What's not destroy'd by Time's devouring hand?
Where's Troy, and where's the may-pole in the Strand?
Pease, cabbages, and turnips once grew, where
Now ftands New Bond-ftreet, and a newer fquare;
Such piles of buildings now rife up and down,
London itself seems going out of town.
Our fathers crofs'd from Fulham in a wherry,
Their fons enjoy a bridge at Putney-ferry.
Think we that modern words eternal are?
Toupet and Tompion, Cofins, and Colmar
Hereafter will be call'd, by fome plain man,
A wig, a watch, a pair of stays, a fan.
To things themselves if Time fuch change affords,
Can there be any trusting to our words?
To fcreen good ministers from public rage,
And how with party madness to engage,
We learn from Addison's immortal page.
The Jacobite's ridiculous opinion
Is feen from Tickell's letter to Avignon.
Res geftæ regumque ducumque, & triftia bella
Quo fcribi poffent numero, monftravit Homerus.
Verfibus impariter junctis querimonia primum,
Poft etiam inclufa eft voti fententia compos.
Quis tamen exiguos elegos emiferit auctor,
Grammatici certant, & adhuc fub judice lis eft.
But who puts Caleb's Country-Craftsman out,
Is ftill a fecret, and the world's in doubt.
* Not long fince parish clerks, with faucy airs,
Apply'd king David's pfalms to state affairs.
Some certain tunes to politics belong,
On both fides drunkards love a party-song.
If full across the Speaker's chair I go,
Can I be faid the rules o' th' Houfe to know?
I'll afk, nor give offence without intent,
Nor through mere fheepishness be impudent.
i In acts of Parliament avoid fublime,
Nor e'er addrefs his Majefty in rhyme;
An Act of Parliament's a serious thing,
Begins with year of Lord and year of King;
Keeps close to form, in every word is ftrict,
When it would pains and penalties inflict.
• Mufa dedit fidibus Divos puerofque Deorum,
Et pugilem victorem, & equum certamine primum,
Et juvenum curas, & libera vina referre.
Defcriptas fervare vices operumque colores
Cur ego fi nequeo ignoroque, poeta falutor?
Cur nefcire, pudens prave, quam discere malo ?
i Verfibus exponi tragicis res comica non vult :
Indignatur item privatis, ac prope focco
Dignis carminibus narrari cœna Thyeftæ.
Interdum tamen & vocem Comedia tollit,
Iratufque Chremes tumido dilitigat ore.
Telephus & Peleus, cum pauper & exful uterque
Projicit ampullas & fefquipedalia verba.
Soft words fuit best petitioners' intent;
Soft words, O ye petitioners of Kent!
* Whoe'er harangues before he gives his vote,
Should send sweet language from a tuneful throat.
Pultney the coldest breast with zeal can fire,
And Roman thoughts by Attic ftile inspire;
He knows from tedious wranglings to beguile
The serious house into a cheerful smile;
When the great patriot paints his anxious fears
For England's fafety, I am loft in tears.
But when dull speakers strive to move compaffion,
I pity their poor hearers, not the nation:
Unless young members to the purpose keep,
I fall a laughing, or I fall asleep.
1 Can men their inward faculties controul? Is not the tongue an index to the foul?
* Non fatis eft pulchra effe Poemata, dulcia funto.
Ut ridentibus arrident, ita flentibus adfunt
Humani vultus: fi vis me flere, dolendum eft
Primum ipfi tibi: tunc tua me infortunia lædent.
Telephe, vel Peleu, male fi mandata loquêris,
Aut dormitabo, aut ridebo.
Format enim natura prius nos intus ad omnem
Fortunarum habitum, &c.
Post effert animi motus interprete linguâ.
triftia moeftum
Vultum verba decent, &c.
Si dicentis erunt fortunis abfona dicta,
Romani tollent equites peditefque cachinnum.
Laugh not in time of fervice to your God,
Nor bully, when in cuftody o' th' rod;
Look grave, and be from jokes and grinning far,
When brought to fue for pardon at the bar :
let ill-tim'd wit appear,
your
Knights, citizens, and burgeffes will fneer.
m For land, or trade, not the fame notions fire The city-merchant, and the country-'fquire; Their climes are diftant, though one caufe unites The lairds of Scotland, and the Cornifh knights. characters confine;
To likelihood your
Don't turn Sir Paul out, let Sir Paul refign.
In Walpole's voice (if factions ill intend)
Give the two universities a friend;
Give Maidstone wit, and elegance refin'd;
To both the Pelhams give the Scipio's mind;
To Cart'ret learning, eloquence, and parts;
To George the second, give all English hearts.
m Intererit multum Davufne loquatur, an Heros:
Mercatorne vagus, cultorne virentis agelli;
Colchus, an Affyrius; Thebis nutritus, an Argis.
n Aut famam fequere, aut fibi convenientia finge.
Scriptor honoratum fi forte reponis Achillem,
Impiger, iracundus, inexorabilis, acer,
Jura neget fibi nata, nihil non arroget armis ;
Sit Medea ferox invictaque, flebilis Ino,
Perfidus Ixion, Io vaga, tristis Oreftes.
• Sometimes frefh names in politics produce, And factions yet unheard of introduce;
And if you dare attempt a thing fo new,
Make to itself the flying squadron true.
To speak is free, no member is debarr'd;
But funds and national accounts are hard:
Safer on common topics to. discourse,
The malt-tax, and a military force.
On these each coffee-houfe will lend a hint,
Befides a thousand things that are in print.
But steal not word for word, nor thought for thought,
For you'll be teaz'd to death, if you are caught.
When factious leaders boast increasing strength,
Go not too far, nor follow every length:
Leave room for change, turn with a grace about,
And fwear you left 'em, when you found 'em out.
• Si quid inexpertum fcenæ committis, & audes
Perfonam formare novam, fervetur ad imum
Qualis ab incepto procefferit, & fibi conftet.
P Difficile eft proprie communia dicere: tuque
Rectius Iliacum carmen deducis in actus,
Quam fi proferres ignota indictaque primus.
Publica materies privati juris erit, fi
Nec circa vilem patulumque moraberis orbem;
Nec verbum verbo curabis reddere fidus
Interpres; nec defilies imitator in ar&tum,
Unde pedem proferre pudor vetet, aut operis lex,
|