But should some churchman, apeing wit severe, The poet's fure turn'd Baptift-fay, and fneer; Shame on that narrow mind fo often known, Which in one mode of faith, owns worth alone. Sneer on, rail, wrangle! nought this truth repelsVirtue is virtue, wherefoe'er the dwells; And fure, where learning gives her light to shine, 55 THE POET's DEPENDANCE O N A STATESMA N. SOME OME feem to hint, and others proof will bring, That, from neglect, my numerous hardships fpring. *In this Character of the Rev. James Fofter, truth guided the pen of the Mufe. Mr. Pope paid a tribute to the modeft worth of this excellent man: little did he imagine his Rev. Annotator would endeavour to convert his praise into abuse. The character and writings of Fofter will be admired and read, when the works of the bitter Controverfialist are forgotten. L 3 E. Seek the great man! they cry-'tis then decreed, 10 What friends to fecond? who for me fhould fue, 5 Have interests, partial to themselves, in view. They own my matchlefs fate compaffion draws; They all wish well, lament, but drop my cause. There are who afk no penfion, want no place, No title with, and would accept no grace. Can I entreat, they fhould for me obtain The leaft, who greatest for themselves difdain? A statesman, knowing this, unkind, will cry, Thofe love him: let thofe ferve him!-why should I? Say, fhall I turn where lucre points my views; 15 At first defert my friends, at length abuse? But, on lefs terms, in promife he complies: Years bury years, and hopes on hopes arise; I truft, am trusted on my fairy gain; And woes on woes attend, an endless train. 20 Be pofts difpos'd at will!—I have, for these, All dark intrigues of pleasure, or of state. I have no power, election-votes to gain; Nor fhock'd by him with libels to affail. 25 3.0 . Where these are not, what claim to me belongs? Though mine the Mufe and virtue, birth and wrongs. Where 35 Where lives the ftatesman, fo in honour clear, To ftarve on hope; or, like camelions, fare 50 55 What though I hourly fee the fervile herd, For meannefs honour'd, and for guilt prefer'd; See felfith paffion, public virtue seem ; And public virtue an enthusiast dream; See favour'd falfehood, innocence belied, Meeknefs deprefs'd, and power-elated pride; A fcene will fhew, all-righteous vision haste ; The meek exalted, and the proud debas’d!— Oh, to be there! -to tread that friendly fhore, Where falfehood, pride, and statesmen are no more! 60 But ere indulg'd-ere fate my breath shall claim, What future fame would my ambition crave? 65 70 AN EPISTLE то DAMON AND DELIA. EAR Damon, Delia hear, in candid lays, HE Truth without anger, without flattery, praise! A bookish mind, with pedantry unfraught, Oft a fedate, yet never gloomy thought: Prompt to rejoice, when others pleasure know, And prompt to feel the pang for others woe; 5 Το EPISTLE TO DAMON AND DELIA. 153 Glowing with amorous, yet with guiltless fires, A modeft honour, facred to contain 15 20 From tattling vanity, when fimiles you gain; To treat all fighing flaves with flippant scorn; To kill time, thought, and fame, in frolic flight; 25 30 To flutter here, to flurry there on wing; To talk, to teaze, to fimper, or to fing; To prude it, to coquet it-him to trust, 35 Whose vain, loofe life, fhould caution or disgust; |