IV. The tongue moved gently first, and speech was low, Till wrangling Science taught it noise and show, And wicked Wit arose, thy most abusive foe. V. But rebel Wit deserts thee oft in vain; Lost in the maze of words he turns again, And seeks a surer state, and courts thy gentle reign. VI. Afflicted Sense thou kindly dost set free, And routed Reason finds a safe retreat in thee. VII. With thee in private modest Dulness lies, And in thy bosom lurks in Thought's disguise; Thou varnisher of fools, and cheat of all the wise! VIII. Yet thy indulgence is by both confest; And 'tis in thee at last that Wisdom seeks for rest. IX. Silence, the knave's repute, the whore's good name, The only honour of the wishing dame; The very want of tongue makes thee a kind of fame. X. But could'st thou seize some tongues that now are free, How church and state should be obliged to thee! At senate, and at bar, how welcome would'st thou be! XI. Yet speech even there, submissively withdraws, From rights of subjects, and the poor man's cause: Then pompous Silence reigns, and stills the noisy Laws. XII. Past services of friends, good deeds of foes, XIII. The country wit, religion of the town, The courtier's learning, policy o' the gown, Are best by thee express'd; and shine in thee alone, XIV. The parson's cant, the lawyer's sophistry, Lord's quibble, critic's jest; all end in thee, All rest in peace at last, and sleep eternally. V. EARL OF DORSET. ARTEMISIA. THOUGH Artemisia talks by fits, Haughty and huge as High-Dutch bride, On her large squab you find her spread, That lies and stinks in state. She wears no colours (sign of grace) All white and black beside: And raasculine her stride. So have I seen in black and white A stately worthless animal, That plies the tongue, and wags the tail, PHRYNE. PHRYNE had talents for mankind, Like some free port of trade: Her learning and good-breeding such, Spaniards or French came to her: In diamonds, pearls, and rich brocades, So have I known those insects fair VI. DR. SWIFT. THE HAPPY LIFE OF A COUNTRY PARSON. PARSON, these things in thy possessing Gazettes sent gratis down, and frank'd; A Chrysostom to smooth thy band in: He that has these, may pass his life, Toast Church and Queen, explain the news, Talk with church-wardens about pews, Pray heartily for some new gift, And shake his head at Dr. S-t. MISCELLANIES. EPISTLE TO ROBERT EARL OF OXFORD, AND EARL OF MORTIMER. Sent to the Earl of Oxford with Dr. Parnell's Poems, published by our author, after the said Earl's imprisonment in the Tower, and retrea tinto the country, in the year 1721. SUCH were the notes thy once-loved poet sung, Absent or dead, still let a friend be dear, And sure, if aught below the seats divine In vain to deserts thy retreat is made; |