15 "Take him with all his virtues, on my word; "His whole ambition was to ferve a Lord: "But, Sir, to you, with what would I not part? “Though faith, I fear, 'twill break his Mother's heart. "Once (and but once) I caught him in a lie, "And then, unwhipp'd, he had the grace to "The fault he has I fairly fhall reveal, (Could you o'erlook but that) it is, to fteal." c If, after this, you took the graceful lad, Could you complain, my Friend, he prov'd fo bad? Faith, in fuch cafe, if you fhould profecute, I think Sir Godfrey should decide the fuit; cry: 20 25 d Confider then, and judge me in this light; I told you when I went, I could not write; You "Quin etiam canet indoctum, fed dulce bibenti. "Multa fidem promiffa levant, ubi plenius aequo "Laudat venales, qui vult extrudere, merces. "Res urget me nulla: meo fum pauper in aere. "Nemo hoc mangonum faceret tibi: non temere a me "Quivis ferret idem: femel hic ceffavit, et (ut fit) "In fcalis latuit metuens pendentis habenac: "Des nummos, excepta nihil te fi fuga laedit." c Ille ferat pretium, poenae fecurus, opinor. Prudens emifti vitiofum: dicta tibi eft lex. Infequeris tamen hunc, et lite moraris iniqua. d Dixi me pigrum proficifcenti tibi, dixi Talibus officiis prope mancum; ne mea faevus You faid the fame; and are you difcontent e In Anna's Wars, a Soldier poor and old Jurgares ad te quod epiftola nulla veniret. Si tamen attentas? quereris fuper hoc etiam, quod • Luculli miles collecta vistica multis Aerumnis, laffus dum noctu ftertit, ad affem : 30 35 } 40 45 "Go Perdiderat poft hoc vehemens lupus, et fibi et hofti Praefidium regale loco dejecit, ut aiunt, "Go on, my Friend, (he cry'd) fee yonder walls! D'ye think me, f Bred up at home, full early I begun To read in Greek the wrath of Peleus' fon. Befides, my Father taught me from a lad, The better art to know the good from bad: (And little fure imported to remove, 50 55 To hunt for Truth in Maudlin's learned grove.) But knottier points we knew not half so well, Depriv'd us foon of our paternal Cell; And Forte fub hoc tempus caftellum evertere praetor And certain Laws, by fufferers thought unjust, Hopes after hopes of pious Papists fail'd, While mighty William's thundering arm prevail'd. He stuck to poverty with peace of mind; But (thanks to Homer) fince I live and thrive, Sure I should want the care of ten Monroes, If I would fcribble, rather than repose. 8 Years following years, steal fomething every day, At laft they steal us from ourselves away; In one our Frolics, one Amusements end, 60 65 70 In one a Miftrefs drops, in one a Friend: What will it leave me, if it snatch my rhyme? That turn'd ten thousand verses, now ftands still? Unde fimul primum me demifere Philippi, 75 But h But after all, what would you have me do? When out of twenty I can please not two; When this Heroics only deigns to praise, 80 85 90 In crouds, and courts, law, business, feafts, and friends? My counsel fends to execute a deed : A Poet begs me I will hear him read : In Palace-yard at nine you'll find me there- 95 "Oh Denique non omnes eadem mirantur amantque. Tres mihi convivae prope diffentire videntur, Quid dem ? quid non dem ? renuis quod tu, jubet alter: |