And b

great

Nassau to Kneller's hand decreed To fix him graceful on the bounding Steed; So well in paint and stone they judg’d of merit: But Kings in Wit may want discerning Spirit. 385 The Hero William, and the Martyr Charles, One knighted Blackmore, and one pension d Quarles; Which made old Ben and surly Dennis swear, 66 No Lord's anointed, but a c Russian Bear."

Not with such d majesty, such bold relief, 390 The Forms auguft, of King, or conquering Chief, E’er swellid on marble; as in verfe have shin'd (In polish'd verse) the manners and the Mind. Oh! could I mount on the Mæonian wing, Your e Arms, your Actions, your Repose to sing ! 395 What f seas you travers’d, and what fields you fought! Your Country's Peace, how oft, how dearly bought!

How

d

Fortis 6 Alexandri vultum fimulantia. quod fi
Judicium fubtile videndis artibus illud
Ad libros et ad haec Musarum dona vocares ;
c Boeotum in crasso jurares aëre natum.

[At neque dedecorant tua de fe judicia, atque Munera

quae

multa dantis cum laude tulerunt, Dile&ti tibi Virgilius Variufque poetae ;]

Nec magis expressi d vultus per ahenea figna, Quam per vatis opus mores animique virorum Clarorum apparent. nec sermones ego mallem Repentes per humum, e quam res componere gestas, Terrarumque f fitus et flumina dicere, et arces

How g barbarous

rage
subsided at

your

word, And Nations wonder'd while they dropp'd the sword! How, when you nodded, o'er the land and deep, 400 h Peace stole her wing, and wrapt the world in sleep; Till earth's extremes your mediation own, And i Asia's Tyrants tremble at your ThroneBut k Verse, alas ! your Majesty disdains ; And I'm not us'd to Panegyric strains :

405 The Zeal of 1 Fools offends at any time, But most of all, the Zeal of Fools in rhyme.

Besides, a fate attends on all I write,
That when I aim at praise, they say m I bite.
A vile n Encomium doubly ridicules :

410 There's nothing blackens like the ink of fools. If true, a owoful likeness; and if lyes, “ Praise undeserv'd is scandal in disguise :"

Well

Montibus impositas, et 8 barbara regna, tuisque
Auspiciis totum 5 confecta duella per orbem,
Claustraque h custodem pacis cohibentia Janum,
Et i formidatam Parthis, te principe, Romam:
Si quantum cuperem, poffem quoque. sed neque parvum
k Carmen majestas recipit tua; nec meus audet
Rem tentare pudor, quam vires ferre recusent.
Sedulitas autem 1 stulte, quem diligit, urget ;
Praecipue cum se numeris commendat et arte.
Discit enim citius, meminitque libentius illud
Quod quis m deridet, quam quod probat et veneratur.
Nil moror n officium, quod me gravat: ac neque ficto
In • pejus vultu proponi cereus usquam,

n

Well may

he p blush, who gives it, or receives; And when I flatter, let my dirty leaves

415 (Like Journals, Odes, and such forgotten things As Eusden, Philips, Settle, writ of Kings) 9 Clothe spice, linc trunks, or, fluttering in a row, Befringe the rails of Bedlam and Soho.

Nec prave factis decorari versibus opto :
Ne p rubeam pingui donatus munere, et una
Cum scriptore meo capsa porre&tus aperta,
9 Deferar in vicum vendentem thus et odores,
Et piper, et quicquid chartis amicitur ineptis.

BOOK

BOOK 11.

EPISTLE II.

#

:

“ Ludentis fpeciem dabit, & torquebitur.” Hor. DEAR EAR Col’nel, Cobham's and your country's

Friend! You love a Verse, take such as I can send. b A Frenchman comes, presents you with his Boy, Bows, and begins" This Lad, Sir, is of Blois : “ Observe his shape how clean ! his locks how curld! “ My only son, I'd have hina see the world : " His French is

pure ; his Voice too-you shall hear. « Sir, he's your slave, for twenty pound a year. “ Mere wax as yet, you fashion him with ease, “ Your Barber, Cook, Upholsterer, what you please : “ A perfect genius at an Opera song" To say too much, might do my honour wrong.

" Take

EPISTOL A II.

FLORE, bono claroque fidelis amice Neroni,

b Si quis forte velit puerum tibi vendere natum Tibure vel Gabiis, et tecum fic agat: “ Hic et • Candidus, et talos a vertice pulcher ad imos, “ Fiet eritque tuus nummorum millibus octo; “ Verna ministeriis ad nutus aptus heriles; “ Litterulis Graecis imbutus, idoneus arti “ Cuilibet : argilla quidvis imitaberis uda :

a

!

grace to

cry:

20

“ Take him with all his virtues, on my word;
« His whole ambition was to serve a Lord :
“ But, Sir, to you, with what would I not part? 15

Though faith, I fear, 'twill break his Mother's heart.
“ Once (and but once) I caught him in a lie,
“ And then, unwhipp'd, he had the
• The fault he has I fairly shall reveal,
છે
(Could you

o'erlook but that) it is, to steal.” cIf, after this, you took the graceful lad, Could you complain, my Friend, he prov'd so bad ? Faith, in such case, if you should prosecute, I think Sir Godfrey should decide the suit; Who sent the Thief that stole the Cash, away, And punish'd him that put it in his way.

d Consider then, and judge me in this light; I told you when I went, I could not write;

You

25

:

Quin etiam canet indoctum, sed dulce bibenti.
• Multa fidem promiffa levant, ubi plenius aequo
“ Laudat venales, qui vult extrudere, merces.
“ Res urget me nulla : meo sum

pauper

in aere. “ Nemo hoc mangonum faceret tibi: non temere a me « Quivis ferret idem : semel hic cefiavit, et (ut fit) “ In scalis latuit metuens pendentis habenae : “ Des nummos, excepta nihil te si fuga laedit."

c Ille ferat pretium, poenae fecurus, opinor. Prudens emisti vitiosum: dicta tibi eft lex. Insequeris tamen hunc, et lite moraris iniqua.

d Dixi me pigrum proficiscenti tibi, dixi Talibus officiis prope mancum; ne mea saevus