In that is due: diftinction fhewn :
Efteem is Virtue's right alone.
With partial eye, we're apt to fee
The man of noble pedigree.
We're prepoffeft my lord inherits
In fome degree his grandfire's merits;
For those we find upon record,
But find him nothing but my lord.
When we with fuperficial view
Gaze on the rich, we're dazzl'd too:
We know that wealth, well understood,
Hath frequent power of doing good;
Then fancy that the thing is done,
As if the power and will were one.
Thus oft the cheated crowd adore
The thriving knaves that keep 'em poor.
The cringing train of power furvey:
What creatures are fo low as they!
With what obfequioufnefs they bend!
To what vile actions condescend!
Their rife is on their meannefs built,
And flatt'ry is their fmalleft guilt.
What homage, rev'rence, adoration,
In ev'ry age, in ev'ry nation,
Have fycophants to pow'r addreft!
No matter who the pow'r possest.
Let minifters be what they will,
You find their levees always fill:
Ev'n those who have perplex'd a state,
Whofe actions claim'd contempt and hate,
Had wretches to applaud their schemes,
Tho' more abfurd than madmen's dreams.
When barb'rous Moloch was invok'd,
The blood of infants only fioak'd:
But here (unlefs all hift'ry lies)
Whole realms have been a facrifice.
Look through all courts: 'tis pow'r we find
The gen'ral idol of mankind;.

There

There worshipp'd under ev'ry fhape:
Alike the lion, fox, and ape,
Are follow'd by time-ferving flaves,
Rich prostitutes, and needy knaves.
Who then fhall glory in his poft?
How frail his pride, how vain his boaft!.
The followers of his profp'rous hour
Are as unstable as his pow'r.

Pow'r, by the breath of flattʼry nurst,
The more it fwells is nearer burft:
The bubble breaks, the gewgaw ends,
And in a dirty tear defcends.

Once on a time an ancient maid,
By wishes and by time decay'd,

To cure the pangs of reftlefs thought,
In birds and beafts amufement fought;
Dogs, parrots, apes, her hours employ'd;
With thefe alone the talk'd and toy'd.
A huge Baboon her fancy took,
(Almost a man in fize and look)
He finger'd ev'ry thing he found,
And mimick'd all. the fervants round;
Then too his parts and ready wit
Shew'd him for ev'ry bus'nefs fit.
With all these talents, 'twas but juft,
That Pug fhould hold a place of truft:
So to her fav'rite was affign'd

The charge of all her feather'd kind;
'Twas his to tend 'em eve and morn,
And portion out their daily corn.

Behold him, now with haughty ftride,
Affume a minifterial pride.

The morning rofe. În hope of picking,
Swans, turkeys, peacocks, ducks, and chicken,
Fowls of all ranks furround his hut,
To worship his important ftrut ;
The minifter appears. The croud
Now here, now there, obfequious bow'd.

This prais'd his parts, and that his face,
T'other his dignity in place;

From bill to bill the flatt'ry ran;
He hears and bears it like a man:
For, when we flatter felf-conceit,
We but his fentiments repeat.
If we're too fcrupulously juft,
What profit's in a place of trust?
The common practice of the great
Is, to fecure a fnug retreat :
So Pug began to turn his brain.
(Like other folks in place) on gain.
An apple-woman's ftall was near,
Well ftock'd with fruits through all the year:
Here ev'ry day he cramm'd his guts;
Hence were his hoards of pears and nuts:
For 'twas agreed (in way of trade)
His payments fhould in corn be made.
The stock of grain was quickly spent,
And no account which way it went:
Then to the Poultry's ftarv'd condition
Caus'd fpeculations of fufpicion.

The facts were prov'd beyond difpute:
Pug must refund his hoards of fruit;
And, though then minifter in chief,
Was branded as a public thief."
Difgrac'd, defpis'd, confin'd to chains,
He nothing but his pride retains.

A goose pass'd by; he knew the face,
Seen ev'ry levee while in place.

What, no refpect! no rev'rence shown!
How faucy are thefe creatures grown!
Not two days fince (fays he) you bow'd
The loweft of my fawning crowd.
Proud fool (replies the goofe) 'tis true,
Thy corn a flutt'ring levee drew;
For that I join'd the hungry train,
And fold the flatt'ry for thy grain:

But

But then, as now conceited Ape,
We faw thee in thy proper fhape.

OU tell me that you apprehend

Y My tell me that Juchy folks offend.

In prudence too you think my rhimes
Should never fquint at courtiers crimes;
For though nor this, nor that is meant,
Can you another's thoughts prevent?
You ask me if I ever knew.

Court Chaplains thus the lawn pursue.
I meddle not with gown or lawn:
Poets, I grant, to rife muft fawn.
They know great ears are over nice,
And never fhock their patron's vice.
But I this hackney path defpife;
'I is my ambition not to rife:
If I must proftitute the mufe,
The beft conditions I refuse.

I neither flatter or defame:

Yet own I would bring guilt to fhame.,
If I corruption's hand expofe,

I make corrupted men my foes.
What then? I hate the paltry tribe,
Be virtue mine: Be theirs the bribe.
I no man's property invade :
Corruption's yet no lawful trade;
Nor would it mighty ills produce,
Could I fhame brib'ry out of use.
I know 'twould cramp moft politicians,
Were they ty'd down to thefe conditions:

"Twould

'Twould ftint their pow'r, their riches bound,
And make their parts feem lefs profound.
Were they deny'd their proper tools,
How could they lead their knaves and fools?
Were this the cafe, let's take a view,
What dreadful mifchiefs would enfue?
Though it might aggrandize the state,
Could private lux'ry dine on plate?
Kings might indeed their friends reward,
But minifters find lefs regard.
Informers, fycophants, and fpies,
Would not augment the year's fupplies:
Perhaps too, take away this prop,
An annual jobb or two might drop.
Befides, if penfions were deny'd,
Could Av'rice fupport its pride?
It might ev'n minifters confound,
And yet the state be fafe and found.
I care not though 'tis understood,
I only mean my country's good:
And (let who will my freedom blame)
I wish all courtier's did the fame.
Nay, though fome folks the lofs might get,
I wish the nation out of debt.

"

I put no private man's ambition
With public good in competition:
Rather than have our laws defac'd
I'd vote a minister disgrac'd.

I ftrike at vice be't where it will;
And what if great fools take it ill?
I hope, corruption, brib'ry, penfion,'
One may with deteftation mention:
Think you the law (let who will take it)
Can fcandalum magnatum make it?

I vent no flander, owe no grudge,
Nor of another's confcience judge:
At him or him I take no aim,
Yet dare against all vice declaim.

Shall