. 10. And Books for Mead, and Raritiei for Sloan.]
Two eminent Phyficians ; the one had an excellent Li-
.brary, the other the fineft Colleftion in Europe of na-
tural curiofuies ; both men of great learning and hu-
manity.
Think
ETHJC EPISTLES. 47
Think we all thefe are for himfelf ? no more
Than his fine Wife, alas ! or finer Whore.
For what has Virro painted, built, and planted?
Only to (how, how many Taftes he wanted.
What brought Sir Fijtis ill-got wealth to wafte? 15
Some Daemon whifper'd, " Vijto! have aTafte."
Heav'n vifvts with a Tafte the wealthy fool,
And needs no Rod but Ripley with a Rule.
See ! fportive fate, to punifh aukward pride,
Bids Bubo build, and lends him fuch a Guide : 20
A {landing fermon, at each year's expence,
That never Coxcomb reach'd Magnificence ?
You (how us, Rome was glorious, not profufe,
And pompous buildings once were things of Ufe.
Yet (hall (my Lord) your juft, your noble rules 25
Fill half the land with Imitating Fools ;
Who random drawings from your meets (hall take,
And of one beauty many blunders make ;
Load fome vain Church with old Theatric ilate,
Turn Arcs of triumph to a Garden-gate, 30
Reverfe your Ornaments, and hang them all
On fome patch'd dog-hole ek'd with ends of wall,
Then clap four dices of Pilafter on't,
That, lac'd with bits of ruftic, makes a Front.
V. i 5. The Abufe of the Word Tafle.
V. 23. The Earl of Burlington was then publifhing
the Defigns of Inigo Jones, and the Antiquities of Rome
by Pailadio.
Shall
48 ETHIC EPISTLES.
Shall call the winds thro' long Arcades to roar, 35
Proud to catch cold at a Venetian door ;
Confcious they act a true Palladian part,
And if they ftarve, they ftarve by rules of art.
Oft have you hinted to your brother Peer,
A certain truth, which many buy too dear : 40
Something there is, more needful than Expence,
And fomething previous ev'n to Tafte 'Tis Senfe :
Good Senfe, which only is the gift of heav'n,
And tho' no fcience, fairly worth the feven :
A Light, which in yourfelf you muft perceive ; 45
.Jones and Le Notre have it not to give.
To build, to plant, whatever you intend,
To rear the Column, or the Arch to bend,
To fwell the Terras, or to fink the Grot ;
In all, let Nature never be forgot. 50
But treat the Goddefs like a modefl fair,
Nor over-drefs, nor leave her wholly bare ;
Let not each beauty ev'ry where be fpy'd,
Where half the skill is decently to hide.
V. 36. A Door or Window, fo called, from being
much pra&ifed at Venice, by Palladio and others.
V. 39, &c. That the firft principle and foundation
of all Tafte, is Good Senfe.
V. 46. Inlgo Jones, the celebrated Architect, and M.
Le Nitre, the Deligner of the belt Gardens of France.
V. 47, C5V . The chief proof of good Senfe in this,
as in every thing elfe, is to follow Nature^ but with
Judgment, and Choice.
He
ETHIC EPISTLES. 49
He gains all points, who pleafingly confounds, 55
Surprizes, varies, and conceals the Bounds.
Confult the Genius of the Place in all ;
That tells the Waters or to rife, or fall,
Or helps th' ambitious Hill the heav'ns to fcale,
Or fcoops in circling Theatres the Vale, 60
Calls in the Country, catches opening glades,
Joins willing woods, and varies {hades from (hades,
Now breaks, or now directs, th' intending Lines ;
Paints as you plant, and as you work, defigns.
Begin with Senfe, of ev'ry Art the Soul, 65
Parts anfw'ring parts mall flide into a Whole,
Spontaneous beauties all around advance,
Start ev'n from Difficulty, ftrike, from Chance ;
Nature mail join you, Time mall make it grow
A Work to wonder at perhaps a STOW. 70
Without it, proud Verfailles! thy glory falls,
And Nero 's Terraces defert their walls :
The vaft Parterres a thoufand hands mall make,
Lo ! COB HAM comes, and floats them with a Lake:
V. 57, 6V. Thefirft Rule, to adapt all to the Nature
and Ufe of the Place, and the Beauties not forced into it,
but refulting from it.
V. 70. The Seat and Gardens of the Lord Vifcount
Cobham in Buckinghamfhire.
V. 71, fcfr. For want of this Senfe, and thro' negleft
of this Rule, men are difappointed in the moft expenfive
Undertakings. Nothing without this will ever pleafe long,
if it pleafes at all,
D Or
$o ETHIC EPISTLES.
Or cut wide views thro' Mountains to the Plain, 7-
You'll wiih your hill or fhelter'd feat again.
Behold Villarios ten-years toil compleat,
His Quincunx darkens, his Eipaliers meet,
The Wood fupports the Plain, the parts unite,
And ftrength o.r fhade contends with ftrength of light ; 80
A waving Glow the bloomy beds difplay,
Blufhing in bright Diverfities of day,
With filver-quiv'ring rills maeander'd o'er-
Enjoy them, you ! Villario can no more ;
Tir'd of the Icene Parterres and fountains yield, 85
He finds at laft he better likes a Field.
Thro' his young woods how pleas'd Salinas flray'd,
Or fate delighted in the thick'ning fhade,
With annual joy the red'ning fhoots to greet,
Or fee the ftretching branches long to meet ! 90
His Son's fine Tafte an op'ner villa loves,
Foe to the Dryads of his Father's groves,
V. 75 . Or cut ivide vie^us thro Mountains to the Plain,
You II I'Jt/b your Hill fir Jkelterd Seat again.
This was done in Hertfordfhire by a wealthy Citizen,
at theexpence of above 5000!. by which means (meerly
to overlook a dead Plain) he let in the Northwind upon
hisHoufe and Parterre, which were before adorned and
defended by beautiful woods.
One
ETHIC EPISTLES. 51
One boundlefs Green, or ftourifh'd Carpet views,
With ali the mournful family of Yews ;
The thriving plants ignoble broomfticks made, 95
Now fweep thofe Alleys they were born to fhade.
At Timon's Villa let us pafs a day,
Where all cry out, " what fums are thrown away !
So proud, fo grand, of that ftupendous air,
Soft and Agreeable come never there. 100
V. 93. The two Extremes in Parterre, which are
equally faulty, a boundlefs Green, large and naked as a
field, or zfaurijti 'd Carpet, where the greatnefs and noble-
nefs of the piece is leflened by being divided into too many
parts, with Icroll'd works and beds, of which the exam-
ples are frequent.
V. 94. mournful Family of Tenvs.~\ Touches
upon the ill tafte of thofe who are fo fond of Evergreens
(particularly Yews which are the moft tonfile) as to de-
ilroy the nobler Foreft-trees, to make way forfuch little
ornaments as Pyramids of dark green, continually re-
peated, not unlike a Funeral proceffion.
V. 97. dtTimoris Pitta.] This Defcription is intend-
ed to comprize the Principles of a falfe Tafte of Mag-
nificence, and to exemplify what was faid before, that
nothing but good Senfe can attain it.
V. i oo, 5V . The firft wrong Principle, is to imagine
true Greatnefs confifts in fize and dimension : whereas,
let the work be ever fo vaft, unlefs the parts cohere in
one harmony, it will be but a great many Littlenefies
put together.
D ?. Great-
52 ETHIC EPISTLES.
Greatnefs, with T'imon, dwells in fuch a draught
As brings all Brobdignag before your thought.
To compafs this, his building is a Town,
His pond an Ocean, his parterre a Down :
Who but muft laugh, the Mailer when he fees? 105
A puny infeft, fhiv'ring at a breeze.
Lo, what huge heaps of littlenefs around !
The whole, a labour'd Quarry above ground.
Two Cupids fquirt before : a Lake behind
Improves the keennefs of the Northern wind. no
His Gardens next your admiration call,
On ev'ry fide you look, behold the Wall !
No pleafmg Intricacies intervene,
No artful wildnefs to perplex the fcene ;
Grove nods at grove, each Alle has a brother, 115
And half the platform juft reflcfts the other.
The fuff'ring eye inverted Nature fees,
Trees cut to Statues, Statues thick as trees,
V. 109. The fecond Error, Diffroportion, fmall things
joined to large ones.
V. 112. The Ends and Bsunds being feen at once,
which however large, will diminish both of the Gran-
deur and the Surprize.
V. 115. Too exacl. Rtfantlance of Part to Part, and
Repetition of the fame Objefts.
V". 117. Figures Unnatural, ft iff* zn& for mat, or fuch
as cannot be made berfeft.
With
ETHIC EPISTLES. 53
With here a Fountain, never to be play'd,
And there a Summer- houfe, that knows no lhade. 120
Here Amphitrite fails thro' myrtle bow'rs ;
There Gladiators fight, or die in flow'rs ;
Un-\vater'd fee the drooping fea-horfe mourn,
And fwallows rood in Nilus" dulty Urn.
My Lord advances with majeilic mien, 1 25
Smit with the mighty pleafure, to be feen :
But foft by regular approach not yet
Firil thro' the length of yon hot Terrace fweat,
And when up ten iteep flopesyou've dragg'd your thighs,
Juft at his Study-door he'll bleis your eyes. 130
His Study? with what Authors is it ftor'd?
In Books, not Authors, curious is my Lord ;
To
V. 119, &c. Ornaments of building or fculpture,
either too much multiplied, or ill 'place J, or where Nature
does not favour 'em. All the Examples are taken from
fome known Gardens.
V. 122. The two Statues, of the Gladiator pugnans,
and Gladiator moriens.
V. T 28. The Approaches and Communications of Houfe
with Garden, or of one part with another, ill judged
and inconvenient.
V. 1 3 1. His Study ? fcV.] The falfe Tafte in Books,
a Satire on the vanity in collecting them, more frequent
in Men of Fortune, than the iludy to underftand them.
Many delight chiefly in the eieg.mce of the print, or
of the binding ; fome have carry'd it fo far, as to caufe
the upper Shelves to be filled \vic painted book? of
D 3 wood :
54 ETHIC EPISTLES.
To all their dated Backs he turns you round,
Thefe Aldus printed, thole Du Sueil has bound.
Lo fome are Vellom, and the reft as good
For all his Lordfhip knows, but they are Wood.
For Lock or Milton 'tis in vain to look,
Thefe fhelves admit not any modern book.
And now the ChappePs filver bell you hear,
That fummons you to all the Pride of Pray'r : 1 40
Light quirks of Mufick, broken and uneven,
Make the foul dance upon a Jig to Heaven.
On painted Cielings you devoutly Hare,
Where fprawl the Saints of Verrio, or Laguerre,
On gilded clouds in fair expanfion lie, 1 45
And bring all Paradife before your eye.
wood : others pique themfelves fo much upon books in
a language they do not underftand, as to exclude the
moil ufeful in one they do.
V. 140. The falfeTafte in Mu/ic, improper to the
fubjecls, as of light Airs in Churches, oftenpra&ifed by
the Organifts, &c.
V. 143. And in Painting (from which even Italy
is not free) of naked Figures in churches, &c. which has
obliged fome Popes to put Draperies on fome of thofe
of the bell Mailers.
V. 144. Verrio (Antonio] painted many Cielings, &c,
at Windfor, Hampton Court, &c. and Laguerre at Blen-
hf im-Caftle, and other places. %
To
ETHIC- EPISTLES. 55
To reft, the Cufliion and foft * Dean invite,
Who never mentions Hell to ears polite.
But hark ! the chiming Clocks to dinner call ;
A hundred footfteps fcrape the marble Hall : 150
The rich Buffet well -coloured Serpents grace,
And gaping Tritons fpevv to waih your face.
Is this a dinner ? this a Genial room ?
No, 'tis a Temple, and a Hecatomb ;
A folemn Sacrifice, perform'd in ftate, 155
You drink by meaiure, and to minutes eat.
So quick retires each flying courfe, you'd fvvear
Sancbos dread Dodlor and his Wand were there.
Between each Aft the trembling falvers ring,
From foup to fweetwine, and God blefs the King. \ 60
V. 147. This is a Faft, a Reverend Dean of
Peterborough preaching at Court, threatned the Sinner
with punifhment in " a place which he thought it not
" decent to name in fo polite an aflembly."
V. 151. taxes the Incongruity of Ornaments (tho'
fometimes praclifed by the Ancients) where an open
Mouth ejefts the water into a Fountain, or where the
fhocking Images of Serpents, &c. are introduced in
Grottos, or Buffets.
V. 153. Is this a Dinner? &c] Theproud Feftivals
of fome Men are here let forth to ridicule, where the
Pride deftroys the Eafe, and the formal Regularity all
the pleafurable enjoyment of the entertainment.
V. 158. SanchoV dread Doflor.l See Don Quixote,
Vol. Book Chapt.
D 4 In
56 ETHIC EPISTLES.
In plenty ftarving, tantaliz'd in ftate,
And complaifantly help'd to all I hate,
Treated, carefs'd, and tir'd, I take my leave,
Sick of his civil Pride from Mom to Eve ;
I curfe fuch lavifh coft, and little skill, 1 65
And fwear no Day was ever paft fo ill.
Yet hence the Poor are cloath'd, the Hungry fed;
Health to himfelf, and to his Infants bread
The Lab'rer bears : What his hard Heart denies,
His charitable Vanity fupplies. 1 7
Another age mall fee the golden Ear
Imbrown the Slope, and nod on the Parterre,
Deep harvefts bury all his pride has plann'd,
And laughing Ceres re-aflame the land.
Who then mall grace, or who improve the Soil ? 175
WhoplantsIikeBAT HURST, or who buildslikeBoy LE.
'Tis Ufe alone that fanftifies Expence,
And Splendor borrows aU her rays from Senfe.
His Father's Acres who enjoys in peace,
Or makes his Neighbours glad, if he encreafe; i So
Whofe chearful Tenants blefs their yearly toil,
Yet to their Lord owe more than to the foil ;
V.i 67, &c. The Moral of the whole, where Providence
is juftifled in giving Wealth to thole who iquander it in
this manner. A bad Talle employs more hands, and
diffufes Expence, more than a good one. This recurs to
what is laid down in Book I. Epift. II. V. 2307, and
in the Epiltle preceding this, V. 161, &c.
Whofe
ETHIC EPISTLES. 57
Whofe ample Lawns are not afham'd to feed
The milky heifer and deferving fteed ;
Whofe rifing Forefts, not for pride or {how, 185
But future Buildings, future Navies grow;
Let His plantations ftretch from down to down,
Firft fliade a Country, and then raiie a Town.
You too proceed ! make falling Arts your care,
Ereft new wonders, and the old repair, 190
Jones and Palladia to themfelves reftore,
And be whate'er Vitruvius was before :
Till Kings call forth th' Idea's of your mind,
Proud to accomplifh what fuch hands defign'd,
Bid Harbors open, public Ways extend, 195
Bid Temples, worthier of the God, afcend,
Bid
V. 1 93 , 1 95, &V. Till Kings.~Bid Harbors open, &c.]
The Poet after having touched upon the proper objects
of Magnificence and Expence, in the private Works of
Great Men, comes to thole great and publick Works
which become a Prince. This Poem was pubiifhed in chc
year 1732 : when fome of the new built Churches, by
the Adi of Q. Anne, were reauy to fall, being founded
in boggy land, and others vilely executed, tftro' frau-
dulent cabak between Undertakers, Officers, &c. when
Da^enham-Ereach h.:d done very great miiciJci? ; when
the Propofal of building a Bridge at Weitminlter had
been petitioned againit, and rejeded ; when many of the
High-ways throughout England werehardiypaflkble, and
moft of thofe which were repaired by Turnpikes, made
Jobbi for private Lucre, and infamouily executed,
58 ETHIC EPISTLES.
Bid the broad Arch the dang'rous Flood contain,
The Mole projected break the roaring Main ;
Back to his bounds their fubject Sea command,
And roll obedient Rivers thro' the Land : 200
Thefe Honours, Peace to happy Britain brings,
Thefe are Imperial Works, and worthy Kings.
even to the Entrances of London itfelf. There had, at
this time, been an uninterrupted Peace in Europe for
above twenty years.
EPISTLES,
THE
THIRD BOOK.
T O
SEVERAL PERSONS.
EPISTLE I.
T O
ROBERT Earl of OXFORD,
AND
Earl MORTIMER.
SUCH were the notes thy once-lov'd Poet fung, *
'Till Death untimely ftop'd his tuneful tongue.
Oh juft beheld, and loft! admir'd and mourn'dl
With fofteft manners, gentleft arts adorn'd I
Bleft in each fcience, bleft in ev'ry ftrain ! 5
Dear to the Mufe ! to Harley dear in vain !
For him, thou oft haft bid the World attend,
Fond to forget the ftatefman in the friend ;
For Swift and him, defpii'd the farce of {late,
The fober follies of the wife and great; I a
* This Epiftle was fent to the Earl of Oxford with
Dr. Parnellis Poems publiftied by our Author, after the
faid Earl's Imprifonmentin the Tower, and Retreat into
the Country,
7 Dex-
62 ETHIC EPISTLES.
Dextrous, the craving, fawning croud to quit,
And pleas'd efcape from Flattery to Wit.
Abfent or dead, itill let a friend be dear,
(A figh the abfent claims, the dead a tear)
Recall thofe nights that clos'd thy toilfome' days, 1 5
Still hear thy Parnell in his living lays,
Who carelefs now of int'reft, fame, or fate,
Perhaps forgets that OXFORD e'er was great ;
Or deeming meaneft what we greateft call,
Beholds thee glorious only in thy Pall. 20
And fure, if ought below the feats divine
Can touch Immortals, 'tis a Soul like thine :
A Soul fupreme, in each hard inilance try'd,
Above all Pain, all Paffion, and all Pride,
The rage of Pow'r, the blail of publick breath, 25
The luft of Lucre, and the dread of Death.
In vain to Defarts thy retreat is made;
The Mufe attends thee to the n'lent made :
'Tis hers, the brave man's lateft fteps to trace,
S.ejudge his acts, and dignify difgrace. 30
When Int'reft calls off all her fneaking train,
And all th* oblig'd defert, and all the vain ;
She waits, or to the fcaffold, or the cell,
When the laft ling'ring friend has bid farewel.
Ev'n now, me fhades thy Ev'ning walk with bays, 35
(No hireling me, no proftitute to praife)
Ev'n now, obfervam of the parting ray,
Eyes the calm iun-iet of thy various day,
Thro' Fortune's cloud one truly great can fee,
Nor tcari. to tell, that MORTIMER is he. 40
EPISTLE
s
E
J*
E C
ETHI
PI
M E S
RET
C EPISTLE
STLE
T O
C R A G G S,
A R Y of S
S. 63
II.
Efq;
T A T E.
A Soul as full of Worth, as void of Pride,
Which nothing feeks to fhow, or needs to hide,
Which nor to Guilt, nor Fear, its Caution owes,
And boafts a Warmth that from no Paflion flows :
A Face untaught to feign ; a judging Eye, "fc
That darts fevere upon a rifmg Lye,
And ftrikes a blufli thro' frontlefs Flattery. j
All this thou wert; and being this before,
Know, Kings and Fortune cannot make thee more.
Then fcorn to gain a Friend by fervile ways,
Nor with to lofe a Foe thefe Virtues raife :
But candid, free, fincere, as you began,
Proceed a Minifter, but ftill a Man ;
Be not (exalted to whate'er degree)
Afham'd of any Friend, not ev'n of Me.
The- Patriot's plain, but untrod path purfue;
If not, *tis I muft be afham'd of You.
EPISTLE
ETHIC EPISTLES.
EPISTLE HI.
T O
Mr. A D D i s o N.
SE E the wild Wafte of all devouring years !
How Rome her own fad Sepulchre appear^,
With nodding arches, broken temples fpread,
The very Tombs now vanifh'd like their dead !
Imperial wonders, rais'd on Nations fpoil'd,
Where mix'd with Slaves the groaning Martyr toil'd :
Huge Theatres, that now unpeopled Woods,
Now drain'd a dillant country of her Floods ;
Fanes, which admiring Gods with pride furvey ;
Statues of Men, fcarce lefs alive than they ; I
Some felt the filent ftroke of mould'ring age,
Some hoilile fury, fome religious rage ;
* This was written in 1715. at which time Mr. Ad-
dlfin intended to publim his Book of Medals. It was
iome time before he was Secretary of State.
Bar-
EPISTLES. 6$
Barbarian blindnefs, Chriftian zeal confpire,
And Papal piety, and Gothic fire.
Perhaps, by its own ruins fav'd from flame, 15
Some bury'd marble half preferves a Name;
That Name, the learn'd with fierce difputes purfue,
And give to Titds old Vefpajiaris due.
Ambition figh'd : She found it vain to truft
The faithlefs Column and the crumbling Bull ; 20
Huge Moles, whofe Ihadow ftretch'dfrom more to more,
Their ruins ruin'd, and their place no more !
Convinc'd, me now contra&s her vaft defign,
And all her Triumphs fhrink into a Coin:
A narrow orb each crouded conqueft keeps, 25
Beneath her Palm here fad JuiLfa weeps,
Now fcantier limits the proud Arch confine,
And fcarce are feen the proftrate Nile or Rhine,
A fmall Euphrates thro' thepiece is roll'd,
And little Eagles wave their wings in gojd. 30
The Medal, faithful to its charge of fame,
Thro' climes and ages bears each form and name :
In one fhort view fubje&ed to our eye
Gods, Emp'rors, Heroes, Sages, Beauties, lie.
With fharpen'd fight pale Antiquaries pore, 35
Th' infcription value, but the ruft adore;
This the blue varnifh, that the green endears,
The fr.cred ruft of twice ten hundred years !
To gain Pefcennius one employs his fchemes,
One grafps a Cecrops in ecftatic dreams ; 40
Poor radius, long with learned fpleen devour'd,
Can tafte no pleafure fince his Shield was fcour'd ;
E And
66 EPISTLES.
And Curio, reftlefs by the Fair one's fide,
Sighs for an Otbo, and negleds his bride.
Theirs is the Vanity, the Learning thine : 45
Touch'd by thy hand, again Romis glories Ihine,
Her Gods, and god-like Heroes rife to view,
And all her faded garlands bloom a- new.
Nor blufh, thefe ftudies thy regard engage ;
Thefe pleas 'd the Fathers of poetic rage ; 50
The verfe and fculpture bore an equal part,
And Art reflected images to Art.
Oh when mall Britain, confcious of her claim,
Stand emulous of Greek and Roman fame,
In living medals fee her wars enroll'd, 55
And vanquifh'd realms fupply recording gold ?
Here, rifing bold, the Patriot's honeft face;
There Warriors frowning in hiftoric brafs :
Then future ages with delignt mall lee
How Plato\ Bacon's, Newton's looks 'agree ; 60
Or in fair feries laurell'd bards be mown,
A Virgil there, and here an Addifon.
Then {hall thy CR A cos (and let me call him mine)
On the caft ore, another Pollio mine ;
With afped open, mail creel his head, 65
And round the orb in lafting notes be read,
Statefman, yet friend to Truth ! of foul fincere,
In aftion faithful, and in honour clear ;
Who broke no promife, ferv'd no private end,
Who gain'd no title, and who loft no friend,
Ennobled by himfelf, by all approv'd,
And prais'd, unenvy'd, by the Mufe he lov'd.
EPISTLE
EPISTLES. 67
EPISTLE IV.
Mr. J
T O
E R V A S,
With Dryden's Tranflation of Frefnofs
Art of Painting.
P I "1HIS Verfe be thine, my friend, nor thou refufe
This, from no venal or ungrateful mufe.
Whether thy hand ftrike out fome free defign.
Where Life awakes, and*dawns at ev'ry line ;
Or blend in beauteous tints the colour'd mafs,
And from the canvas call the mimic face :
Read thefe inftruftive leaves, in which confpire
Frefntfs clofe Art, and Dryderfs native Fire :
And reading wifh, like theirs our fate and fame,
So mix'd our ftudies, and fo join'd our name ;
Like them to mine thro' long fucceeding age.
So jult thy skill, fo regular my rage,
R ?. Smit
s EPISTLES.
Smit with the love of filler-arts we came,
And met congenial, mingling flame with flame;
Like friendly colours found our hearts unite,
And each from each contract new ftrength and light.
How oft' in pleafing tasks we wear the day,
While fununer funs roll unperceiv'd away ?
How oft' our fi0wly-growing works impart,
While images reflect from art to art ?
How oft' review ; each finding like a friend
Something to blame, and fomething to commend ?
What flatt'ring fcenes our wand'ring fancy wrought,
Rome's pompous glories rifing to our thought !
Together o'er the Alps methinks we fly,
Fir'd with Ideas of fair Italy.
With thee, on Raphael's Monument I mourn,
Or wait infpiring Dreams at Mare's Urn :
With thee repofe, where Tully once was laid.
Or feek fome ruin's formidable made ;
While fancy brings the vanilh'd piles to view,
And builds imaginary Rome a-new.
Here thy well-ftudy'd marbles fix our eye ;
A fading frefco here demands a figh :
Each heav'nly piece unweary'd we compare,
Match Raphael 1 ?, grace with thy lov'd Guides air,
Carracci's ftrength, Corregios fofter line,
Paulo & free ftroke, and Titian's warmth divine.
How finim'd with illuftrious toil appears
This fmall, well-polifh'd Gem, the * work of years !
* Frefnoy employed above twenty years in finijhing
this Poem. Yet
EPISTLES. 69
Yet ftill how faint by precept is expreft
The living image in the painter's breaft?
Thence endlefs ftreams of fair ideas flow,
Strike in the sketch, or in the pidlure glow ;
Thence Beauty waking all her forms, fupplies
An Angel's fweetnefs, or Bria^eivater'a eyes,
Mufe ? at that Name thy {acred forrows ftied,
Thofe tears eternal, that embalm the dead :
Call round her Tomb each objeft of defire,
Each purer frame inform'd with purer fire :
Bid her be all that chears or fbftens life,
The tender fitter, daughter, friend and wife :
Bid her be all that makes mankind adore;
Then view this Marble, and be vain no more !
Yet ftill her charms in breathing paint engage ;
Her modeft cheek mall warm a future age.
Beauty, frail flow'r that every feafon fears,
Blooms in thy colours for a thoufand years.
Thus Churchill's race mall other hearts furprize,
And other Beauties envy Worjleys eyes ;
Each pleafing Blount mall endlefs fmiles beftow,
And foft Belindas blufh for ever glow.
Oh lafting as thofe Colours may they mine,
Free as thy ftroke, yet faultlefs as thy line !
New graces yearly like thy works difplay,
Soft without weaknefs, without glaring gay;
Led by fome rule, that guides, but not conftrains ;
And finift'd more thro' happinefs than pains f ^
E 3 The
7 EPISTLES.
The kindred Arts lhall in their praife confpire,
One dip the pencil, and one firing the lyre.
Yet ftiould the Graces all thy figures place,
And breathe an air divine on ev'ry face ;
Yet fhould the Mufes bid my numbers roll,
Strong as their charms, and gentle as their foul ;
With Zeuxis* Helen thy Bridgevjater vie,
And thefe be fung 'till Granni/lis Myra die :
Alas ! how little from the grave we claim ?
Thou but preferv'ft a Face, and I a Name.
EPISTL E
E P rS T L E S. 7*.
EPISTLE V.
TO
Mifs B L o u N T,
With the Works of VOlTURE.
Written at 17 years old.
IN thefe gay thoughts the Loves and Graces fhine,
And all the Writer lives in ev'ry line ; ,
His eafy Art may happy Nature feem,
Trifles themfelves are elegant in him.
Sure to charm all was his peculiar fate,
Who without flatt'ry pleas'd the fair and great ;
Still with efteem no lefc convers'd than read ;
With wit well-natur'd, and with books well-bred :
His heart, his miftrefs and his friend did (hare;
His time, the Mufe, the witty, and the fair.
Thus wifely carelefs, innocently gay,
Chearful he play'd the trifle, Life, away.
E 4 'Till
7* EPISTLES.
*Till fate fcarce felt his gentle breath fuppreft,
As Trailing Infants fport themfelves to reft.
Ev'n rival Wits did PoiturSs death deplore,
And the gay mourn 'd who never mourn 'd before ;
The trueft hearts for Voiture heav'd with fighs,
Vulture was wept by all the brighteft Eyes ;
The Smiles and Loves had dy'd in Voituris death,
But that for ever in his lines they breathe.
Let the ftridl life of graver mortals be
A long, exaft, and ferious Comedy,
In every fcene fome Moral let it teach,
And, if it can at once both pleafe and preach.
Let mine, an innocent gay farce appear,
And more diverting Hill than regular,
Have Humour, Wit, a native Eafe and Grace,
Tho' not too ftriftly bound to Time and Place :
Critics in Wit, or Life, are hard to pleafe,
Few write to thofe, and none can live to thefe. '
Too much your Sex is by their forms confin'd,
Severe to all, but molt to Womankind ;
Cuftom, grown blind with Age, muft be your guide ;
Your pleafure is a Vice, but not your pride ;
By Nature yielding, (lubborn but for fame ;
Made Slaves by honour, and made Fools by fhame.
Marriage may all thofe petty Tyrants chafe,
But fet up one, a greater in their place ;
Well might you wifti for change, by thofe accurft,
But the lafl Tyrant ever proves the worft.
Still in Conftraint your fuff'ring Sex remains.
Or bound in forma!, or in real Chains ;
Whole
EPISTLES. 73
Whole Years neglected, for fome Months ador'd,
The fawning Servant turns a haughty Lord.
Ah quit not the free innocence of Life,
For the dull glory of a virtuous Wife !
Nor let falfe Shews, or empty Titles pleafe :
Aim not at Joy, butjeft content with Eafe.
The Gods to curfe Pamela with her pray'rs,
Gave the gilt Coach and dappled f landers Mares,
The {hining Robes, rich Jewels, beds of State,
And, to compleat her blils, a Fool for Mate.
She glares in Balls, front Boxes, and the Ring,
A vain, unquiet, glitt'ring, wretched Thing !
Pride, Pomp, and State but reach her outward part,
She fighs, andis no Du chefs at her Heart.
But, Madam, if the fates withftand, and you
Are deftin'd Hymens willing Victim too j
Trufl not too much your now refilllefs Charms,
Thofe, Age orSicknefs, foon or late, difarms ;
Good humour only teaches Charms to laft,
Still makes new conquefls, and maintains the paft ;
Love, rais'd on Beauty, will like that decay,
Our Hearts may bear its flender Chain aday ;
As flow'ry Bands in wantonnefs are worn,
A Morning's pleafure, and at ev'ning torn :
This binds in ties more eafy, yet more ftrong,
The willing Heart, and only holds it long.
Thus * foiture'i early care ftill fhone the fame,
And Monfbanjter was only chang'd in name ;
* Me&moiftHe Paulet.
By
- 4 EPISTLES.
By this, ev'n now they live, ev'n now they charm,
Their Wit ftill fparkling, and their Flames dill warm.
Now crown'd with Myrtle, on th' Ekfian coaft,
Amid thofe lover?, joys his gentle Ghoft :
Pleas'd, while with fmiles his happy lines you view,
And finds a fairer Rambouillet in you.
The brighteft eyes of France infpir'd his mufe ;
The brighteft eyes of Britain now perufe ;
And dead, as living, 'tis our Author's pride
Still to charm thofe who charm the World befide.
EPISTLE
EPISTLES.
75
EPISTLE VI.
To the fame, on her leaving the Town,
after the CORONATION.
AS fome fond Virgin, whom her mother's care
Drags from the Town towholefome country air,.
Juft when ihe learns to roll a melting eye,
And hear a fpark, yet think no danger nigh ;
From the dear man unwilling me muft fever,
Yet takes one kifs before me parts for ever :
Thus from the world fair Zephalinda flew,
Saw others happy, and with fighs withdrew ;
Not that their pleafures caus'd her difcontent,
She figh'd not that they jlay'd, but that fhe we'/t
She went, to plain-work, and to purling brook -
Old-famion'd halls, dull aunts, and croaking rook.
She went from Op'ra, Park, Affembly, Play,
To morning walks, and pray'rs three hours a dav
To part her time 'twixt reading and bohea,
To mufe, and fpill her folitary tea,
Or o'er cold coffee trifle with the fpoon,
Count the flow clock, and dine exa& at noon
7 6 EPISTLES.
Divert her eyes with pilures in the fire,
Hum half a tune, tell ftories to the fquire ;
Up to her godly garret after fev'n,
There ftarve and pray, for that's the way to heav'n.
Some Squires, perhaps, you take delight to rack ;
Whofe game is Whifk, whofe treat a toaft in fack ;
Who vifits with a Gun, prefents you birds,
Then gives a fmacking bufs, and cries, No words !
Or with his- hound comes hallowing from the ftable,
Makes love wirh nods, and knees beneath a table ;
Whofe laughs are hearty, tho' his jefts are coarfe,
And loves you beft of all things but his horfe.
In fome fair ev'ning, on your elbow laid,
You dream of Triumphs in the rural made;
In penfive thought recall the fancy 'd fcene,
See Coronations rife on ev'ry green ;
Before you pafs th' imaginary fights
Of Lords, and Earls, and Dukes, and garter'd knights :
While the (pread fan o'erfhades your clofing eyes ;
Then give one flirt, and all the vifion flies.
Thus v.anilh fcepters, coronets and balls,
And leave you in lone woods, or empty walls!
So when your Slave, at fome, dear idle time,
(Not piagu'd with head-achs, or the want of rhyme)
Stands in the ftreets, abftra&ed from the crew,
And while he Lems to ftudy, thinks of you :
juit when his fancy points your fprightly eyes,
Or fees the blufli of loft Partbenia rife,
G y
EPISTLES. 77
G y pats my moulder, and you vaniih quite ;
Streets, Chairs, and Coxcombs, lufh upon my fight '
Vext to be ftill in town, I knit my brow,
Look four, and hum a fong as you. may now.
EPISTLE
EPISTLES.
EPISTLE VII.
T O
Dr. A R B U f*H NOT.
SHUT, fhut the door, goed John ! fatigu'd I faid,
Tye up the knocker, fay I'm fick, I'm dead.
The Dog-ltar rages ! nay 'tis paft a doubt,
All Bedlam^ or Parnaff'm, is let out:
Fire in each eye, and Papers in each hand, 5
They rave, recite, and madden round the land.
What walls can guard me, or what fhades can hide ?
They pierce my thickets, thro' my Grot they glide,
This Epiftle contains an Apology for the Author and
his Writings. It was drawn up at feveral times, as the
feveral occasions offer'd. He had no thought of pub-
lifliing it, till it pleas'd fome Perfons of Rank and For-
tune to attack in a very extraordinary manner, not only
his U'tithtgSy but his Moral;, Perfon, and Family: of
which he therefore thought himfelf obliged to give
fome account.
By
EPISTLES. 79
By land, by water, they renew the charge,
They flop the chariot, and they board the barge, i
No place is facred, not the Church is free,
Ev'n Sunday mines no Sabbath-day to me :
Then from the Mint walks forth the Man of ryme,
Happy ! to catch me, juft at Dinner-time.
Is there a Parfon, much be-mus'd in beer, 15
A maudlin poetefs, a ryming peer,
A clerk, foredoom' d his father's f&ul to crofs.
Who pens a Stanza when he fhould engrofs ?
Is there, who lock'd from ink and paper, (crawls
With defp'rate charcoal round his darkenM walls ? zo
All fly to Twifnam, and in humble ftrain
Apply to me, to keep them mad or vain.
Arthur, whole giddy fon neglefts the Laws,
Imputes to me and my damned wprks the caufe :
Poor Cornus fees his frantic wife elope, 2,
And curfes Wit, and Poetry, and Pope,
Friend to my Life ! (which did not you prolong,
The world had wanted many an idle fong)
What Drop or Koflrutn can this plague remove ?
Or which muft end me, a Fool's wrath or love ? 30
A dire dilemma ! either way I'm fped,
If foes, they write, if friends, they read me dead,
Seiz'd and ty'd down to judge, how wretched 1,
Who can't be filent, and who will not lye ;
To laugh, were want of goodneis and of grace, ; c
And to be grave, exceeds all Pow'r of face.
So EPISTLES.
I lit with fad civility, I read
With honeit anguifh, and an aching head ;
And drop at laft, but in unwilling ears,
This laving counfel, " Keep your piece nine years." 40
Nine years ! cries he, who high in Dnuy-lane
Lull'd by foft Zephyrs thro 1 .the broken pane,
Rymes e're he wakes, and prints before Term ends,
Oblig'd by hunge^and requeit of friends :
" The piece you think is incorrect? why take it, 4,
" I'm ail fubmiffion, what you'd have it, make it."
Three things another's model! wifhes bound,
My Friendship, and a Prologue, and ten pound.
* Pitholeon fends to me : " You know his Grace,
" I want a Patron; ask him for a Place." 50
Pitbcleon libell'd me " but here's a letter
" Informs you Sir,- 'twas when he knew no better.
" Dare you refufe him ? Curl invites to dine,
" He'll write a Journal, or he'll turn Divine"
Blefs me ! a packet. ." 'Tis a ftrangfer fues, 55
" A Virgin Tragedy, an Orphan Mufe."
If I diflike it, " Furies, death and rage !
If I approve, " commend it to the Stage."
There (thank my ftars) my whole commiffion ends,
The Play'rs and I are, luckily, no friends. 60
Fir'd that the houfe reject him, " 'Sdeath I'll print it
" Andfhame the fools your int'reft, Sir, with Lintot."
* The name taken from a foolifh Poet at Rhodes,
who pretended much to Greek. Schol. in Horat. lib. i .
Lintot,
EPISTLES. 81
Lintot, dull rogue! will think your price too much.
" Not Sir, if you revife it, and retouch."
All my demurs but double his attacks, 65
At laft he whifpers " do, and we go (hacks.
Glad of a quarrel, ftrait I clap the door,
Sir, let me fee your works and you no more.
"Pis fung, when Midas' Ears began to fpring,
(Midas, a facred perfon and a King) 70
His very Miniiter who fpy'd them firft,
(Some fay his * Queen) was forc'd to fpeak, or burft.
And is not mine, my friend, a forer cafe,
When ev'ry coxcomb perks them in my face ?
" Good friend forbear ! you deal in dang'rous things,
" I'd never name Queens, Minifters, or Kings ; 76
" Keep clofe to ears, and thofe let affes prick,
' Tis nothing" Nothing? if they bite and kick?
Out with it, Dunciad! let the fecret pafs,
That fecret to each fool, that he's an afs : 80
The truth once told, (and wherefore mould we lie ?)
The Queen of Midas flept, and fo may I.
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 canil hear the mighty crack :
* The ftory is told by fome of his Barber, but by
Chaucer of his Queen. See Wife of Bath's Tale in
Dryt/e*'* Fables.
F Pit,
$2 EPISTLES.
,Eit, box and gall'ry, in convulfions hurl'd,
Thou iland'it unfliook amidit a burfting world.
Who flumes a Scribler ? break one cobweb thro',
He fpins the flight, felf-pleafing thread anew; go
Deitroy his fib or fophiltry, in vain,
The creature's at his dirty work again ;
Thron'd in the centre of his thin defigns ;
Proud of a vaft extent of flimzy lines I
Whom have I hurt ? has Poet yet, or Peer, 95
Loft the arch'd eye-brow, or ParnaJJian fneer ?
And has not Colly ftill his lord, and whore ? '
His butchers Henley, his free-mafons Moor?
Does not one table Bavins ilill admit ?
Still to one Bilhop Philips feem a wit : 100
Still Sapho- Hold! for God-fake you'll offend,
*' No names be calm learn prudence of a friend:
" I too could write, and 1 am twice as tall,
" But foes like thefe ! One Flatt'rer's worfe than all ;
Of all mad creatures, if the learn'd are right, 105
It is the flaver kills, and not the bite.
A fool quite angry is quite innocent j
Alas ! 'tis ten times worfe when they repent.
One dedicates, in high heroic prole,
And ridicules beyond a hundred foes ; 1 10
One from all Grub-ftreet will my fame defend,
And, more abufive, calls himfelf my friend.
V. 88. Alluding to Horace,
Sifraftus illabatur Orbis
tmtofmdum feriwt ruin#.
This
EPISTLES. 83
This prints my Letters, that expedls a bribe,
And others roar aloud, " Subfcribe, fubfcribe.
There are, who to my perfon pay their court, 1 1 5
I cough like Horace, and tho' lean, am fhort,
Ammor?--, great fon one fhoulder had too high,
Such Ovid's nofe, and " Sir ! you have an Eye
Go on, obliging creatures, make me fee
All that difgrac'd my Betters, met in me : 1 20
Say for my comfort, languifhing in bed,
'* Juit fo immortal Maro held his head :
And when I die, be fure you let me know
Great Homer dy'd three thoufand years ago.
Why did I write ? what fin to me unknown 1 25
Dipt me in Ink, my parent's, or my own ?
As yet a child, nor yet a fool to fame,
I Hfp'd in numbers, for the numbers came,
I left no calling for this idle trade,
No duty broke, no father difobey'd. 1 30
The Mufe but ferv'd to eafe fome friend, not Wife,
To help me thro* this long difeafe, my Life,
To fecond, ARBUTHNOT ! thy Art and Care,
And teach, the Being you preferv'd, to bear.
But why then publilh ? Granville the polite, 135
And knowing Wal/h, would tell me I could write;
Well-natur'd Garth inflanVd with early praife,
And Congreve lov'd, and Swift endur'd my lays ;
The courtly Tattot, * Somen, Sheffield read,
Ev'n mitred Rocbefier would nod the head, . 140
* All theie were Patrons or Admirero or Mr. Dryden,
tho' a fcandalous libel againft him, entituled, Drytfni't
F z Satyr
84 EPISTLES.
And St. Johtis felf (great Dry Jen's friends before)
With open arms receiv'd one Poet more.
Happy my ftudies, when by thefe approv'd !
Happier their author, when by thefe belov'd !
From thefe the world will judge of men and books,
Not from the J Burnets, Qldmixons, and Cooks. 146
Soft were my numbers, who could take offence
While pure Defcription held the place of fenfe ?
Like gentle Fanny's was my flovv'ry theme,
A painted miftrefs, or a purling fiream. 150
Yet then did Gildon draw his venal quill ;
I wim'd the man a dinner, and fate ftill.
Yet then did Dennis rave in furious fret ;
I never anfwer'd, I was not in debt.
Jf want provok'd, or madnefs made them print, 155
I wag'd no war with Bedlam or the Mint.
Satyr to his Mxfe, has been printed in the name of the
Lord Somersy of which he was wholly ignorant.
Thefe are the perfons to whofe account the Author
charges the publication of his firft pieces : Perfons with
whom he was converfant (and he adds belov'd) at 1 6
or 17 years of age ; an early period for fuch acquain-
tance ! The catalogue might be made yet more illuftri-
ous, had he not confined it to that time when he writ
the Pa ft or als and Windsor For eft, on which he paflesa fort
of Cenfure in the lines following,
While pure Defcription held the place of Senfe, &C.
J Authors of fecret and fcandalous Hiftory,
Pid
EPISTLES. 85
Did fome more fober Critic come abroad ?
If wrong, I fmil'd j if right, I kifs'd the rod.
Pains, reading, ftudy, are their juft pretence,
And all they want is Ipirit, tafte, and fenfe. 1 60
Comma's and points they fet exaftly right,
And 'twere a fin to rob them of their mite.
Yet ne'r one fprig of laurel grac'd thefe ribalds,
From flashing Bentley down to pidling Tibalds.
Each Wight, who reads not, and but fcans and fpells,
Each Word-catcher that lives on fyllables, 166
Ev'n fuch fmall critics fome regard may claim,
Preferv'd in Miltons or in Sbakefpear*s name.
Pretty ! in amber to obferve the forms
Of hairs, or ftraws, or dirt, or grubs, or worms ! 170
The things we know, are neither rich nor rare,
But wonder how the devil they got there ?
Were others angry ? I excus'd them too ;
Well might they rage, I gave them but their due.
A man's true merit 'tis not hard to find, 175
But each man's fecret ftandard in his mind,
That cafting-weight pride adds to emptinefs,
This, who can gratify ? for who can guefe ?
The bard whom pilf 'red Paftorals renown,
Who turns a Perfian tale for half a crown, 1 80
Juft writes to make his barrennefs appear,
And itrains, from hard-bound brains, eight lines a year :
He, who ftill wanting tho' he lives on theft,
Steals much, fpends little, yet has nothing left :
And he, who now to fenfe 1 now nonfenfe leaning, 1 85
Means not. but blunders round about a meaning :
F 3 And
S6 EPISTLES.
And he, whofe fuftian's fo fublimely bad,
It is not Poetry, but Profe run mad :
All thefe my modeft Satire bade tranflate,
And own'd, that nine fuch Poets made a Tate. 1 90
How did they fume, and ftamp, and roar, and chafe ?
And fwear, not Addifon himfelf was fafe.
Peace to all fuch ! but were there One whofe fires
True Genius kindles, and fair Fame infpires,
Bleft with each talent and each art to pleafe, 195
And born to write, converfe, and live with eafe:
Shou'd fuch a man, too fond to rule alone,
Bear, like the Turk, no brother near the throne,
View him with fcornful, yet with jealous eyes,
And hate for arts that caub'd himfelf to rife ; 200
Damn with faint praife, silent with civil leer,
And without fneering, teach the reft to fneer;
Willing to wound, and yet afraid to ftrike,
Juft hint a fault, and hefitate diflike;
Alike referv'd to blame, or to commend, 205
A timrous foe, and a fufpicious friend ;
Dreading ev'n fools, by Flatterers befieg'd,
And fo obliging that he ne'er oblig'd ;
Like Cato, give his little Senate laws,
And fit attentive to his own applaufe ; 210
While Wits and Templers ev'ry fentence raife,
And wonder with a foolifh face of praife.
Who but muft laugh, if fuch a man there be ?
Who would not weep, if Atticus were he !
What tho' my Name ftood rubric on the walls ? 2 1 5
Or plaiiler'd pofts, with claps in capitals ?
Or
EPISTLES 87
Or fmoaking forth, a hundred hawkers load,
On wings of winds came flying all abroad ?
I fought no homage from the race that write ;
I kept,, like Afian Monarchs, from their fight; 220
Poems I heeded (now be-rym'd fo long)
No more than thou, great GEORGE ! a birth-day fong
I ne'r with wits or witlings pad my days,
To fpread about the itch of verfe and praife ;
Nor like a puppy dagled through the town, 225
To fetch and carry fmg-fong up and down ;
Nor at Rehearfals fweat, and mouth'd, and cry'd,
With handkerchief and orange at my fide ;
But fick of fops, and poetry, and prate,
To Bufo left the whole Caflalian ftate. 230
Proud, as Apollo on his forked hill,
Sate full-blown Bufo, puff'd by ev'iy quill;
Fed with foft Dedication all day long,
Horace and he went hand in hand in fong.
His Library, (where bufts of Poets dead 235
And a true Pindar flood without a head)
Receiv'd of wits an undiftinguifh'd race,
Who firft his judgment ask'd, and then a place :
Much they extoli'd his pictures, much his feat,
And flatter' d ev'ry day, and fome days eat : 240
V. 236. a trite Pindar flood without a head.] ridi-
cules the afteclation of Antiquaries, who frequently ex-
hibit the headlefs trunks and -Terms of Statues, for Plato,
liomsr, Pindar, &c. Vide Fufo. Urfm, &c.
F 4 Till
38 EPISTLES.
Till grown more frugal in his riper days,
He pay'd fome Bards with port, and fome with praife,
To fome a dry rehearfal was aflign'd,
And others (harder ftill) he pay'd in kind.
Dryden alone (what wonder 1} came not nigh, 245
Dr;di;i: alone efcap'd this judging eye :
But Hill the great have kindnefs in referve,
He help'd to bury him he help'd to ftarve.
May lome choice Patron blefs each gray goofe quill !
May ev'ry Bavius have his Bufo ftill ! 250
So, when a Statefman wants a day's defence,
Or Envy holds a whole week's war with fenfe,
Or limple Pride for flatt'ry makes demands,
May dunce by dunce be whittled off my hands !
jBleft be the Great ! for thofe they take away, 255
And thofe they left me ! For they left me GAY ;
Left me to fee neglected genius bloom,
Neglected die ! and tell it on his tomb :
Of all thy blamelefs life the fole return
My verfe ! and QUEENSB'RY weeping o'er thy urn !
Oh let me live my own ! and die fo too I 261
(" To live and die is all I have to do :)
Maintain a Poet's dignity and eafe,
And fee what friends, and read what books I pleafe.
V. 248. helfd to bury.~] Mr. Dryden, after having
liv'd in exigencies, had a magnificent Funeral beftow'd
upon him by the contribution of feveral Perfons of Qua-
lify.
Above
EPISTLES. 89
Above a Patron, the' I condefcend 265
Sometimes to call a Minifter my friend.
I was not born for Courts or great affairs,
I pay my debts, believe, and fay my pray'rs,
Can fleep without a Poem in my head,
Nor know, if Dennis be alive or dead. -270
Why am I ask'd what next fhall fee the light ?
Heav'ns ! was I born for nothing but to write ?
Has Life no joys for me ? or, to be grave,
Have I no friend to ferve, no fotil to fave ?
" I found him clofe with Swift Indeed ? no doubt
*' (Cries prating Balbus) fomething will come out."
'Tis all in vain, deny it as I will : 277
" No, fuch a Genius never can lie ftill,"
And then for mine obligingly miftakes
The firft Lampoon Sir Will, or Bubo makes. 280
Poor guiltlefs I ! and can I chufe but fmile,
When ev'ry Coxcomb knows me by my Style ?
Curft be the verfe, how well foe'er it flow,
That tends to make one worthy man my foe,
Give Virtue fcandal, Innocence a fear, 285
Or from the foft-ey'd Virgin fteal a tear !
But he who hurts a harmlefs neighbour's peace*
Jnfults fal'n worth, or beauty in diftrefs,
Who loves a lye, lame flander helps about,
Who writes a Libel, or who copies out : 290
That fop, whofe pride affe&s a patron's name,
Yet abient, wounds an author's honeft fame ;
Who can your m.tn\.felji/bly approve,
And Ihow the ft nfe of it without the l<rve >
Who
90 EPISTLES.
Who has the vanity to call you friend, 295
Yet wants the honour injur'd to defend ;
Who tells whate'er you think, whate'er you fay,
And, if he lye not, muft at leaft betray :
Who to the Dean zndjjfaw bell can fwear,
And fees at Cannons what was never there ; 300
Who reads but with a luft to mifapply,
Make Satire a Lampoon, and Fiftion Lye.
A Lafh like mine no honeft man Hull dread,
But all fuch babling blockheads in his Head.
Let Sporus tremble " What? that thing of filk,
" Sporus y that mere white curd of Afs's milk ? 306
* Satire or fenfe alas ! can Sporus feel r
44 Who breaks a butterfly upon a wheel? "
Yet let me flap this bug with gilded wings,
This painted child of dirt, that ftinks and ftings, 310
Whofe buzz the witty and the fair annoys,
Yet wit ne'er taftes, and beauty ne'er enjoys :
So well-bred fpaniels civilly delight
In mumbling of the game they dare not bite.
Kiernal fmiles his emptinefs betray, 3l
As fhallow ftreams run dimpling all the way.
Whether in florid impotence he fpeaks,
And, as the prompter breathes, the puppet fqueaks,
Or at the ear of Eve, familiar Toad,
Half froth, half venom, fpits himfelf abroad, 3 20
V, 299. Sec the EpiiUc to the Earl of Burlington.
In
EPISTLES. 91
In puns, or politicks, or tales, or lyes,
Or fpite, or fmut, or rymes, or blafphemies.
His wit all fee-faw between that and this, -
Now high, now low, now marter up, now mifs, v
And he himfelf one vile Antithdis. 325 J
Amphibious thing ! that adling either part,
The trifling head, or the corrupted heart,
Fop at the toilet, flatc'rer at the board,
Now trips a Lady, and now ftruts a Lord.
Eves tempter thus the Rabbins have exprcfl, 330
A Cherub's face, a Reptile all the reit,
Beauty that fhocks you, Parts that none will truft,
Wit that can creep, and Pride that licks the duft.
Not Fortune's worfhipper, nor Fafhion's fool.
Nor Lucre's madman, nor Ambition's tool : 335
Not proud, nor fervile, be one Poet's praife,
'j'nat, if he pleas'd, he pleas'd by manly ways,
That Flatt'ry, ev'n to Kings, he held a flume,
And thought a Lye in verfe or profe the fame.
That not in Fancy's maze he wander'd long, 34.0
But floop'd to Truth, and moraliz'd his fong.
That not for Fame, but Virtue's better end,
He ftood the furious foe, the timid friend,
The damning critic, half-approving wit,
The coxcomb hit, or fearing to be hit; 34^
Laugh'd at the lofs of friends he never had,
The dull, the proud, the wicked, and the mad ;
The diilant threats of vengeance on his head,
The blow unfelt, the tear he never fhed ;
The
9* EPISTLES.
The tale reviv'd, the lye fo oft o'erthrown, 350
Th'imputed trafti, the dulnefs not his own ;
The morals blacken'd when the writings fcape,
The libel'd perfon, and the pidur'd fhape ;
Abufe on all he lov'd, or lov'd him fpread,
A friend in exile, or a father, dead; 355
The Whifper, that to greatnefs ftill too near,
Perhaps, yet vibrates on his SOVEREIGN'S ear-
Welcome for thee, fair Virtue ! all the paft :
For thee, fair Virtue ! welcome ev'n the loft !
" But why infult the poor, affront the great?" 360
A knave's a knave, to me, in ev'ry ftate :
Alike my fcorn, if he fucceed or fail,
Sporus at court, or Japhet in a jayl,
A hireling fcribbler, or a hireling peer,
Knight of the poft corrupt, or of the (hire, 36^
If on a Pillory, or near a Throne,
He gain his Prince's ear, or lofe his own.
Yet foft by nature, more a dupe than wit,
can tel! you how this man was bit :
VER. 351. Ttf imputed Tra/hJ] Such as profan*
Pfa/ms, Court-Poems, and other Icandalous things,
printed in his Name by Curl and others.
VER. 3^4. Abufe on all be /<?<*; V, or Ivvd him,
freaJ-l Namely on the Duke of Buckingham, the
Karl of Burlington, Ld.Bathuril,Ld.Bolingbroke,Bimop
Atterbury, Dr. Swift, Dr. Arbuthnot, Mr. Gay, his
Friends, his Parents, and his very Nurfe, afperfed in
printed papers, by James Moore, G. Ducket, L. Wel-
iktl, Tho. Bentley, and other obfcure perfons.
This
EPISTLES. 93
This dreaded Sat'rift Dennis will confefs 370
Foe to his pride, but friend to his diftrefs :
So humble, he has knock*d at Tibbald\ door,
Has drank with Gibber, nay has rym'd for Moor:
Full ten years flander'd, did he once reply ?
Three thoufand funs went down on Wei/led* sly t". 375
To pleafe a miflrefs, one afpers'd his life ;
He lafh'd him not, but let her be his wife.
Let Budgel charge low Grubftreet on his quill,
And write whate'er he pleas'd, except his will ;
VER. 374. Ten Tears."] It was fo long before the
Author of the Dunciad publifhed that poem, till when,
he never writ a word in anfwer to the many fcurrili-
ties and falfehoods concerning him.
VER. 375. WcljhcTs Lye.} This man had the Im-
pudence to tell in print, that Mr. P. had occafion'd a
Lady's death, and to name a perfon he never heard of.
He alfo publifh'd that he libelM the Duke of Chan-
dos ; with whom (ic was added) that he had liv'd in
familiarity, and received from him a prefent of five
hundred Pounds : the Falfehood of both which is
known to his Grace. Mr. P. never receiv'd any Pre-
tent, farther than the Sub r cription for Homer, from
him, or from Any Great Man whatfoever.
Budgel in a weekly pamphlet call'd the Bee, beftow'd
much abufe on him, in the imagination that he writ
fome things about the Laji Will of Dr. Tindal, in the
Grubjlreet Journal ; a Paper wherein he never had the
leait hand, direction, or fuperviial, nor the lead
knowledge of its Authors.
Let
94 EPISTLES.
Let the two Curls of Town and Court, abufe 380
His father, mother, body, foul, and mufe.
Yet why ? that Father held it for a rule
It was a fin to call our neighbour fool ;
That
VER. 381. His Father, Mother, &c.] In fome of
Curl's and other Pamphlets, Mr. Pope's Father was faid
to be a Mechanic, a Hatter, a Farmer, nay a Bankrupt.
But what is ftranger, a Nobleman (if fuch a Refle&ion
could be thought to come from a Nobleman) had dropt
an allufion to that pitiful untruth, in a paper called an
'Epijile to a DoSor of Divinity : And the following line.
Hard as thy Heart , and as thy Birth obfcure,
had fallen from a like Courtly pen, in certain Verfes to
the Imitator of Horace. Mr. Pope's Father was of a
Gentleman's Family in Oxfordfhire, the Head of which
was the Earl of Dwcne, whofe fole Heirefs married the
Earl of Lindfey. His Mother was the Daughter of
William Tumor, Efq; of York: She had three Brothers,
one of whom was kill'd, another died in the fervice of
King Charles ; the eldcft following his fortunes, and be-
coming a General Officer in Spain, left her what eftate
remainM after the Sequeftrations and forfeitures of her
Family. Mr. Pope died in 1717, aged 75 ; She in
1733, aged 93, a very few weeks after this poem was
finifhed. The following I nfcription was placed by their
Son on their Monument in the Parifh of Twickenham,
in Middlefex.
D. O. M.
EPISTLES.
95
That harmlefs Mother thought no wife a whore, .
Hear this, and fpare his family, James M* 385
Unfpotted names ! and memorable long,
If there be force in Virtue, or in Song.
Of gentle blood (part {hed in Honour's caufe,
While yet in Britain Honour had applaufe)
Each parent fprung~"What fortune, pray ? their own.
And better got than Beflia's from the throne. 39 1
Born to no Pride, inheriting no Strife,
Nor marrying Difcord in a noble wife,
Stranger to civil and religious rage,
The good man walk'd innoxious thro' his age : 395
No Courts he faw, no fuits would ever try,
Nor dar'd an Oath, nor hazarded a Lye :
Un-learn'd, he knew no fchoolman's iubtle art,
No language, but the language of the heart.
By Nature honeft, by Experience wife, 400
Healthy by temp'rance and by exercife,
D. O. M.
ALEXANDRO POPE, VIRO INNOCUO, PROBO, Pio,
Qvi VIXIT ANNOS Lxxv, OB. Moccxvii.
ET EDITHAE CONJUGI INCULPABILI,
PlENTISSIMAE, QuAE VIXIT ANNOS
Xcin, OB. MDCCXXXIII.
PARENTIBUS BENEMERENTIBUS FILIUS FECIT,
ET$IBI.
Hn
96 EPISTLES.
His life, tho' long, to ficknefs part unknown,
His death was inftant, and without a groan.
O grant me thus to live, and thus to die !
Who fprung from Kings mall know lefs joy than I".
O Friend ? may each domeftick blifs be thine ! 406
Be no unpleafmg melancholy mine :
Me, let the tender office long engage
To rock the cradle of repofing age,
With lenient arts extend a mother's breath, 410
Make languor fmile, and fmooth the bed of death,
Explore the thought, explain the asking eye,
And keep a while one parent from the sky !
On cares like thefe if length of days attend,
May heav'n, to blefs thofe days, preferve my friend,
Preferve him focial, chearfu!, and ferene, 415
And juft as rich as when he ierv'd a Qy E E N.
Whether that blefling be deny'd, or giv'n,
Thus far was right, the reft belongs to Heav'n.
SATIRES
SATIRES
O F
HORACE
I M I f ATE D,
With SATIRE s of Dr. DONNED
Verfify'd by the fame hand,
ADVERTISEMENT.
TH E Occajion of publijhing ^limitations was the
Clamour raifed on fame of my Epiftles. An An-
fwer from Horace was both more full, and of more Dig-
nity, than any I could have made in my own perfon ; and
the Example of Jo much greater Freedom in fo eminent a
Divine as Dr. Donne, feemd a proof with what in-
dignation and contempt a Chriftian may- treat Vice or
Folly, in ever fo low, or ever fo high, a Station. Both
tbefe Authors were acceptable to the Princes and Minifters
tinder whom they lived: The Satires of Dr. Donne Iver-
jifyd at the de/ire of the Earl of Oxford while he was
LordTreafurer, and of the Duke of Shrewsbury who had
been Secretary of State ; neither of whom look'd upon a.
Satire on Vicious Courts as any Reflection on thofe they
fervid in. And indeed there is not in the world a greater
error, than that which Fools are fo apt to fall into, and
Knaves with 'good reafon to incourage, the mi/taking a
Satyrift for a Libeller ; whereas to- a true Satyrift no-
thing is fo odious as a Libeller, for the fa?ne reafon as ft
a man truly virtuous nothing is fo hateful as a Hvpo-
crite.
SATIRE I.
Ar~|"lHERE are (I fcarce can think it, but am told)
i There are to whom my Satire feefns too bold.
Scarce to wife Peter complaifant enough,
And fomething faid of Chartres much too rough.
2 The lines are weak, another's pleas'd to fay,
Lord Fanny fpins a thoufand fuch a day.
Tim'rons by nature, of the Rich in awe,
3 I come to Council learned in the Law.
You'll give me, like a friend both fage and free,
Advice ; and (as you ufe) without a Fee.
F. * J'd write no more.
P. Not write ? but then I think,
5 And for my foul I cannot deep a wink.
Horatius. Trebatius.
HOR. * Sunt quibtts in Satyra iiidear nimis acer, & ulna
Legem tender e of us ; * fine ner*uis alter a quicquid .
Compofui pars ej/~e putat, fimikfque meorum
Mi lie die werfus deduci po/ft* 3 fyebati !
Quid faciam ? prcefcribe.
TREE. * Quiefcas. HOR. N'faciam inquis,
Omnino verfus ? TREE. Aio.
HoR. Per earn male, Jt non
Optimum erat : * vernm nequeo darmire,
G z I nod
:io SATIRESop
t rod in company, I wake at night,
Fool* ru(h inco my head, and fo I write.
F. You could not do a worfe thing for your l>fe.
Why, if die nights feem tedious take a Wife :
4 Or rather truly % if your point be reft,
Lettuce and cowflip wine : Probatum e/i.
But talk with Celfits, Celfus will advife
Hartftiorn,' or fomething that mall clofe your eyes.
7 Or, if you needs mult write, write CAESAR'S Praife :
* You'll gain at lealt a Knighthood, or the Bays.
P. What? like Sir 9 Richard, rumbling, rough and
fierce,
With ARMS, and GEORGE, and BRUNSWICK crowd
the verfe,
Rend with tremendous found our ears afunder,
With Gun, Drum, Trumpet, Blunderbufs, and Thunder ?
Or nobly wild, with Budgets fire and force,
Paint Angels trembling round his falling Horfe?
TREE. 6 Ter unfit
Tranfnanto Tiberim, fomno quibus eft opus alto,
Irriguumve mero fub noflem corpus habento.
t Aut, Jt tantus amor fcribendi te rapit, aude
C A E s A R i s invicli res dicer e, 8 multa. laborum
Praemia laturus.
HOR. Cuptdum, pater optime! wires
Deficiur.t : 9 neque enim qui<uis horrentia pilis
,Agmina, nee fra&a pereuntes cufpide Gallos,
Aut labentis equo dejcribat wulnera Par^ii.
F. Then
HORACE. in
F. *9 Then all your Mufe's fofter art difplay,
Let CAROLINA fmooth the tuneful lay,
Lull with AMELIA'S liquid name the nine,
And fweetly flow through all the Royal Line.
P. 11 Alas ! few verfes touch their nicer ear ;
They fcarce can bear heir Laureate twice a year;
And juftly CAESAR icorns the Poet's Jays,
It is to Hlftory he trulls for Praife.
F. * Better be Gibber, I'll maintain it ftill,
Than ridicule all Tafte, blafpheme Quadrille,
Abufe the City's beft good men in metre,
And laugh at Peers that put their trufl in Peter. *
*3 Ev'n thofe you touch not, hate you.
P. What mould ail 'em?
F. A hundred fmart in Timon and in Balaam :
The fewer ftill you name, you wound the more;
Bond is but one, but Harpax is a fcore.
.**dttamen & jujium poteras & fcribere fortem,
Scipiadam utjapiens Lucilius.
Ho R . Haud mihi deero,
Cum res fyfaferet. J x nife dextro tempore Flacci
Verba per attentam non ibunt Casfaris aurem ;
Cut malefi pa/pere, recalcitrat undique tutus.
TREE. 2 * Quanta re flius hoc , quant trijii laedere ijerfu
Pantalabum feurram, Nomentanum r ve nepotem ?
timet, quanouam ^?intaftus, 3"
G 3 P. *Each
jiz SATIRES VP
P. T 4 Each mortal has his pleafure: none deny
Sc*le his bottle, D*ty his Ham-pye ;
Ridotta fips and dances, till fhe fee
The doubling Luftres dance as well as me ;
i 5 F- loves the Senate, Hackle-hole his brother,
Like in all elfe, as one Egg to another.
*6 I love to pour^DUt all my felf, as plain
As downright Shippen, or as old Montagne.
In them, as certain to be lov'd as feen,
The Soul ftood forth, nor kept a thought within;
In me what fpots (for fpots I have) appear,
Will prove at leall the Medium mull be clear.
In this impartial glafs, my Mufe intends
Fair to expoie myfelf, my foes, my friends ;
Publifti the prefent age j but where my text
Js vice too high, referve it for the next :
My foes ijhall wifh my life a longer date,
And ev'ry friend the lefs lament my fate.
HOR. uShddfatiam? faltat Milonlus, utfemel ifto
Acceffit fervor capiti, numerufque Lucernis :
1 * Cajtor gaudet equis ; ovo prognatus eodem
Pugnis : quot capitum vivunt, totidem ftudiorum
Millia: J ^ mepedibus dele flat claudere e verba >
Lucili ritu, noftrum melioris utroqve.
Hie, welutfdis arcana fodalibus, olim
Credebat libris ; neque Jl male gejferat, ufquam
Decurrens alio, neque fe bene : quo Jit ut omnis
Votwa pateat <veluti defiripta tabella
My
HORACE. t i 5
My head and heart thus flowing thro' my quill,
1 7 Verfe-man or Profe-man, term me which you will,
Papift or Proteftant, or both between,
Like good Erafmus in an honeft Mean,
In moderation placing all my glory,
While Tories call me Whig, and Whigs aTory.
1 s Satire's my weapon, but I'm too difcreet
To run a muck, and tilt at all I meet ;
'?[ only wear it in a land of Heflors,
Thieves, Supercargoes, Sharpers, and Directors.
* Save but our Army ! and let Jove incruit
Swords, pikes, and guns, with everlafting ruft !
11 Peace is my dear delight not F/eurfs more :
But touch me, and no Minifter fo fore.
Whoe'r offends, at fome unlucky time
** Slides into verfe, and hitches in a rhyme,
Vita feni s. Sequor bunc, * 7 Lucanus an Appulus anceps '
[Nam Venufinus arat finem fub utrumque colon us,
Mijffus ad hoc, pulfis (vefus eft utfama) Sabellis ;
)uo ne per vacuum Romano incurreret hojiis,
Sfve quod Appula gens, feu quod Lucania, helium
Incut eret 'Violent a. ~\ * Sedhic Jlylus haudpetet ultra
Quenquam animantem ; & me <ueluti cujlodiet enjis
Vagina tecJ-us, quern, cur dijlringere coner,
1 9 Tutus ab infejiis latronibus ? 2O O Pater ^ Rex
Jupiter ! ut per eat pojltum rubigine telum,
Nee quifquam noceat * x cupido mihi pads ! at ille,
Qui me commorit (melius non tangere clamo)
? * Flebit) y i'ljignis tota cantabitur urbf.
G Sacred
ii4 S AT IRES OF
Sacred to Ridicule his whole life long,
And the fad burthen of fome merry fong.
*3 Slander orPoyfon dread from Delia's rage,
Hard words or hanging, if your Judge be *
From furious Sappho fcarce a milder fate,
P-x'd by her love, or libell'd by her hate.
* *Its proper pow'r to hurt, each creature feels,
Bulls aim their horns, and AfTes lift their heels,
'Tis a Bear's talent not to kick but hug,
And no man wonders he's not ftung by Pug:
a * So drink with Waters, or with Chartres eat,
The'll never ppyfon you, they'll only cheat.
a< ? Then learned Sir! (to cut the matter fhort)
Whate'er my fate, or well or ill at Court,
Whether old age with faint, but chearful ray,
Attends to gild the Evening of my day,
Or Death's black wing already be difplay'd
To wrap me in the Univerfal {hade j
a 3 Cer<vius iratus leges minitatur & urnam ;
Ganidia Albutt, quibus ejl inimica, *uenenum ;
Grande malum Turius, Ji quid fe judice certes :
** Uf, quo quifque valet, fufpetus t err eat t utque
Imperet hoc Natura potens, fee collige mecum.
Dente lupus, cornu taurus petit ; unde, nijt intus
Monftratum ? * J Sc^-v/f vivacem crede nepoti
Matrem : nil faciet feeler is pi a dextra (mirum?
Ut neque calce lupus quenquam, neque dente petit bos)
Sed mala toilet anum vitiato me lie cicuta.
Ne longumfaciam; feu me tranquilla fcneflus
t, feu mors atris circurnvolat alts ;
Whether
HORACE. 115
Whether the darken'd room to mufe invite,
Or whiten'd wall provoke the skew'r to write ;
In durance, exile, Bedlam, or the Mint,
* 7 Like Lee or Budgell, I will rhyme and print.
F. 2 8 Alas young man ! your days can ne'er be long,
In flow'r of age you perifh for a fong !
Plums and Directors, Sbylock and his Wife,
Will club their Tefters, now, to take your life !
P.* 9 What ? arm'd for Virtue when I point the pen,
Brand the bold front of mamelefs, guilty men,
Dam the proud Gamefter in his gilded Car,
Bare the mean heart that lurks beneath a Stan
Can there be wanting, to defend Her caufe,
Lights of the Church, or Guardians of the Laws?
Could penfion'd Roileau lafh in honeft ftrain
Flatt'rers and Bigots ev'n in Louis' reign ?
Could Laureate Dry den Pimp and Fry'r engage,
Yet neither Charles nor James be in a rage ?
And I not 3ftrip the gilding off a Knave,
Un-plac'd, unpenfion'd, no man's heir, or Have ?
Dives, inops, Roma:, feu fon it a jujferit, exut,
* 7 Quifquis erit <vit<, fcribam, color.
TREK. *& O puer, utjts
Vitalis metuo ; tf Majorum ne quis amicus
Frigore teferiat.
HOR. Quid? cum tft Ludliut aufus
Primus in hunc operis componere carmina morem,
3 Detrahere & pellem, nitidus qua quifque per ora
""Cederet, introrfum turpis ; num Ltstius, & qui
Duxit ab opprejfa merit'.tm Cartbagine nomen,
I Will,
1 16 SATIRES OF
I will, or perifh in the gen'rous caufe :
Here this and tremble ! you, who'fcape the laws.
Yes, while I live, no rich or noble knave
Shall walk in peace, and credit, to his grave.
3 * To V IRTXJE ONLY and HER FRIENDS, A FRIENDj
The World befide may murmur, or commend.
Know, all the diftam din that world can keep
Rolls o'er my Grotto, and but fooths my fleep.
3 * There, my retreat the beft companions grace,
Chiefs out of war, and Statefmen out of place.
There ST. JOHN mingles with my friendly bowl,
The Feait of Reafon and the Flow of foul :
And* HE, whofe lightning pierc'd th'Iberian Lines,
Now forms my Quincunx, and now ranks my Vines,
lOr tames the Genius of the flubborn plain,
Almoft as quickly, as he conquer'd Spain.
Ingenio offenfi ? aut l&fo doluere Metello,
Famoftfque Lupo cooperto vertimu ? Atqui
Primores popu/i arripuit, populumque triiutim ;
. Scilket 3* UNI AEQ.UUS VIR.TUTI ATO^UE EJUS
AMICIS.
HQuin ubi fe a vulgo & fcaena, in fecreta remorttnt
Virtus Scipiadze, ff mitis Sapientia Laeli,
Nugari cum ilia, <y difcinSi laderf, donee
Decoqueretur olus, faliti.
* Charles Mor daunt Earl of Peterborough, who in the
year 1705 took Barcelona, and in the winter following
ith only 280 horfe and 900 foot enterprized and
- the Conqueft of Valentia.
3* Envy
HORACE. 117
3* Envy muft own, I live among the Great,
No Pimp of pleafure, and no Spy of ftate,
With eyes that pry not, tongue that ne'er repeats,
Fond to fpread friendmips, but to cover heats,
To help who want, to forward who excel ;
This, all who know me, know ; who love me, tell j
And who unknown defame me, let them be
Scriblers or Peers, alike are Mob to me.
This is my plea, on this I reft my caufe
3 * What faith my Council learned in the laws ?
F. 3 6 Your Plea is good ; but {till I fay, beware !
Laws are explained by Men fo have a care.
It Hands on record, that'in Richard's times
A man was hang'd for very honeft rhymes.
3 7 Confult the Statute: Quart. I think it is,
Ednxardi fext. or prim. C3 5 quint. Eliz.
$>uicquid Jiim ego, quamvis
Infra Lucili cenfum, ingeniumque, tamen me
3+Cum magnis vixifle inwita fatebitur ufque
In--jidia, & fragili qu&rens illidere dentem,
Offendet folido;
3 5 _jv^ quid tu, docle Trebati,
Diffentis.
TREB. 36 Equidem nihilhinc diffindere pqffutn.
Sed tamen ut monitus ca<veas, ne forte negoti
Jncutiat tibi quid fan fl arum infcitia legum.
37 ' Si mala condiderit in quern quis carmina,
jus eft
-' Judiciumipe."
See
u8 SATIRES or
See Libeli, Satires^ there you have it read.
P. $8 Libels and Satires I lawlefs things indeed !
But grave Epijlles, bringing Vice to light,
Such as a King might read, a Bifhop write,
Such as Sir Robert would approve .
F. Indeed?
The Cafe is alter'd you may then proceed :
39 In fuch a caufe the Plaintiff will be hifs'd,
My Lords the Judges laugh, and you're difmifs'd.
HOR. Efo, fiquis 3 8 mala; fed 'bona Jiquis
Judice condiderit laudatur CA ES A R E : Jiquis
Opprobriis dignum laceraverit, integer ipfe,
39Sol<ventur rifu tabula ; tu tniffus abibis.
SATIRE
HORACE. 119
SATIRE II.
1 "IT 7 HAT, and how great, the Virtue and the Art
y Y To live on little with a chearful heart,
* (A do&rine fage, but truly none of mine)
Let's talk, my friends, but talk ' before we dine :
* Not when a gik Buffet's reflected pride
Turns you from found Philofbphy afide ;
Not when from plate to plate your eyeballs roll,
And the brain dances to the mantling bowl.
Hear Bethel's Sermon, one not vers'd in fchools,
* But ftrong in fenfe, and wife without tie rules.
8 Go work, hunt, exercife ! (he thus began)
Then fcorn a homely dinner if you can.
irtus ff quanta, loni, Jit <vi<vere parvo,
(Nee meus hicSerma, fed qusm prtecepit Ofellus
Rxjlicus, + abnormisy2z/>/>j, craffaque Minerva)
Difcite * non inter lancets, menfafque nitenteis,
Cum jiupet infanis acies fulgoribus, & cum
Acclinis faljis animus meliora recufat ;
3 Verum hie impranfi mecum difquirite. Cur hoc?
Dicam Ji patera
i 8 Leporem fe flatus, equtyve I^affus
Cam labor extuderit faftidia, jiccus, inanis,
9 Yoor
i so S A T I R F, S c >
9 Your wine lock'd up, your Butier ilroll'd abroad^
Or kept from fifh, (the river yet unthaw'd)
If then plain bread and milk will do the feat,
The pleasure lies in you, and not the meat. '
10 Preach as I pleafe, I doubt our curious men
Will chufe a pheafant ftill before a hen ;
Yet hens of Guinea fuil as good I hold,
Except you eat the feathers green and gold.
* ' Of Carps and Mullets why prefer the great,
(Tho' cut in pieces e'er my Lord can eat)
Yet for fmall Turbots fuch efteem profeis?
BecauleGod made thefe large, the other lefs.
Sperne cibum vilem. 9 Paris eft Prom us, & atrum
Dffer.dens pifces byemat mare : cum fale panis
Lair ant em ftomachum bene lenlet : unde ? pitas t aut
Quopartum? Nan in caro mdore iwuptas
. Summa, fed in teipib eft * * *
- f Vix tamen eripiam, pojtto pavone, welis quit;
Hoc potius quam gallina, ter^ere palatuK:* <
Tanquam ad retn attineat quidqutur. . Nurn vffceris ifta.
Quamlaudas, plumn? x * Laudas Infane, trilibrem
Alullum, infingula quern minuas pulmenta nectjfe eft.
D licit te fpecies video. ^>uo pertinet ergo
Proceros odi/e lupos r quia fdliut illis
natura modum dedit, bis bre-i'e pondus.
'QlJJieU,
HORACE. 12
1 * Qldfield with more than Harpy throat endu'd,
Cries, " fend me, Gods! a whole Hog -f- barbecu'd !
Oh. blaft it, l3 fouth- winds! till a flench exhale
Rank as the ripenefs of a rabbit's tail.
By what Criterion do ye eat, d'ye think,
If this is priz'd for fweetnefs, that for ftink ?
When the tir'd glutton labours thro' a Treat,
He'll find no relifti in the fweeteft meat,
He calls for fomething bitter, fomething four,
And the rich feait concludes extremely poor :
1 5 Cheap eggs, and herbs, and olives ftill we fee,
Thus much is left of old Simplicity !
1 611^ Robin-red breajl till of late had reft,
And children facred held a Martin's neil,
Till Becca-ficos fold fo dev'lilh dear,
To one that was, or would have been, a Peer.
* Porreclurri magno magnum fpeftare catino
Vellem (ait Harpy \\sgula dina rapacibus) at <vo$
Prtffenles Aujlri ! coquite horum opfonia : ^uam'-jis
P lit et aper . rbombufque recens, mala copia quando
JEgrum fillicitat jlomacbum, cum rapula/i/e^aj
Atquf acidas mavult inulas. * * Necdum omnis alacla.
Pauperies. epulis regum : nan vilibus ovis
Nigrifque eft oleis aodie locus,
1 fi Tutus erat rhombus, tu^toque ciconia tiido,
\ A Weft Indian term of gluttony, a hog roafted
whole, fluff'd with fpice, and baited with Madcra wane.
Or
*H SAT IRES OF
1 7 Let me extoll a Cat, on oyflers fed,
I'll have a party at the Bedford Head,
Or ev'n to crack live Crawfifh recommend,
'd never doubt at Court to make a friend.
* 8 'Tis yet in vain, J own, to keep a pother
About one vice, and fall into the other :
Between excefs and famine lies a mean,
Plain, but not fordid> tho' not fplendid, clean.
39 A<vidien, or his Wife (no matter which,
For him you'll call a * dog, and her a bitch)
Sell their prefented partridges, and fruits,
And humbly live on rabbits and on roots :
31 One half-pint bottle ferves them both to dine,
And is at once their vinegar and wine.
But on fome *lucky day (as when they found
A loft Bank-bill, or heard their Son was drown'd)
Donee vos aufior docuit Pretorius. * f Ergo
Siquis nunc mergos/uaves edixerit aflbs*
Parebit prami docilis Romana Juventiis.
1 8 Sordidus a tenui wittus dijlabit, Ofello
Judice: namfruftra 'vitium e vita c veris iftud,
Si te alio prtwum dttorferis. *? Avidienus
(*Cz Canis ex <vero duEium cognomen adbaret)
>uinquennes okas eft, & fyl<vejtria corna.
* l Ac nlji mutatum par at def under e vinum, &
Cujus odorem olei nequeas perferre ( licebit
lite repotia, natales, aliojque dierum
** Feflus afaatus celfbret) rvrnu ipfe bilibri
HORACE. 1*3
At fuch a feaft, 3 old vinegar to fpare,
Is what two fouls fo gen'rous cannot bear;
Oyl, tho' it ftink, they drop by drop impart,
But fowfe the cabbage with a bounteous heart.
*4He knows to live, who keeps the middle ftate,
And neither leans on this fide, nor on that ;
Nor * * flops, for one bad cork, his butler's pay,
Swears, \feeAlbutius, a good Cook away;
Nor lets, like * * N&*vitu t ev'ry error pafs,
The myfty wine, foul cloth, or greafy glafs.
* 7 Now hear what bleffings Temperance can bring:
(Thus faid our friend, and what he laid I fing)
Firft Health : a The ftomach (cramm'd from ev'ry difti,
A tomb of boil'd, and roaft, and flefh, and fim,
Where bile, and wind, and phlegm, and acid jar,
And all the man is one inteitine war)
Caulibus inflillat ; *3veteris non parcus aceti.
Quali igitur <uifiu Japiens utetur, & horum
Utrum imitabitur? hac urget lupus, hac cants, aiunt.
** Mundus erii qui non offendat fordibus, atque
In neutram partem cultus mifer. 2 J Hie neque fervis
Albuti fenis exemplo, dum mania dedit,
Saevus erit: nee jtc ut fimplex *6 Nteiiius, unftam
Con<vi<visprse{>ebita.cnia.m : <vitium hoc quoque magnum.
~ 7 Accipenunc, vicJus tenuls quee quant aque fecum
Afferat. * 8 In primis <valeas bene : nam waria res
Ut noceant homini credas, memor illius efcts
H Re-
i2 4 S A T I R E S o P
Remembers oft* 9 the School-boys fimple fare,
The temp'rate fleeps, and fpirits light as air.
3 How pale, each WorftiipfiH and Rev'rend guell
Rife from a clergy, or a city, feaft !
What life in all that ample body, fay,
What heav'niy particle infpires the clay ?
The foul fubfides, and wickedly inclines
To feem but mortal, ev'n in found divines.
3 * On morning wings how aftive fprings the mind
That leaves the load of yefterday behind ?
How eafy ev'ry labour it purfues ?
How coming to the Poet ev'ry Muie ?
3 2 Not but. we may exceed, fome holy time,
Or tir'd in fearch of Truth, or fearch of Rhyme ;
Quce Jtmplex * 9 olim tibi federal ; at jimul affis
Mifcueris elixa, Jimul conchylia turdis,
Dukia fe in bilem <vertunt,j}omacboque tumultum
Lenta fcret pltuita. 3 o Fides, ut pallidus omnii
C<ena defurgat dubia ? quin corpus onujium
Hefternis <vitns, animum quoque pr*egra<vat una,
Atque ajjigit humo divinas particulam auras.
3 i Alter ubi ditto citius curafa fopori
Membra dedit, wegetus prsefcnpta ad munia furgit.
3* Hie tamer, ad me I: us pater it tran/currere quondam:
Sive diem feftum rediens ad-uexerit annus,
Seu recreare <volet tenuatum corpus : ubique
Accident anni, iff traftari mollius a?tas
III
HORACE. 12:
111 health fome juft indulgence may engage,
And more, the ficknefs of long life, old age ;
33 For fainting age what cordial drop remains,
If out intemp'rate youth the vefiel drains ?
3 + Our fathers prais'd rank Ven'fon. You fuppofr
Perhaps, young men ! our fathers had no nofe ?
Not fo : a Buck was then a week's repaft,
And 'twas their point, I ween, to make it laft :
Better to keep it till their friends could come,
Than eat the fweeteft by themfelves at home.
3 } Why had not I in thofe good times my birth,
E're coxcomb pyes or coxcombs were on earth ?
Unworthy he, the voice of Fame to hear,
(36 That fweetell mufick to an honell ear;
For 'faith Lord Fanny ! yoU are in the wrong,
The world's good word is better than a fong)
Imbecilla volet. 3 3 <7?/' quidnam accedct ad ijlam
Quam puer ff <ualidus pree-fumh mollitiem, feu
Dura valetttdo inciderit, feu tarda feneftus ?
34- Raftcidum aprum antiqui laudabant, nun quia
no/us
J/Iis nullus erat, fed (credo) hac mente, quod hofpes
Tardhis afoeniens, <vitiatum commodius, quam
Integrum edax dominus confutneret. 3 5 ft os utinam
inter
Herons natum tellus me prima tulijfet !
3* Das aliquid Famas? (que carmine gratior atirem
O;cupat bumatiam) Grandcs rhombi, patin<tque
H 2 Who
1 26 SATIRESoF
Who has not learn'd, 3? frem fturgeon and ham pye
Are no rewards for want, and infamy !
When luxury has lick'd up ill thy pelf,
Curs'd by thy 38 neighbours, thy truftees, thyfelf,
To friends, to fortune, to mankind a ihame,
Think how poflerity will treat thy name ;
And 3 9 buy a rope, that future times may tell
Thou haii: at leaft beftow'd one penny well.
4 " Right, cries his Lordfhip, for a rogue in need
" To have a Tafte, is info'ence indeed :
" In me 'cis noble, fuits my birth and ftate,
" .My wealth unwieldy, and my heap too great."
Then, like the Sun, let + l Bounty fpread her ray,
And fliine that fuperfluity away.
Oh impudence of wealth ! with all thy flo'e,
How dar'ft thou let one worthy man be poor?
Shall half the * a ne\v ; built churches round thee fall ?
Make Keys, build Bridges, or repair Whitehall:
Gi -ar.de firent una 1 ? cum damno dedecus. Adds
"> 8 Iratum patruum, i:icinos, te tibi iniquur;:,
Etfrujlra mortis cupidum, cum deerit egenti
39 As, \auqaei fretiuin.
. + Jure, inquis, Thrajtus ijlis
yui-gatur I'erbis ; ego <ue3igalia magna
Divitiajipte haleo tribus amplas regibus. 4 r Ergo
Quod fuperat, non /} melius quo infume re pffis ?
Cur ett't indignus quifquam te divitef' quare
4 Templa raa/antiqua Deum ? cur improbe ! car a:
Non aU^uld patriae fiar.to emetiris acerwo?
T /;/ nlinirum tibi re fie femper trunt res?
Or
H O RA C E. 127
Or to thy country let that heap be lent,
As M* * oh was, but not at five per Cent.
43 Who thinks thatFortune cannot change her mind,
Prepares a dreadful jeft for all mankind !
And 44 who Hands fafeil, tell me ? is it he
That fpreads and fwells in puff'd profperity,
Or bleft with little, whofe preventing care
Jn peace provides fit arms againft a war ?
4 J Thus Bethel {poke, who always fpeaks his thought,
And always thinks the very thing he ought.
His equal mind I copy what I can,
And as I love, wou'd imitite the man.
Jn Soutb-fea days not happier, when furmis'd
The Lord of tnoufands, than ev'n now 4<S Exci?d\
In foreils planted by a Father's hand,
Than in five acres now of rented land.
Content with little, I can piddle here
On * 7 broccoli and mutton, round the year ;
4 3 O magnus pofthac inimicis rifus ! uter-ne
4 * Ad cafus duhios fidet fill certius? hie, qui
Pluribus affuerit inentem corpufque fuperbum?
An qui contentus parvo, nietuc njque fiituri,
In pace, ut fapietts, aptarit idonea hello ?
45 Quo magis hoc credas, puer bane egoparvus Ofellum
Integris opibus wui non latius ufam,
Quam nunc *6 accifis. Video.!, metato in agello,
Non ego, narrantem, tcmere edi luce prcf<jla
Quidquam prater 4-7 olus fumof<s cum perfe pcrn<f.
H 3 But
,28 SATIRESop
But * 8 ancient friends (tho' poor, or out of play)
That touch my bell, I cannot turn away.
*Tis true, no * 9 Turbots dignify my boards,
But gudgeons, flounders, what my Thames affords :
To Hvunjlonu-heath I point, and Banjled-doivn,
Thence comes your mutton, and thefe chicks my own :
5 From yon old walnut-tree a Ihow'r fliall fell ;
And grapes, long-lingring on my only wall,
And figs, from ftandard and efpalier join :
The dev'l is in you if you cannot dine.
Then * * chearful healths (your Miftrefs (hall have place)
And, what's more rare, a Poet fhall fay Grace.
Fortune not much of humbling me can boaft ;
The' double-tax'd, how little have I loft ?
Mf Life's amufements have been juft the fame.
Before^ and after * * Standing Armies came.
At mihi cuftf 48 longum poft tempus <venerit bofpes ,
Si-iie operum vacuo, &c. bene erit, non pifcibus
urbe pefitts,
Sed pullo atque hxdo ; turn * penfilis wzfecundas
Et nux ornabit menfas. cum duplice ficu.
Pofthac ludus erit $ T Cuppa potare Magjftra,
Ac venerata Ceres, ut culmo furgeret a-lta,
ExpUcuit <vino contral<f feria frontis.
Stff-viat atque novas mvveat For tuna tumult us !
Quantum bine imminuit ? quanto ant ego parcius, out
vos,
O i>ueri nituiftis. ut hue ^ * novus Incola venit ?
My
HORACE. 129
My lands are fold, my Father's houfc is gone ;
I'll hire another's : is not that my own ?
And yours, my friends? thro' whofe free-opening gate
None comes too early, none departs too late ;
(For I, who hold fage Homer's rule the beft,
Welcome the coming, fpeed the going gueft.)
" Pray heav'n it laft ! (cries Sypjft) as you go on ;
" I wifh to G od this houfe had been your own :
" Pity ! to build, without a fon or wife:
" Why, you'il enjoy it only all your life."
Well, if the ufe be mine, can it concern one,
Whether the name belong to Pope or Vernon ?
What's J3 Property? dear Swift t you fee it alter
From you to me, from me to * 4 Peter Walter,
Or, in a mortgage, prove the Lawyer's mare,
Or, in a jointure, vanifti from the heir,
Or. in pure ** equity (the cafe not clear)
The Chanc'ry takes your rents for twenty year :
At beft, it falls to fome 16 ungracious fon,
That cries, my father's damn'd, and all's my own.
* 7 Shades, that to Ba * * n could retreat afford,
Are now the portion of a booby lord ;
* 3 Nam propriae telluris berum natura neque ilium
Nee me, aut quemquam ftatuif, nos expulit ille,
Ilium aut H Nequities, aut ** vafri inlcitiajuris,
Poftremo expellet certe *6 vivacior haeres,
* 7 Nunc age-r Umbreni fub nomine, nuper Ofelli
Dittut, erit nulli proprius, fed cedet in ufum
H A. And
ijo SATIRES OF
And Hem/ley, once proud * Buckingham' & delight,
Slides to a Scriv'ner or a City Knight.
5 s Let lands and houfes have what lords they will,
Let Us be fix'd, and our own mailers ftill.
jVf mibi, nunc alii. *& Quocirca <ui<vite fortes I
Fortiaqae adverfis opponite peflora rebus.
* Villers Duke of Buckingham.
SATIRES
SATIRES
O F
Dr. JOHN DONNE,
Dean of St. PAUL'S.
Quid we tat, ut nofmet Lucilijcripta legcntes
^ueerere, num illius, num rerun dura negarit
Verfeculos natura magis faftos, & euntes
.Molliu;? HOR.
THE
SECOND SATIRE
O F
Dr. JOHN DONNE.
SIR ; though (I thank God for it) I do hate
Perfeflly all this town ; yet there's one ft ate
In all ill things fo excellently be ft,
That hate towards thvm, breeds pity towards the reft.
Though Poetry, indeed, be fuch a Jin,
As, I think, that brings dearth, and Spaniards in :
Though like the peftilence, and old fajhion 1 d love,
Ridlinglj it catch men, and doth remove
Never, till it be flared out ; yet their fiat e
Is poor, difarm'd, like Papijl;, net ivortb hate ;
One,
THE
SECOND SATIRE
O F
Dr. JOHN DONNE.
YES ; thank my ftars ! as early as I knew
This Town, I had the fenfe to hate it too :
Yet here, as ev'n in Hell, there rauft be ftiil
One Giant- Vice, fo excellently ill,
That all befide one pities, not abhors ;
As who knows Sa * *, fmiles at other whores.
I grant that Poetry's a crying fin ;
It brought (no doubt) th' Exdfe and Army in :
Catch'd like the Plague, or Love, the Lord knows how,
But that the cure is {larving, all allow.
Yet like the Papifts, is the Poets ftate,
Poor and difarm'd, and hardly worth your hate.
Here a lean bard, whofe wit could never give
Himfelf a dinner, makes an Adlor live:
The
134 SATIRES o?
One, (like a wretch, which at bar re judged as dead,
Yet prompts him whitb ftands next, and cannot read,
And faves his life) gives Idiot Attors me-ans,
(Starving himfelf) to live by his laboured fcenes.
As in fame Organs, Puppits dance above
And bellows pant below, which them do move.
One would move love by rythmes i but witchcrafts charmi
Bring r.vt now their old fears, nor their old harms '.
Rams, and Jllngs now are filly battery,
Pijlolcts are the beft artillery.
And they who write to Lords, rewards fo get,
Are they not like fingers at doors for meat?
And they who write, becaufe all write, have Jlill
'That ^fcufe for writing, and for writing ill.
But he is worft, who (beggcrly) doth chaw
Others wits fruits, and in his ravenous maw
Rankly d^efted, doth thofe tl-ings out-fine,
As his own things ; and they re his (nun, 'tis true,
For if one eat my meat, though it be known,
The meat was mine, tfj excrement's his own.
But theft do me no harm, nor they which ufe,
To out-doe dildoes, and out-ufure Jews,
T' out-drink the Jea, to out-fwear the Letanie,
Who with fens all kinds as familiar be
As Con/ 'effort, and '/> whofe finful fake
Schoolmen new tenement-s in hell muji make :
Whofe ft range Jtns Canonijls could hardly tell
Jn which Commandments large receit they dwell.
But
DR. D O N N E.. 135
The Thief condemn'd, in law already dead,
So prompts, and faves a rogue who cannot read.
Thus as the pipes of fome carv'd Organ move,
The gilded puppets dance and mount above,
Heav'd by the breath th' infpiring bellows blow ;
Th' infpiring bellows lie and pant below.
One fmgs the Fair ; but fongs no longer move,
No rat is rhym'd to death, nor maid to love :
In love's, in nature's fpite, the fiege they hold,
And fcorn the flefh, the dev'l, and all but gold.
Thefe write to Lords, fome mean reward to get,
As needy beggars fing at doors for meat.
Thofe write becaufe all write, and fo have ftill
Excufe for writing, and for writing ill.
Wretched indeed ! but far more wretched yet
Is he who makes his meal on others wit :
'Tis chang'd indeed from what it was before,
His rank digeftion makes it wit no more :
Senfe, paft thro' him, no longer is the fame,
For food digeiled takes another name .
I pafs o'er all thofe Confeflbrs and Martyrs
Who live like Stt , or who die like Charters,
Out- cant old Efdras, or out-drink his heir,
Out-uiurc Jews, or Iri/bmen out.fwear ;
Wicked as pages, who in early years
Aft fins which Prtfca's Confeffor fcarce hears :
Ev'n thofe I pardon, for whofe finful fake
Schoolmen new tenements in hell muft make ;
Of whofe ftrange crimes no Canonift can tell
In what Commandment's large contents they dwell.
Qne,
3 6 SATIRESoF
But thefe pttnijh themfelves. The infolence
Of Cofcus, ofy, breeds myjuji offence,
Whom time, (--which rots all, and makes botches pox,
And plodding on, mttft make a calf an ox)
Hath made a Lawyer ; 'which (alas] of late;
But fear ce a Poet : jollier of this ft ate,
Then are new benejicd Mifiijlers, he thrtnvs
Like nets or lime-twigs wherefoier he goes
His title of Barrtfter on ev'ry wench,
And wooes in language of the Pleas and Bench.
A motion, Lad-;: Speak Cofcas. I have been
In love e ver fence triedimo of the Sateen:
Continual claim Tve made, Injunctions got
To ft ay my rival's fuit, that heftouJdnot
Proceed', fpare me : in Hillary term I went,
You faid, if 1 return d ne^t Jtze in Lent,
IJhould be in Remitter of your grace ;
In tV interim my letters Jhould take place
Of Affidavits, Words , nvords, which would tear
The tender labyrinth of a Maids /oft ear ;
More, more than ten Sclavonians fcolding, more
Than when winas in our ruin d Abbyes roar.
Then feck with Poetry, and po/eft with Mufe
Thou waft, and mad I hop'd', but men which chuje
Law pratlice for meer gain ; bold foul repute
Worfe than imbrctheTd Jlrumpets projlitute.
Now lih an o*u:l-like watchman he mufl walk
His handflill at a bill, no--:- he muft talk
Idly, like prijoners, which whole months luill fwear
That on!y furefiftip hath brought them there,
And
DR. DONNE. 137
One, one man only breeds my juft offence ;
Whom crimes gave weakh, and wealth gave impa-
Time, that at laft matures a clap to pox, {dence :
Whofe gentle progrefs makes a calf an ox,
And brings all natural events to pafs,
Hath made him an Attorney of an Afs.
No young divine, new-benefic'd, can be
More pert, more proud, more pofitive than he.
What further could I wifh the fop to do,
But turn a wit, and fcribble verfes too?
Pierce the foft lab'rinth of a Lady's ear
With rhymes of this per cent, and that per year?
To court a wife, and fpread his wily parts,
Like nets or lime-twigs, for rich widows hearts ?
Call himfelf Barrifter to ev'ry wench,
And wooe in language of the Pleas and Bench ?
Language, which Boreas might to Buffer held,
More rough than forty Germans when they fcold.
. Curs'd be the wretch ? fo venal and fo vain ;
Paltry and proud, as drabs in Drury-lane.
'Tis fuch a bounty as was never known,
If Peter deigns to help you to your man :
What thanks, what praife. if Peter but fupplies!
And what a folemn face if he denies !
Grave, as when Pris'ners (hake the head, and fwear
'Twas only Suretymip that brought 'em there.
His Office keeps your Parchment- fates entire,
He ftarves with cold to fave them from the fire;
For you, he walks the ftreets thro' rain or daft,
For not in Chariots Peter puts .his trull;
Fff
138 SATIRESop
And to every fuitor lye in every thing,
Like a Kings Favourite or like a King.
Like a wedge in a block, Bering to the barre,
Bearing like affes, and more Jhamelefs farre
Than carted whores, lye to the grave Judge i for
Bajiardy abounds not in King^s titles, nor
Simony and Sodomy in Church-men s lives,
As thefe things do in him ; by tbefe he thrives.
Shortly (as tl) fed} he'll compafs all the land,
From Scots to Wight, from Mount to Dover Jlrand,
And ffying heirs melting with luxury,
Satan in: ill not joy at their Jins as he.
For (as a thrifty wench fcrapcs kitclen-ftujfe.
And barrelling the droppings, and the fnujfe
Of wafting candles, which in thirty year
(Reliquely kept] perchance buyes wedding cbear)
Piecemeal he gets lands, and Jpends as much time
Wringing each acre, as Maids pulling prime.
In parchment then, large as the fields, he draws
AJfurances, big as glofsd civil laws,
So huge, that men (in our times forwardnefs]
Are Fathers of the Church for writirg lefs.
Thefe he writes not ; nor for thefe written payes,
Therefore flares no length, (as in thofe firjl dayes
When Luther was pro/eft, he did defire
Short Pater nofters, faying as a Fryer
Each day his beads, but having left thofe laws,
A-.ids to Chrijh prayer, the power and glory claufe.
But when he fells or changes land, fr impair et
The writings, and (unwaiclyd) /eaves-out, fes heires,
DR. DONNE. ^9
For you he fweats and labours at the laws,
Takes God to witnefs he affech your caufe,
And lies to every Lord in every thing,
Like a King's Favourite or like a King.
Thefe are the talents that adorn them all,
From wicked Waters ev'n to godly ...
Not more of -Simony beneath black gowns,
Nor more of Baftardy in heirs to Crowns.
In millings and in pence at firft they deal,
And Heal fo little, few perceive they fteal ;
Till like the fea, they compafs all the land,
From Scots to Wight, from Mount to Dover flrand.
And when rank widows purchafe lufcious nights,
Or when a Duke to Janfen punts at White's,
Or city heir in mortgage melts away,
Satan himfelf feels far lefs joy than they.
Piecemeal they win this acre firft, then that,
Glean on, and gather up the whole eftate :
Then ftrongly fencing ill-got wealth by law,
Indentures, Cov'nants, Articles they draw,
Large as the fields themfelves, and larger far
Than civil Codes, with all their glofles, are :
So vaft, our new Divines, we muft confefs,
Are Fathers of the Church for writing lefs.
But let them write for you, each rogue impairs
The deeds, and dextroufly omits, fes beires :
No commentator can more flily pafs
O'er a learn'd, unintelligible place ;
Or, in quotation, fhrewd divines leave out
Thefe words, that would againft them clear the doubt
I So
t 4 o SATIRESoF
As Jlily as any Comment e r goes by
Hard words, or JenJ'e ; or, in Divinity
As contrwerters in vouched Texts, leave out
Shrewd words, which might againft them clear the doubt >
Where are thofe fpred woods 'which cloth' d heretofore
e Thofe bought lands ? not built, nor burnt within doore.
Where the old landlords troops, and almes ? In halls
CarthuJlaK Fa/is, and fulfome Bacchanals
Equally I hate. Means bleji. In rich men's homes
I bid kill fame beafts, but no hecatombs,
None Jlarve, none furfeit fo . But (oh) we allow
Good works as good, but out offajbion now,
Like old rich wardrobes. But my words none draws
Within the waft reach of th* hugeftatutesjawfs.
THE
DR. D O N N E. 141
So Luther thought the Paternofter long,
When doom'd to faj his beads and Evenfong ;
But having caft his cowle, and left thofe laws,
Adds to Chrift's prayer, the Po-ivV and Glory claufe.
The lands are bought ; but where are to be found
Thofe ancient woods, that {haded all the ground ?
We fee no new-built palaces afpire,
No kitchens emulate the veftal fire.
Where are thofe troops of Poor, that throng'd of yore
The good old landlord's hofpitable door ?
Well. I could wifh, that (till in lordly domes
Some beads were kill'd, tho' not whole hecatombs,
That both extremes were banifh'd from their walls,
Carthujian farts, and fulfome Bacchanals ;
And all mankind might that juft Mean obferve,
In which none e'er could furfeit, none could ftarve.
Thefe as good works 'tis true we all allow ;
But oh ! thefe works are not in fafliion how :
'Like rich old wardrobes, things extremely rare,
Extremely fine, but what no man will wear.
Thus much I've faid, I truft without offence ;
Let no Court-Sycophant pervert my fenfe,
Nor fly Informer watch thefe words to draw
Within the reach of Treafon, or the Law.
THE
THE
FOURTH SATIRE
O F
Dr. JOHN DONNE.
WELL', I may tto-iv receive, and die. My Jin
Indeed is great, but yet I have been in
A Purgatory, fuck as fear d bell is
A recreation, and fc ant map of this.
My mind, neither with prides itch, nar bath been
Poyfon'd with te<ve to fee or to be feen,
1 had no fuit there, nor new fuit tojbow,
Yet went to Court ; But as Glare which did go
Mafe in j eft, catch 1 d, was fain to disburfe
7bg hundred markes, fwhitb is the Statutes curfe,
THE
FOURTH SATIRE
O F
Dr. JOHN DONNE.
WELL, if it be my time to quit the ftage,
Adieu to all the follies of the age !
I die in charity with fool and knave,
Secure of peace at leaft beyond the grave.
I've had my purgatory here betimes,
And paid for all my fatires, all my rhymes.
The Poet's hell, its tortures, fiends and flames,
To this were trifles, toys, and empty names.
With foolifh pride my heart was never fir'd,
Nor the vain itch t'admire, or be admir'd ;
I hop'd for no commiflion from his Grace;
I bought no benifice, I begg'd no place ;
Had no new verfes, or new fuit to mow ;
Yet went to Court ! the Dev'l wou'd have it fo.
I 3 But,
44 SATIRES OP
Before hejcapt; So 1 1 pleas* d my deftiny
(Guilty of my Jin of going, ) to think me
As prone to all ill, and of good as forget-
full, as proud, lujlful, and as much in debt,
As 'vain, as witlefs, and as falfe as they
Which dwel in court, for once going that tvay.
Therefore Ifuffer'd this ; towards me did run
A thing more jlrange, than on Nilesjlime, the Sun
E'er bred, or all which into Noah'j Ark came :
A thing 'which would ba*ve posd Adam to name :
Stranger than f even Antiquaries Jludies,
Than Africks Mongers, Guianaes rarities,
Stranger than ftr anger s : One who, for a Dane,
In the Danes Majacre had fur e beenjlain,
If he had li'v'd then ; and without help dies,
When next the Prentices 'gain/I Strangers rife.
One whom the watch at noon lets fcarce goby;
One, to whom the examining Juftice fure would cry,
Sir, by your Priefthood tell me what you are ?
His cloaths were Jlrange, though coarfe, and black
Slee<velefs his jerkin 'was, and it had been [though bare T
Vel-vet, but 'twas now (fo much ground was feen)
Become Tufftaffaty ; and our children Jhall
See it plain rajh a while, then nought at all.
The
DR. D O N N E. 145
&ut, as the fool that in reforming days
Wou'd go to mafs in jeft, (as ftory fays)
Could not but think, to pay his fine was odd,
Since 'twas no form'd defign of ferving God :
So was I punifh'd, as if full as proud
As prone to ill, as negligent of good,
As deep in debt, without a thought to pay, %
As vain,^as idle, and as falfe, as they >
Who live at Court, for going once that way ! *
Scarce was I enter'd, when behold! there came
A Thing which Adam had been pos'd to name ;
Noah had refus*d it lodging in his Ark,
Where all the race of Reptiles might embark :
A verier moniler than on AfricRs fhore
The fun e're got, or flimy Nilus bore,
Or Sloane, or Woodtu&ffs wondrous fhelves contain ;
Nay, all that lying Travellers can feign.
The watch would hardly let him pafs at noon,
At night, wou'd fwear him dropt out of the moon;
One whom the mob, when next we find or make
A Popifh plot, fhall for a Jefuit take ;
And the wife Juftice ilarting from his chair
Cry, by your Priefthood tell me what you are ?
Such was the wight : Th* apparel on his back
Tho' courfe, was rev'rend, and tho' bare, was black '
The fuit, if by the fafhion one might guefs,
Was velvet in the youth of good Queen B/S,
But mere tuflf-taffety what now remain'd;
So time that changes all things, had ordain'd !
I 4 Our
146 SAT IRES OF
The thing hath travaiTd, and faith, fpeaks all tonguss,
And only kno-iveth what to all States belongs.
Made of th* accents, and bejl pbrafe of all thefe.
He fpeaks one language. If Jl range meats difpleafe,
Art can deceive, or hunger force my tajl ;
JBut pedants motly tongue, fouldiers bumbaft,
Mountebanks drug-tongue, nor the termes of lanv,
Are Jlrong enough preparatives to draw
Me to hear this, yet I muft be content
With his tongue, in his tongue call 'd Complement:
In ivhich he can <win voidovtis, and pay fcores ,
Make menfpeak treafon, couzen fubtlejl Whores,
Out-flatter favorites, or out-lie either
Jovius, or Surius, or both together.
He names me, and comes to me; I ivhifper, God
Honu have I Jinn d, that thy wraths furious rod,
This fellovj , chufeth me! He faith, Sir,
I love your judgment, nuhom do you prefer
Tor the bejl LinguiJI ? and I feelily
Said' that I thought Calepines Dictionary.
Nay, but of men, moft fiveet Sir? Beza then,
Some Jefuits, and tivo reverend men
Of our tnva academies I named: here
He ftopt me, and f aid, Nay your Apojiki ivere
Good
DR. DONNE. 147
Our fons fhall fee it leifurely decay,
Firft turn plain rafh, then, vanifh quite away.
This thing has travel'd, fpeaks each language too,
And knows what's fit for every ftate to do ;
Of whofe beft phrafe and courtly accent join'd,
He forms one tongue, exotic and refin'd .
Talkers, IVe learn'd to bear ; Motteux I knew,
Henley himfelf I've heard, and Budgell too :
The Doctor's Wormwood ftyle, the Hafh of tongues
A Pedant makes, the ftorm of Gonfotts lungs,
The whole Artill'ry of the terms of War,
And (all thofe plagues in one) the bawling Bar ;
Thefe I cou'd bear ; but not a rogue fo civil,
Whofe tongue will complement you to the devil.
A tongue that can cheat widows, cancel fcores,
Make Scots fpeak treafon, cozen fubtleft whores,
With royal Favourites in flatt'ry vie,
And Qldmixon and Burnet both out-lie.
He fpies me out. I whifper, gracious God !
What fin of mine cou'd merit fuch a rod ?
That all the (hot of dulnefs now muft be
From this thy blunderbufs difcharg'd on me !
Permit (he cries) no ftranger to your fame
To crave your fentiment, if 's your name.
What Speech efteem you moft ? " The King's, faid I.
But the beft words?" O Sir, the Dictionary.
You mifs my aim ; I mean the moft acute
And perfeft Speaker ? " Onflow, paft difpute.
But Sir, of writers ? " Swift, for clofer ftyle,
ct But H<)**y fora period of a mile.
Why
148 SATIRES OF
Good pretty Linguifts, fo Panurgus was j
Yet a poor Gentleman ; all theft may pafs
By travail. Then, as if he would have fold
His tongue, he praisd it, and fuch wonders told,
That I was fain to fay, if you had livd, Sir,
Time enough to have been Interpreter
To Babels bricklayers* fure the Tower had flood.
He adds, if of Court life you knew the geod.
You would leave lonenefs. I faid, not alone
My lonenefs is ; but Spartznesfa/bioa
To teach by painting drunkards doth not loft
Now, Aretines pictures have made few chajle ;
No more can Princes Courts, though there be few
Better pictures of vice, teach me virtue.
He like to a high-jlrecht Lute-ftring fqueakt, O fir,
'Tisfweet to talk of Kings. At Weftminfter,
Said I, the man that keeps the Abby tombs,
And for his price, doth with whoever comes
Of all our Harrys, and our Edwards talk,
From King to King, and all their kin can walk :
Your eares Jhall hear nought but Kings ; your eyes meet
Kings only : The way to it is Kings ftreet.
Hefmactid, and erf d, Hesbafe, mechanique, courfe,
So are all your Englifhmen in their difcourfe.
Are
D*. DONNE. 149
Why yes, 'tis granted, thefe indeed may pafs ;
Good common lingiiifts, and fo Panurge was ;
Nay troth, th'Apoftles (tho* perhaps too rough)
Had once a pretty gift of tongues enough :
Yet thefe were all poor Gentlemen ! I dare
Affirm, 'twas Travel made them what they were.
Thus others talents having nicely mown,
He came by fure transition to his own :
Till I cryY. out, You prove your felf fo able,
Pity ! you was not Druggerman at Babel ;
For had they found a linguift half fo good,
I make no queftion but the Tow'r had Hood.
" Obliging Sir ! for Courts you fure were made :
" Why then for ever buried in the made ?
" Spirits like you, mould fee and fhou'd be feen,
" The King would fmile on you at leaft the Queen. "
Ah gentle Sir ! you Courtiers fo cajol us -
But Tully has it, Nunquam minus folus:
And as for Court?, forgive me if I fay
No leffons now are taught the Spartan way :
Tho* in his piftures Luft be full difplay'd,
Few are the Converts Aretine has made ;
And tho' the Court mow Vice exceeding clear,
None fhou'd, by my advice, learn Virtue there.
At this entranc'd, he lifts his hands and eyes,
Squeaks like a high-ftretch*d luteftring, and replies ;
<( Oh 'tis the fweeteit of all earthly things
" To gaze on Princes, and to talk of Kings !
Then happy Man who {hows the Tombs ! faid I,
He dwells amidft the Royal Family ;
He
150 SATIRES OF
Are not your Frenchmen neat? Mine, as you fee,
I have but one, Sir, look, be follows me.
Certes they are neatly death' d. I, of this mind am,-
Tour only wearing is your Grogaram.
Not Jo Sir, I have more. Under this pitch
He would not fly ', I chafd him : But as Itch
Scratched into /mart, and as blunt Iron grown V
Into an edge, hurts worfe : So, I (fool ) found,
Crojfing hurt me. To fit my fullennefs,
He to another key his flyle doth drefs ;
And asks what nevus ; / tell him of new play es,
He takes my band, and as a Still which jlayes
A Sembrief, ""tiuixt each drop, he niggardly,
As loath to inrich me, fo tells many a ly.
More than ten Hollenlheads, or Halls, or Stows,
Of trivial houfhold trajh : He kno-ws, he knovjs
When the Queen frown* d or fmifd, and he knovjs iuhat
A fubtle States-man may gather of that ;
He knmvs whom loves whom ; and who by poyfon
Hafts to an Offices reverjion ;
Who wafts in meat, in clothes, in horfe, he notes,
Who loveth whores, and who boys, and who goats.
Hi kno-ius who hath fold his land, and now doth beg
A licenfe, old iron, boots, /hoes, and egge-
Shels
DR. DONNE. , s
He, ev'ry day, from King to King can walk,
Of all our Harries, all our Edwards talk,
And get by fpeaking truth of monarchs dead,
What few can of the living, Eafe and Bread.
" Lord ! Sir, a meer mecnanick ! ilrangely low,
" And courfe of phrafe your Englijh all are fo.
" How elegant your Frenchman ? Mine, d'ye mean ?
I have but one, I hope the fellow's clean.
" Oh ! Sir, politely well ! nay, let me die,
" Your only wearing is your Padua- foy?
Not Sir my only, I have-better ftill,
And this you fee is but my dimabille -
Wild to get loofe, his Patience I provoke,
Miftake, confound, object at all he fpoke.
But as coarfe iron, fharpen'd, mangles more,
And itch moft hurts when anger'd to a fore ;
So when you plague a fool, 'tis ftill the curfe,
You only make the matter worfe and worfe.
He paft it o'er j affe&s an eafy fmile
At all my peevilhnefs, and turns his ftyle.
He asks, " What News? I tell him of new Plays.
New Eunuchs, Harlequins, and Operas.
He hears, and as a Still, with fimples in it,
Between each drop it gives, flays half a minute ;
Loth to enrich me with too quick replies,
By little, and by little, drops his lies.
Meer houfliold tram ! of birth-night, balls, and fhowi,
More than ten Holling/heads, or Halls, or Stows.
When theQueea frown'd, or fmil'd.he knows; and what
A fubtle Minifter may make of that ?
Who
5 * S A T I E.E S OF
Shels to tranfport ; Jbortly boys Jhall not play
At fpan-counter, or blow-point, but Jhall pay
Toll to fame Courtier ; and wifer then all us,
He knows what Lady is not painted. Thus
He 'with home meats cloyes me. I belch, fpue, (pit,.
Look pale and Jtckly, like a Patient, yet
He thrujl on more, and as he had undertook,
To fay Gallo-Belgicus without book,
S peaks of all States and deeds- that have beenjtnce
The Spaniards came, to ttt lofs of Amyens.
Like a big 'wife, at fight of loathed meat,
Heady to travail : fo I figh, and fweat
To hear this Makaron talk : in vain, far yet,
Either my humour, or his own to fit,
He like a privilegd fpie, whom nothing can
Difcredit, libels now ''gavijl each great man.
He names a price of every office paid ;
He faith, our 'wars thrive ill, becaufe delafd ;
That Offices are intaifd and that there are
Perpetuities of them, lafting as far
As the lafl day ; and that grejit Officers
Do with the Spaniards Jhare, and Dunkirkcrs.
/ mart
DR. DONNE. 153
Who fins with whom ? who got his Penfion rug,
Or quicken'd a Reverfion by a drug ?
Whofe Place is quarter'd out, three parts in four,
And whether to a Bifliop or a Whore ?
Whe, having loft his credit, pawn'd his rent,
Is therefore fit to have a Government ?
Who in the fecret, deals in Stocks fecure,
And cheats th' unknowing Widow, and the Poor ?
Who makes a Trull, or Charity a Job,
And gets an Aft of Parliament to rob ?
Why Turnpikes rofe, and now no Cit, nor clown
Can gratis fee the country, or the town ?
Shortly no lad fliall chuck, or lady vole,
But fome excifing Courtier will have toll.
He tells what Itrumpet places fells for life,
What "Squire his lands, what citizen his wife ? !
And laft (which proves him wifer ftill than all)
What Lady's face is not a whited wall ?
As one of Woodward's patients, flck and fore,
I puke, I naufeate, yet he thrufts in more ;
Trims Europe* balance, tops the ftatefman's part,
And talks Gazettes and Poft-boys o'er by heart.
Like a big wife, at fight of loathfome meat
Ready to caft, I yawn, I figh, I fweat.
Then as a licens'd fpy, whom nothing can
Silence or hurt, he libels the great Man ;
Swears every place entail'd for years to come,
In fure fucceflion to the day of doom :
He names the price for ev'ry office paid,
And fays our wars thrive ill, becaufe delay'd j
Nay
<54 SATIRES OF
I more amaz'd than Circes prlfoners, when
They felt themfelves turn beajls, felt my felf then
Becoming Tray tor, and methought I faw
One of our Giant Statutes ope his jaw,
To fuck me in forbearing him: 1 found
That as burnt venomous Leachers do grow found
By giving others their fores, I might grow
Guilty, and he free : Therefore I did Jhovu
Allfignes of loathing ; but fence 1 am in,
1 mufl pay mine, and my forefathers Jin
To the laft farthing. Therefore to my power
Toughly and Jlubbornly I bear this crop ; but the hower,
Of mercy now was come ; he tries to bring
Me to pay a fine to ? fcape his torturing,
And fayes,Jtr, canyoufpare me? If aid; willingly;
Nay, fir, can you /fare me a crown ? thankfully I
Gave, it, asranfom; but as fiddlers, Jlill,
Though they be paid to be gone, yet needs -will
Thruft one more jigg upon you : fo did he
With his long complemental thanks vex me :
But he is gone, thanks to his needy want,
And the Prerogative of my Crown : fcant
His thanks were ended, when I (which did fee
All the Court fitfd with more ftrange things than he)
Ran from thence with fuch, or more hajle than one
Who fears more aflions, doth haji from prifen. At
DR. DONNE, 155
Nay hints, 'tis by connivance of the Court,
That Spain robs on, and Dunkirk's ftill a Port.
Not more amazement feiz'd on Circfs guefts,
To fee themfelves fall endlong into beafts,
Than mine, to find a fubjeft ftay'd and wife,
Already half turn'd traytor by furprize.
I fear'd th' infeftion flid from him to me,
As in the pox, fome give it to get free;
And quick to fwallow me, methought I faw
One of our giant Statutes ope its jaw !
In that nice moment, as another lye
Stood juft a-tilt, the Minifter came by.
To him he flies, and bows, and bows again
Then clofe as Umbra, joins the djrty train.
Not Fannius felf more impudently near,
When half his nofe is in his Prince's ear.
I quak'd at heart ; and ftill afraid to fee
All the court fill'd with ftranger things than he.
Run out as faft, as one that pays his bail
And dreads more aftions, hurries from a jail.
Bear me, fome God ! oh quickly bear me hence
To wholefome folitude, the nurfe of fenfe :
There contemplation prunes her ruffled wings,
And the free foul looks down to pity Kings.
There fober Thought purfu'd th' amufing theme
Till Fancy colour'd it, and form'd a Dream.
A vifion hermits can to hell tranfport,
And force ev'n me to fee the damn'd at court.
Not Dante dreaming all th' infernal ftate,
Beheld fuch fcenes of envy, fin, and hate.
Bafe Fear becomes the guilty not the free;
Suits Tyrants, Plunderers, but fu its not me:
K Shall
156 SATIRES OF
At home in wbolefom folitarinefs
My piteous foul began the wretcbednefs
Of /utters at court to mourn, and a trance
Like bis, 'who dreamt he fa-~vj bell, did advance
It felf o'er me : fucb men as he faw there
1 faw at court, and worfe and more. Low fear
Becomes the guilty, not th 1 accufer : Then,
Shall I, none's flave, of high born or raised men
Fear frowns ; and my miftrefs truth, betray tbee
For th" huffing, braggart, puft nobility ?
No, no, thou which Jinceyefterday baft been,
Almoft about the 'whole 'world, haft thoujeen,
O fun, in all thy journey, vanity,
Such as fwells the bladder of our court ? I
Think he which made your * Waxen garden, and
Tranjported it, from Italy, to ft and
With us at London, flouts our Courtiers ; for
Juft fucb gay painted things, which no fap, nor
Toft have in them, ours are ; and natural
Some of the flocks are, their fruit t baftard all.
'TVj ten a click and pa ft; all whom the mues^
Jialoun, or tennis, diet, or the flews
Had all the morning held, now the fecond
lime made ready, that day, in flocks are found
In the Prefence, and I, (God pardon me)
Asfrejb and fiveet their Apparels be, as be
Their fields they Jold to buy them. For a king
Thofe hofe are, cry the flatterers ; and bring
Them next week to the theatre to fell.
Wantt reach all ftates : me feems they do as wtll
* A fhow of the Italian Gardens in Waxwork, in
the time of King James the Firft.
At
DR. DONNE. 457
Shall I, the Terror of thisfinful town,
Care, if a livery 'd Lord or fmile or frown ?
Who cannot flatter, and deteft who can,
Tremble before a noble Serving-man ?
O my fair miftrefs, Truth ! lhall I quit thee,
For huffing, braggart, puft Nobility ?
Thou who fince yefterday haft roll'd o'er all
The bufy, idle blockheads of the ball,
Haft thou oh fun ! beheld an emptier fort,
Than fuch as fwell this bladder of a court ?
Now pox on thofe who mew a * Court in wax !
It ought to bring all courtiers on their backs :
Such painted puppets, fuch a varniih'd race
Of hollow gewgaws, only drefs and face,
Such waxen nofes, ftately flaring things-
No wonder fome folks bow, and think them Kings.
See ! where the Briti/b youth, engag'd no more
At Fig's f or Whitis, with Felons, or a Whore,
Pay their laft duty to the court ! and come
All frefh and fragrant, to the drawing-room :
In hues as gay, and odours as divine
As the fair fields they fold to look fo fine.
" That's velvet for a King!" the flatt'rer fwears;
'Tis true, for ten days hence 'twill be King Lear's,
Our court may juftly to our ffoge give rules,
That helps it both to fools-coats and to fools.
And why not players ftrut in courtier's cloaths ?
For thefe are actors too, as well as thofe :
~~* A famous (how of the Court of France in Waxwork-
j- Fig's, a Prize-fighter's Academy, where the young
Nobility receiv'd inftruftion in thofedays ; Whites was
a noted gaming-houfe : It was alfo cuftomary for the
nobility and gentry to vifit the condemned Criminals in
Newgate.
158 SATIRESoF
At jlage, as court; all are players. Whoe'er looks
(For themjel<ves dare not go) oer Cheapfide books,
Shall find their wardrobes inventory. Now
The ladies come. As pirats, which do know
That there came weak jhips fraught with Cutchanel,
The men board them ; and praife (as,, they think) well,
'Their beauties ; they the mens wits ; both are bsught.
Why good wits nir 'wear fear let gowns, I thought
This caufe, Thefe men, mens laits for fpeeches buy,
And women buy all reds which fear lets dye.
He calf d her beauty limetwigs, her hair net:
She fears her drugs ill lay d, her hair loofe fet.
Would not Heraclitus laugh to fee Macrine
From hat to Jhoo, himfelf at door refne,
As if the Prefence were a Mofch : and lift
His skirts and hofe, and call his' clothes to Jhrift,
Making them confe/s not only mortal
Great Jiains and holes in them, but venial
Feathers and duft, wherewith they fornicate :
And then by Durer'j rules furvey the ft ate
Of his each limb, and with ftrings the odds tries
Of bis neck to his leg, and wafte to thighs.
So in immaculate clothes, and Symmetry
Perfeft as Circles, with fuch nicety
As a young Preacher at his firft time goes
To preach, he enters, and a Lady which owes
Him not fo much as good 'will, he arrejis,
And unto her protefts, protefts, protejis,
So much as at Rome would ferve to ha've
Ten Cardinals into the Inquifition ;
And whifpers by Jefu fo eft, that a
Purfevant would ha<ve rawi/pd him away
DR. D O N N E. 159
Wants reach all ftates; they beg but better dreft,
And all is fplendid poverty at beft.
Painted for fight, and eflenc'd for the fmell,
Like frigates fraught with fpice and cochine'l,
Sail in the Ladies: How each pyrate eyes
So weak a veflel, and fo rjch a prize !
Top-gallant he, and me in all her trim,
He boarding her, fhe ftriking fail to him.
" Dear Countefs ! you have charms all hearts to hit!
And " fweet Sir Fopling ! you have fo much wit !
Such wits and beauties are not prais'd for nought,
For both the beauty and the wit are bought.
'Twou'd burft ev'n Heraclitus with the fpleen,
To fee thofe anticks, Fopling and Court in :
The Prefence feems, with things fo richly odd,
The mofque of Makound, or feme queer Pa-god.
See them furvey their limbs by Durer's rules,
Of all beau-kind the beft proportion'd fools !
Adjuft their cloaths, and to confeffion draw
Thofe venial fins, an atom, or a ftraw :
But oh ! what terrors muft diftraft a foul
Convifted of that mortal crime, a hole ;
Or fhould one pound of powder lefs befpread
Thofe monkey-tails that wag behind their head !
Thus finifh'd, and corrected to a hair,
They march, to prate their hour before the fiur.
So firft to preach a white-glov'd Chaplain goes,
With band of Lilly, and with cheek of Rofe,
Sweeter than Sharon, in immac'late trim,
Neatnefs itfelf impertinent in him.
Let but the Ladies fmile, and they are bleft ;
Prpdigiqus! how {he things preicft, proteft:
Peace
160 SATIRES OF
For faying our Ladies P falter. But "'tis Jit
That they each other plague, they merit it.
But here comes Glorius that will plague them both t
Who in the other extreme only doth
Call a rough careleffnefs, good fajhion :
Whofe cloak his fpurs tear, or whom he fpits on,
He cares not, he. Hit ill words do no harm
To him ; he rujhes in, as if arm, arm,
He meant to cry ; and though his face be as ill
As theirs, which in old hangings whip Chrijl, ftill
He Jl 'rives to look worfe; he keep: all in awe;
Jejls like a licensed fool ^ commands like law.
yrd, now I leave this place, and but pleas 'd fo
As men from gaols to execution go,
Go through the great chamber (why is it bung
With the few en deadly Jin s ?* ) being among
Thofe Askaparts -f-, men big enough to throw
Charing Crofcfor a bar, men that do know
No token of worth, but Shteens man, and Jine
Having ; barrels of beef, flagons of wine.
IJhosk like a fpied Spie > Preachers which art
Seas of Wit and Arts, you can, then dare,
Drown the fins of this place, for as for me
Which am but a fcant brook, enough Jh all It
To wajb the ftains away: Although I yet
(With Maccabees madefy) the known merit
Of my work le/en, yet fame wife menjhall,
1 hope, tfteem my Writs Canonical.
* The Room hung with old Tapeflry, reprefenting
me feven deadly fins,
f A Giant famous in Romances.
D*. DONNE. 161
Peace fools, or Gonfon will for Papi/fj feize you
If once he catch you at your Jefu ! Je/u !
Nature made ev'ry fop to plague his brother,
Juft as one beauty mortifies another.
But here's the Captain that will plague them both,
Whofe air cries arm ! whofe very look's an oath :
The Captain's honeft, Sirs, and that's enough,
Tho 1 his foul's bullet, and his body buff.
He fpits fore-right ; his haughty cheft before
Like batt'ring rams, beats open ev'ry door ;
And with a face as red, and as awry,
As Herod's hang-dogs in old Tapeftry,
Scaj-ecrow to boys, the breeding woman's curfe ;
Has yet a ftrange ambition to look worfe ;
Confounds the civil, keeps the rude in awe,
Jells like a licensed fool, commands like law.
Frighted I quit the room, but leave it fo
As men from Jayls to execution go ;
For hung with * deadly fins I fee the wall,
And lin'd with Giants, deadlier than 'em all :
Each man an Askapart of ftrength to tofs
For Quoits, both lemple-bar and Charing-c rofs :
Scar'd at the grizly forms, I fweat, I fly,
And make all o'er, like a difcover'd fpy.
Courts are no match for wits fo weak as mine ;
Charge them with Heav'n's Artill'ry, bold Divine !
From fuch alone the Great rebukes endure,
Whofe (atyr's facred, and whofe rage fecure :
'Tis mine to wafh a few flight itain?, but theirs
To deluge fin, and drown a Court in tears.
Howe'er what's now Apocrypha, my wit,
In time to come, may pais for holy writ.
FINIS.
EPITAPHS
Hisfaltem accumulem donis, & fungar inani
Munere! VIRO.
On Sir WILLIAM TRUMBAL,
One of the Principal Secretaries of State to King
William III. w ho having refigned his place, dyed
in his Retirement at Eafthamfted in Berkfhire,
1716.
APleafing Form ; a firm, yet cautious Mind,
Sincere, tho' prudent, conftant, yet refign'd ;
Honour unchanged, a Principle profeir,
Fix'd to one fide, but mod'rate to the reft :
An honeft Courtier, yet a Patriot too,
Juft to his Prince, and to his Country true.
Fill'd with the Senfe of Age, the Fire of Youth ;
A Scorn of wrangling, yet a Zeal for truth ;
L A ge-
1 64 EPITAPHS.
A gen'rous Faith, from fuperftition free ;
A love to Peace, and hate of Tyranny ;
Such this man was ; who now from earth remov'd,
At length enjoys that Liberty he lov'd.
ir.
On CHARLES Earl of D o R s E T,
In the Church of Withyham in Suflex.
DOasF.T, the Grace of Courts, the Mufes Pride,
Patron of Arts, and Judge of Nature, dy'd !
The Scourge of Pride, tho' fanclify'd or great.
Of Fops in Learning, and of Knaves in State:
Yet foft his Nature, tho' fevere his Lay,
His Anger moral, and his Wifdom gay.
Bleft Satyrift ! who touch'd the Mean fo true,
As fhow'd, Vice had his hate and pity too.
Bleft Courtier ! who could King and Country pleafe,
Yet facred keep his Friendfhips, and his Eafe.
Bleft Peer ! his great Forefathers ev'ry grace
Retledling, and reflected in his Race ;
Where other Buckhurjls, other Dorfets fhine,
And Patriots ftill, or Poets, deck the Line.
On
EPITAPHS. 165
III.
On the HonMe SIMON HARCOURT,
Only Son of the Lord Chancellor HARCOURT.' at
the Church of Stanton-Harcourt in Oxfbrdfliire,
1720.
TO this fed Shrine, whoe'er thou art ! draw near.
Here lies the Friend moft lov'd, the Son moft
dear :
Who ne'er knew Joy, but Friendfhip might divide,
Or gave his Father Grief, but when he dy'd,
How vain is Reafen, Eloquence how weak !
If POPE muft tell what HA R COURT cannot fpeak.
Oh let thy once-lov'd Friend infcribe thy Stone, ^
And, with a Father's Sorrows, mix his own!
IV.
Intended for Mr. R o w E,
In WeJlminJler-Abby.
THY reliques, ROWE, to this fair flmne we truft,
And facred, place by DRY DEN'S awful duft:
L 2 Beneath
166 EPITAPHS.
Beneath a * rude and namelefs (lone he lies,
To which thy tomb (hall guide inquiring eves.
Peace to thy gentle fliade, and endlefs reft !
Bleft in thy Genius, in thy Love too bleft !
One grateful woman to thy fame fupplies
What a whole thanklefs land to his denies.
* The Tomb of Mr. Dryden was erefted upon this
hint by the Duke of Buckingham ; to which was ori-
ginally intended this Epitaph.
nil Sheffield redsd. Ibefacred Duft below
Wfls Dryden once : The reft who does not know ?
Which the Author fince chang'd into the plain In-
fcription now on it, being only the Name of that
great Poet,
J. DRYDEN.
Natus Aug. 9, 1631.
Mortuus Maij I, 1701.
Johannes Sheffield, Dux Buckinghamienfis, fecit.
OH
EPITAPHS. 167
V.
On Mrs. CORBET,
dyed of a Cancer in her Breaft.
HERE refts a Woman, good without pretence,
Bleft with plain Reafon and with fober Senfe ;
No Conquefts (he, but o'er herfelf defir'd,
No Arts eflay'd, but not to be admiYd.
Paffion and Pride were to her foul unknown,
Convinc'd, that Virtue only is our own.
So unafFe-fted, fo compos'd a mind,
So firm yet foft, fo ftrong yet fo refin'd,
Heav'n, as its pureft Gold, by Tortures try'd ;
The Saint fuftain'd it, but the Woman d/d.
VI.
On the Monument of the Honourable ROBERT
DIG BY, and of his Sifter MARY, ere tied by
their Father the Lord DIG BY, in the Church
of Sherborne in Dorfetftiire, 1727.
GO! fair Example of untainted youth,
Of modeft wifdom, and pacirick truth :
Juit of thy word, in every thought fmcere,
Who knew no wifh but what the world might hear ;
Of fofteft manners, unaffedted mind,
Lover of peace, and friend of human kind :
Go
i68 EPITAPHS.
Go live ! for Heav'n's Eternal year is thine,
Go, and exalt thy Moral to Divine.
And thou bleftMaid ! attendant on his doom,
Penfive haft follow'd to the filent tomb,
Steer'd the fame courfe to the fame quiet fhore,
Not parted long, and now to part no more !
Go then, where only blifs fincere is known !
Go, where to love and to enjoy are one !
Yet take thefe Tears, Mortality's relief,
And till we ihare your joys, forgive our grief ?
Thefe little rites, a Stone, a Verfe, receive,
Tis all a Father, all a Friend can give >
VIJ-
On Sir GODFREY KNELLER,
In Weftrmnfter-Jtbbf) 1723.
KNELLER, by Heav'n and not a Mafter taught,
Whofe Art was Nature, and whofe Pi&ures
thought ;
Now for two ages having fnatch'd from fate
Whate'er was Beauteous, or whate'er was Great,
Reils crown'd with Princes Honours, Poets Lays,
Due to his Merit, and brave Thirft of Praife.
* Living, great Nature fear'd he might outvie
Her works ; and dying, fears herfelf may die.
* Imitated from the famous Epitaph on Raphael.
. Raphael, timuit quo fofpite, vinci
Rerum magna parens, moriente, mori.
EPITAPHS. ,69
VIII.
On General HENRY WITHERS,
In WeftminJler-Abby, 1729.
HERE WITHERS reft ! thou braveft,gentleft miod.
Thy Country's friend, but more of Human kind.
Oh bora to Arms ! O Worth in Youth approv'd !
O foft Humanity, in Age belov'd !
For thee the hardy Vet'ran drops a tear,
And the gay Courtier feels the figh fmcere.
WITHERS adieu ! yet not with thee remove
Thy Martial Spirit, or thy Social love !
Amidit Corruption, Luxury, and Rage,
Still leave fome ancient Virtues to our age :
Nor let us fay, (thofe Englijh glories gone)
The laft true Briton lies beneath this itone.
IX.
On Mr. ELIJAH FENTON,
At Eafthamfted in Berks, 1730.
THIS modeft Stone what few. Marbles can
May truly fay, here lies an honcft Man.
A Poet, bieft beyond the Poet's fate,
Whom Heav'n kept facred from the Proud and Great.
Foe to loud Praife, and Friend to learned Eafe,
Content with Science in the Vale of Peace.
Calmly
V*..-
i 7 o EPITAPHS.
Calmly he look'd on either Life, and here
Saw nothing to regret, or there to fear ;
From Nature's temp'rate fealt rofe fatisfy'd,
Thank'd Heav'n that he had liv'd, and that he dy'd.
X.
On Mr. GAY,
In Weftm'mfter-Abby^ 1732.
OF Manners gentle, of Affections mild ;
In Wit, a Man ; Simplicity, a Child ;
Above Temptation, in a low Eftate,
And uncorrupted, ev'n among the Great ;
A fafe Companion, and an eafy Friend,
Unblam'd thro' Life, lamented in thy End.
Thefe are Thy Honors \ not that here thy Butt
Is mix'd with Heroes, or with Kings thy Duft,
Bat that the Worthy and the Good fhall fay,
Striking their penfive bofoms Here lies GAY.
XI.
Intended for Sir ISAAC NEWTON
in Weftminfter-Abby.
ISAACUS NEWTONIUS:
Quern Immortalem
Teftantur Tempus, Nafura, Caelum:
Mortalem
Hoc marmor fatetur.
Nature and Nature's Laws lay hid in Night :
GOD faid, Let Newton be! And all was Light.
FINIS.
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