Some perfons, perhaps, may wonder, how Things of this Nature dare come into the world without the protection of fome great name, as they call it, and a fulfome Epistle Dedicatory to his Grace, or Right Honourable for, if a Poem ftruts out under my Lord's Patronage, the Author imagines it is no less than fcandalum magnatum to dislike it; efpecially if he thinks fit to tell the world, that this fame Lord is a perfon of wonderful Wit and Understanding, a notable judge of Poetry, and a very confiderable poet himself., But
if a Poem have no intrinfic excellencies, and real beauties, the greatest name in the world will never induce a man of fenfe to approve it; and if it has them, Tom Piper's is as good as my Lord Duke's; the only difference is, Tom claps half an ounce of snuff into the poet's hand, and his Grace twenty guineas: for, indeed there lies the ftrength of a great name, and the greatest protection an Author can receive from it.
To please every one, would be a new thing; and to write fo as to please nobody, would be as new: for even Quarles and Withers have their admirers. The Author is not fo fond of fame, to defire it from the injudicious Many; nor of so mortified a temper, not to wish it from the difcerning Few. It is not the multitude of applauses, but the good sense of the applauders, which establishes a valuable reputation; and if a Rymer or a Congreve fay it is well, he will not be at all folicitous how great the majority may be to the contrary.
F Heaven the grateful liberty would give,
That I might choose my method how to live;
And all thofe hours propitious Fate should lend,
In blissful eafe and fatisfaction spend;
Near fome fair town I'd have a private seat,
Built uniform, not little, nor too great:
Better, if on a rifing ground it stood;
On this fide fields, on that a neighbouring wood.
It should within no other things contain,
But what are useful, neceffary, plain :
Methinks 'tis naufeous; and I'd ne'er endure
The needlefs pomp of gaudy furniture,
A little garden, grateful to the eye;
And a cool rivulet run murmuring by:
On whofe delicious banks a ftately row
Of shady limes, or fycamores, fhould grow.
At th' end of which a filent study plac'd,
Should be with all the noblest authors grac'd ;
Horace and Virgil, in whofe mighty lines
Immortal wit, and folid learning, shines ;
Sharp Juvenal, and amorous Ovid too,
Who all the turns of love's foft paffion knew:
He that with judgment reads his charming lines,
In which strong art with stronger nature joins,
Muft grant his fancy does the best excel;
His thoughts fo tender, and exprefs'd fo well:
With all those moderns, men of steady sense,
Efteem'd for learning, and for eloquence.
In fome of these, as fancy fhould advise,
I'd always take my morning exercise :
For fure no minutes bring us more content,
Than those in pleasing, useful studies spent.
I'd have a clear and competent estate,
That I might live genteelly, but not great:
As much as I could moderately spend;
A little more, fometimes t'oblige à friend.
Nor should the fons of poverty repine
Too much at fortune, they should taste of mine;
And all that objects of true pity were,
Should be reliev'd with what my wants could fpare :
For that our Maker has too largely given,
Should be return'd in gratitude to Heaven.
A frugal plenty fhould my table fpread;
With healthy, not luxurious, dishes spread :
Enough to fatisfy, and fomething more,
To feed the ftranger, and the neighbouring poor.
Strong meat indulges vice, and pampering food
Creates difeafes, and inflames the blood.
But what 's fufficient to make nature firong,
And the bright lamp of life continue long,
I'd freely take; and, as I did poffefs,
The bounteous Author of my plenty blefs.
I'd have a little vault, but always ftor'd
With the best wines each vintage could afford.
Wine whets the wit, improves its native force,
And gives a pleasant flavour to discourse :
By making all our spirits debonair,
Throws off the lees, the fediment of care.
But as the greatest bleffing Heaven lends
May be debauch'd, and ferve ignoble ends;
So, but too oft, the grape's refreshing juice
Does many mischievous effects produce.
My house should no fuch rude disorders know,
As from high drinking confequently flow;
Nor would I use what was fo kindly given,
To the dishonour of indulgent Heaven.
If any neighbour came, he should be free,
Us'd with refpect, and not uneafy be,
In my retreat, or to himself or me.
What freedom, prudence, and right reason gave,
All men may, with impunity, receive:
But the leaft fwerving from their rule 's too much
For what's forbidden us, 'tis death to touch.
That life may be more comfortable yet,
And all my joys refin'd, fincere, and great ;
I'd choose two friends, whofe company would be
A great advance to my felicity:
Well-born, of humours suited to my own,
Discreet, and men as well as books have known:
Brave, generous, witty, and exactly free
From loose behaviour, or formality:
Airy and prudent; merry, but not light;
Quick in difcerning, and in judging right:
Secret they should be, faithful to their trust;
In reafoning cool, ftrong, temperate, and juft:
Obliging, open, without huffing, brave;
Brisk in gay talking, and in sober, grave:
Close in difpute, but not tenacious; try'd
By folid reason, and let that decide:
Not prone
to luft, revenge, or envious hate;
Nor bufy medlers with intrigues of state:
Strangers to flander, and sworn foes to spite;
Not quarrelfome, but ftout enough to fight;
Loyal, and pious, friends to Cæfar; true,
As dying martyrs, to their Maker too.
In their fociety I could not mifs
A permanent, fincere, fubftantial blifs.
Would bounteous Heaven once more indulge, I'd
(For who would so much fatisfaction lose,
As witty nymphs, in conversation, give).
Near fome obliging modest fair to live:
For there's that sweetness in a female mind,
Which in a man's we cannot hope to find;
That, by a secret, but a powerful art,
Winds up the fpring of life, and does impart
Fresh vital heat to the transported heart.
I'd have her reafon all her paffion sway :-6
Eafy in company, in private gay :
Coy to a fop, to the deferving free;
Still conftant to herself, and just to me.
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