often prov'd, and ever found fincere!
Too honeft is thy heart, thy fenfe too clear,
On thefe encomiums to vouchfafe a smile,
Which only can belong to great Argyll.

But most among the brethren of the bays,
The dear enchantress all her charms displays,
In the fly commerce of alternate praise.
If, for his father's fins condemn'd to write,
half-feather'd poet takes a flight,
And to my touchftone brings a puny ode,

Some

young

Which Swift, and Pope, and Prior would explode;
Though every ftanza glitters thick with ftars,
And goddeffes defcend in ivory cars:

Is it for me to prove in every part
The piece irregular by laws of art?

His genius looks but aukward, yet his fate,
May raise him to be premier bard of state;
I therefore bribe his fuffrage to my fame,
Révere his judgment, and applaud his flame;
Then cry, in seeming transport, while I speak,
'Tis well for Pindar that he dealt in Greek !
He, confcious of defert, accepts the praife,
And courteous, with increase the debt repays :
Boileau 's a mushroom if compar'd to me,
And, Horace, I dispute the palm with thee!
Both ravish'd, fing Te Phoebum for fuccefs;
Rife fwift, ye laurels! boy! befpeak the prefs.---
Thus on imaginary praise we feed ;

Each writes till all refufe to print or read:

}

From.

From the records of fame condemn'd to pafs
To Brifquet's calendar, a rubrick ass.

Few, wondrous few! are eagle-ey'd to find
A plain disease, or blemish in the mind :

Few can, though wisdom fhould their health infure,
Difpaffionate and cool attend a cure.

In youth difus'd to obey the needful rein,
Well pleas'd a favage liberty to gain,
We fate the kind defire of every fenfe,
And lull our age in thoughlefs indolence:
Yet all are Solons in their own conceit,
Though, to fupply the vacancy of wit,
Folly and Pride, impatient of control,
The fifter-twins of Sloth, poffefs the foul.
By Kneller were the gay Pumilio drawn,
Like great Alcides, with a back of brawn:
I fcarcely think his picture would have power
To make him fight the champions of the Tower:
Though lions there are tolerably tame,

And civil as the court from which they came.
But yet, without experience, fense, or arts,
Pumilio boasts fufficiency of parts :

Imagines he alone is amply fit

To guide the ftate, or give the ftamp to wit:
Pride paints the mind with an heroic air,
Nor finds he a defect of vigour there.

*Brifquet, Jefter to Francis I. of France, kept a calendar of fools. ·

When Philomel of old effay'd to fing,
And in his rofy progrefs hail'd the spring,
Th' aerial fongfiers listening to the lays,
By filent ecftafy confeft her praife.

At length, to rival her enchanting note,
The peacock ftrains the discord of his throat,
In hope his hideous fhrieks would grateful prove,
But the nice audience hoot him through the grove.
Confcious of wanted worth, and juft difdain,
Lowering his creft, he creeps to Juno's fane:
To his protectress there reveals the cafe ;
And for a fweeter voice devoutly prays.

Then thus reply'd the radiant goddess, known
By her fair rolling eyes and rattling tone :
My favourite bird! of all the feather'd kind,
Each fpecies had peculiar gifts affign'd :
The towering eagles to the realms of light
By their strong pounces claim a regal right;
The fwan, contented with an humbler fate,
Low on the fifhy river rows in state:
Gay ftarry plumes thy length of train bedeck,
And the green emerald twinkles on thy neck;
But the poor nightingale, in mean attire,
Is made chief warbler of the woodland choir.
These various bounties were difpos'd above,
And ratify'd th' unchanging will of Jove:
Difcern thy talent, and his laws adore;
Be what thou wert defign'd, nor aim at more.

то

TO THE QUEEN,

ON HER MAJESTY'S BIRTH-DAY.

FROM

ROM this aufpicious day three kingdoms date
The fairest favours of indulgent Fate :

From this the months in radiant circles run,
As ftars receive their luftre from the fun.
Το you
the fceptres of all Europe bend,
The victor thofe revere, and these the friend;
Your filken reins the willing nations crave,
For 'tis your lov'd prerogative to fave.
Mild amidst triumphs, victory bestows
On you renown, and freedom on your foes;
Obfervant of your will, the goddess brings
Palms in her hand, and healing in her wings.

But, as the brightest beams and gentlest showers
Were once referv'd for Eden's opening flowers ;
So, though remoter realms your influence share,
Britannia boafts to be your darling care.
By your great wisdom and refiftlefs might,
Abroad we conquer, and at home unite:
Nature had join'd the lands; but you alone
Make their affections and their councils one;
You fpeak---the jarring principles remove,
And, clofe combin'd, the fifter-nations prove
Rivals alone in loyalty and love.

What

What power would now forbid the warrior-queen
To wave the red-crofs banners o'er the Seine ?
Others for titles urge the foldier's toil,
Or meanly feek the foe, to feize the spoil :
But you for right your pious arms employ,
And conquer to reftore, and not destroy;
Vouchfafing audience to your fuppliant foes,
You long to give the labouring world repose;
Concurring juftice waits from you the word,
Pleas'd, when you fix the scales, to fheath the sword.
From this propitious omen we prefage
Unnumber'd bleffings to the coming age,
Establish'd Faith, the daughter of the fkies,
Shall fee new temples by your bounty rife;
Commerce beneath the fouthern stars fhall thrive,
Inteftine feuds expire, and arts revive;
Safe in their fhades the Mufes fhall remain,
And fing the milder glories of your reign.

So, whilft offended heaven exerts its power,
Swift fly the lightnings, loud the thunders roar,
But, when our incenfe reconciles the fkies,
Again the radiant beams begin to rife;
Soft Zephyrs gently waft the clouds away,
And fragrant flowers perfume the dawning day;
The groves around rejoice with echoing ftrains,
And golden Plenty covers all the plains.