a

Nor are those enemies I mention'd, all;

Who, with the charms of his own genius smit, Beware, O florist, thy ambition's fall.

Conceives all virtues are compris'd in wit!
A friend of mine indulg'd this noble flame; But time his fervent petulance may cool;
A Quaker serv'd him, Adam was his name ; For though he is a wil, he is no fool.
To one lov'd tulip ost the master went,

In time he 'll learn to use, not waste, his sense ;
Hung o'er it, and whole days in rapture spent; Nor make a frailly of an excellence.
But came, and miss'd it, one ill-fated hour: He spares nor friend nor foe; but calls to mind,
He rag'd! he roar'd! “What demon cropt my Like doom's-day, all the faults of all mankind.
flower ?”

What though wit tickles ? tickling is unsafe, Serene, quoth Adam, “Lo! 'twas crush'd by me; If still 'iis painful while it makes us laugh. Fall'n is the Baal to which thou bow'dst thy knee." Who, for the poor renown of being smart,

But all men want amusement; and what crime Would leave a sting within a brother's heart? In such a Paradise to fool their time?

Parts may be prais'd, good-nature is ador'd ; None: but why proud of this? To fame they soar : Then draw your wit as seldom as your sword; We grant they're idle, if they 'll ask no more. And never on the weak; or you'll appear

We smile at florists, we despise their joy, As there no hero, no great genius here. And think their hearts enamour'd of a toy :

As in smooth oil the razor best is whet, But are those wiser whom we most admire, So wit is by politeness sharpest set : Survey with envy, and pursue with fire?

Their want of edge from their offence is seen ; What's he who sighs for wealth, or fame, or power ? Both pain us least when exquisitely keen. Another Florio doting on a flower!

The fame men give is for the joy they find ; A short-liv'd flower; and which has often sprung Dull is the jester, when the joke's unkind. From sordid arts, as Florio's out of dung.

Since Marcus, doubtless, thinks himself a wit,
With what, O Codrus! is thy fancy smit? To pay my compliment, what place so fit?
The flower of learning, and the bloom of wit. His most facetious letters* came to hand,

Thy gaudy shelues with crinson bindings glow, Which my First Satire sweetly reprimand :
And Epictetus is a perfect beau.

If that a just offence to Marcus gave,
How fit for thee, bound up in crimson too,

Say, Marcus, which art thou, a fool, or knave ? Gilt, and, like them, devoted to the view!

For all but such with caution I forbore ; Thy books are furniture. Methinks 'tis hard That thou wast either, I ne'er knew before: That science should be purchas'd by the yard ; I know thee now, both what thou art, and who; And Tonson, turn'd upholsterer, sent home No mask so good, but Marcus must shine through: The gilded leather to fit up thy room.

False names are vain, thy lines their author tell; If not to some peculiar end design'd,

Thy best concealment had been writing well : Study's the specious trifling of the mind;

But thou a brave neglect of fame hast shown, Or is at best a secondary aim,

Of others' fame, great genius! and thy own. A chase for sport alone, and not for game.

Write on unheeded ; and this maxim know, If so, sure they who the mere volume prize, The man who pardons, disappoints his foe. But love the thicket where the quarry lies.

In malice to proud wils, some proudly lull On buying books Lorenzo long was bent, Their peevish reason; vain of being dull; But found at length that it reduc'd his rent; When some home joke has stung their solemn souls, His farms were fown; when, lo! a sale comes on, In vengeance they determine-o be fools ; A choice collection! what is to be done?

Through spleen, that little Nature gave, make less, He sells his last ; for he the whole will buy ; Quite zealous in the ways of heaviness ; Sells e'en his house ; nay, wants whereon to lie: To lumps inanimate a fondness take; So high the generous ardor of the man

And disinherit sons that are awake. For Romans, Greeks, and Orientals ran.

These, when their utmost venom they would spil, When terms were drawn, and brought him by the Most barbarously tell you—“ He's a wit.” clerk.

Poor negroes, thus to show their burning spite Lorenzo sign'd the bargain—with his mark. To cacodemons, say, they're devilish while. Unlearned men of books assume the care,

Lampridius, from the bottom of his breast, As eunuchs are the guardians of the fair.

Sighs o'er one child; but triumphs in the rest. Not in his authors' liveries alone

How just his grief! one carries in his head Is Codrus' erudite ambition shown:

A less proportion of the father's lead; Editions various, at high prices bought,

And is in danger, without special grace,
Inform the world what Codrus would be thought ; 'To rise above a justice of the peace.
And to this cost another must succeed,

The dung-hill breed of men a diamond scorn,
To pay a sage, who says that he can read ; And feel a passion for a grain of corn ;
Who tilles knows, and indetes has seen ;

Some stupid, plodding, money-loving wight,
But leaves to Chesterfield what lies between; Who wins their hearts by knowing black from white,
Of pompous books who shuns the proud expense, Who with much pains, exerting all his sense,
And humbly is contented with their sense.

Can range aright his shillings, pounds, and pence. O Stanhope, whose accomplishments make good The booby father craves a booby son ; The promise of a long-illustrious blood,

And by Heaven's blessing thinks himself undone. In arts and manners eminently grac'd,

Wants of all kinds are made to fame a plea ; The strictest honor ! and the finest taste!

One learns to lisp ; another, not to see : Accept this verse; if Satire can agree

Miss D—-, fottering, catches at your hand :
With so consummate an humanity.

Was every thing so pretty born to stand ?
By your example would Hilario mend,
How would it grace the talents of my friend ;

• Letters sent to the author, signed Marcus.

Whilst these, what Nature gave, disown through Morose is sunk with shame, whene'er surpris'd pride,

In linen clean, or peruke undisguis'd. Others affect what Nature has denied ;

No sublunary chance his vestinents fear; What Nature has denied, fools will pursue Valued, like leopards, as their spots appear. As apes are ever walking upon two.

A fam'd surtout he wears, which once was blue, Crassus, a grateful sage, our awe and sport! And his foot swims in a capacious shoe; Supports grave forms; for forms the sage support. One day his wife (for who can wives reclaim?) He hems; and cries, with an important air,

Level'd her barbarous needle at his fame: “If yonder clouds withdraw, it will be fair :"

But open force was vain; by night she went, Then quotes the Stagyrite, to prove it true : And, while he slept, surpris'd the darling rent: And adds, The learn'd delight in something where yawn'd the frieze is now become a doubt, new."

“ And glory, at one entrance, quite shut out."*
Is 't not enough the blockhead scarce can read, He scorns Florello, and Florello him;
But must he wisely look, and gravely plead ? This hates the filthy creature ; that, the prim:
As far a formnlist from wisdom sits,

Thus, in each other, both these fools despise
In judging eyes, as libertines from wits.

Their own dear selves, with undiscerning eyes; These subtle wights (so blind are mortal men, Their methods various, but alike their aim; Though Satire couch them with her keenest pen) The slmen and the fopling are the same. For ever will hang out a solemn face,

Ye Whigs and Tories! thus it fares with you, To put off nonsense with a better grace:

When party-rage too warmly you pursue ; As pedlars with some hero's head make bold, Then both club nonsense, and impetuous pride, Illustrious mark! where pins are to be sold. And folly joins whom sentiments divide. What's the bent brow, or neck in thought reclin'd? You vent your spleen, as monkeys, when they pass The body's wisdom to conceal the mind.

Scratch at the mimic monkey in the glass; A man of sense can artifice disdain;

While both are one : and henceforth be it known, As men of wealth may venture to go plain ; Fools of both sides shall stand for fouls alone. And be this truth eternal ne'er forgot,

“ But who art thou?" methinks Florello cries; Solemnity's a cover for a sot.

“ Of all thy species art thou only wise ?" I find the fool, when I behold the screen ; Since smallest things can give our sins a twitch, For 'ris the wise man's interest to be seen.

As crossing straws retard a passing witch,
Hence, Chesterfield, that openness of heart, Florello, thou my monitor shalt be;
And just disdain for that poor mimic art;

I'll conjure thus some profit out of thee.
Hence (manly praise!) that manner nobly free, O thou myself! abroad our counsels roam,
Which all admire, and I commend, in thee.

And, like ill husbands, take no care at home. With generous scorn how oft hast thou survey'd Thou too art wounded with the common darf, Of court and town the noontide masquerade ; And Love of Fame lies throbbing at thy heart; Where swarins of knaves the vizor quite disgrace, And what wise means to gain it hast thou chose ? And hide secure behind a naked face !

Know, fame and fortune both are made of prose. Where Nature's end of language is declin'd, Is thy ambition sweating for a rhyme, And men talk only to conceal the mind :

Thou unambitious fool, at this late time? Where generous hearts the greatest hazard run, While I a moment name, a moment's past; And he who trusts a brother, is undone !

I'm nearer death in this verse, than the last : These all their care expend on outward show What then is to be done? Be wise with speed ; For wealih and fame : for fame alone, the beau. A fool at forty is a fool indeed. Of late at White's was young Florello seen!

And what so foolish as the chase of fame? How blank his look! how discompos'd his inien! How vain the prize! how impotent our aim! So hard it proves in grief sincere to feign! For what are men who grasp at praise sublime, Sunk were his spirits; for his coat was plain. But bubbles on the rapid stream of time,

Next day his breast regain’d its wonted peace; That rise, and fall, that swell, and are no more, His health was mended with a silver lace.

Born, and forgot, ten thousand in an hour ?
A curious artist, long inured to toils
or gentler sort, with combs, and fragrant oils,
Whether by chance or by some god inspir'd,

SATIRE III.
So touch'd his curls, his mighty soul was fir'd.
The well-swo!n lies an equal homage claim,

TO THE RIGHT HON. MR. DODINGTON.
And either shoulder has its share of fame;
His sumptuous walch-case, though conceal'd it lies, LONG, Dodington, in debt I long have sought
Like a good conscience, solid joy supplies.

To ease the burthen of my grateful thought; He only thinks bimself (so far from vain!)

And now a poet's gratitude you see ; Stanhope in wit, in breeding Deloraine.

Grant him two favors, and he'll ask for three : Whene'er, by seeming chance, he throws his eye For whose the present glory, or the gain ? On mirrors that reflect his Tyrian dye,

You give protection, I a worthless strain. With how sublime a transport leaps his heart! You love and feel the poet's sacred flame, But Fate ordains that dearest friends must part. And know the basis of a solid fame; In active measures, brought from France, he wheels, Though prone to like, yet cautious to commend And triumphs, conscious of his learned heels. You read with all the malice of a friend ;

So have I seen, on some bright summer's day, Nor favor my attempts that way alone, A calf of genius, debonnair and gay,

But, more to raise my verse, conceal your own. Dance on the bank, as if inspir'd by fame, Fond of the pretty fellow in the stream.

• Milton.

An ill-tim'd modesty! turn ages o'er,

In those choice books their panegyrics read, When wanted Britain bright examples moro? And scorn the creatures that for hunger feed. Her learning, and her genius too, decays;

If man by feeding well commences greal, And dark and cold are her declining days ;

Much more the worn to whom that man is megt. As if men now were of another cast,

To glory some advance a lying claim, They meanly live on alms of ages past.

Thieves of renown, and pilferers of fame : Men still are men ; and they who boldly dare, Their front supplies what their ambition lacks; Shall triumph o'er the sons of cold despair; They know a thousand lords, behind their backs. Or, if they fail, they justly still take place

Couil is apt to wink upon a peer, of such who run in debl for their disgrace;

When turn'd away, with a familiar leer; Who borrow much, then fairly make it known, And Harvey's eyes, unmercifully keen, And damn it with improvements of their own. Have murder'd fops, by whom she ne'er was seen We bring some new materials, and what's old Niger adopts stray libels; wisely prone New-cast with care, and in no borrow'd mould ; To covet shame still greater than his own. Late times the verse may read, if these refuse; Bathyllus, in the winter of threescore, And from sour critics vindicate the Muse.

Belies his innocence, and keeps a whore. Your work is long," the critics cry. "Tis true, Absence of mind Brabantio turns to fame, And lengthens still, to take in fools like you : Learns to mistake, nor knows his brother's name; Shorien my labor, if iis length you blame; Has words and thoughts in nice disorder set, For, grow but wise, you rob me of my game; And takes a memorandom to forget. As hunted hags, who, while the dogs pursue, Thus vain, not knowing what adorns or blots, Renounce their four legs, and start up on two. Men forge the pilenls that create them sots. Like the bold bird upon the banks of Nile,

As love of pleasure into pain betrays, That picks the teeth of the dire crocodile,

So most grow infamous through love of praise. Will I enjoy (dread feast!) the critic's rage,

But wlience for praise can such an ardor rise, And with the fell destroyer feed my page.

When those, who bring that incense, we despise ? For what ambitious fools are more to blame. For such the vanity of great and small, Than those who thunder in the critic's name? Contempt goes round, and all men laugh at all. Good authors damn'd, have their revenge in this, Nor can e'en Satire blame them ; for 'uis true, To see what wretches gain the praise they miss. They have most ample cause for what they do. Balbutius, muffled in his sable cloak,

O fruitful Britain! doubiless thou wast meant Like an old Druid from his hollow oak,

A nurse of fools, to stock the continent. As ravens solenn, and as boding, cries,

Though Phabus and the Nine for ever mow, “ Ten thousand worlds for the three unities !" Rank folly underneath the scythe will grow. Ye doctors sage, who through Parnassus teach, The plenteons harvest calls me forward still, Or quit the tub, or practise what you preach. Till I surpass in length my lawyer's bill;

One judges as the weather dictates; right A Welsh descent, which well-paid heralds damn, The poem is at noon, and wrong at night:

Or, longer still, a Dutchman's epigram. Another judges by a surer gauge,

When cloy'd, in fury I throw down my pen, An author's principles, or parenlage;

In comes a coxcomb, and I write again. Since his great ancestors in Flanders fell,

See Tityrus, with merriment possest, The poem doubiless must be wrillen well.

Is burst with laughter ere he hears the jest: Another judges by the writer's look ;

What need he stay? for, when the joke is o'er, Another judges, for he bought the book ;

His leeth will be no whiter than before. Some judge, their knack of judging wrong to keep; Is there of these, ye fair! so great a dearth, Some judge, because it is too soon to sleep. That you need purchase monkeys for your mirth?

Thus all will judge, and with one single aim, Some, vain of paintings, bid the world admire ; To gain themselves, not give the writer, fame. Of houses some; nay, houses that they hire : The very best ambitiously advise,

Some (perfect wisdom!) of a beauteous wife; Half to serve you, and half to pass for wise. And boast, like Cordeliers, a scourge for life.

Critics on verse, as squibs on triumphs wait, Sometimes, through pride, the sexes change their airs Proclaim the glory, and augment the state ; My lord has vapors, and my lady swears; Hot, envious, noisy, proud, the scribbling fry Then, stranger still! on turning of the wind, Burn, hiss, and bounce, waste paper, stink, and die. My lord wears breeches, and my lady's kind. Rail on, my friends! what more my verse can crown To show the strength, and infamy of pride, Than Compton's smile, and your obliging frown? By all 'tis follow'd, and by all denied. Not all on books their criticism waste :

What numbers are there, which at once pursue The genius of a dish some justly taste,

Praise, and the glory to contemn it, too! And ea! their way to fame; with anxious thought Vincenna knows self-praise betrays to shame, The salmon is refus'd, the turbol bought.

And therefore lays a stratagem for fame ; Impatient art rebukes the Sun's delay,

Makes his approach in modesty's disguise, And bids December yield the fruits of May; To win applause; and takes it by surprise. Chcir various cares in one great point combine, • To err," says he, “ in small things is my fate." The business of their lives, that is-o dine. You know your answer, “ He's exact in great." Half of their precious day they give the feast ; My style," says he, “is rude and full of faults." And to a kind digestion spare the rest.

But oh! what sense! what energy of thoughts!" A picius, here, the taster of the town,

That he wants algebra, he must confess; Feeds twice a week, to settle their renown.

But not a soul to give our arms success." These worthies of the palate guard with care Ah! That's a hit indeed," Vincenna cries; The sacred annals of their bills of fare ;

But who in heat of blood was ever wise?

66

66

I own 'twas wrong, when thousands call'd me back, Gaudy devotion, like a Roman, shown,
To make that hopeless, ill-advis'd, attack;

And sung sweet anthems in a tongue unknown.
All say, 'twas madness; nor dare I deny; Inferior offerings to thy god of vice
Sure never fool so well deserv'd to die.”

Are duly paid, in fiddles, cards, and dice ; Could this deceive in others, to be free,

Thy sacrifice supreme, an hundred maids! It ne'er, Vincenna, could deceive in thee ;

That solemn rite of inidnight masquerades !
Whose conduct is a comment to thy tongue, If maids the quite exhausted town denies,
So clear, the dullest cannot take thec wrong. An hundred head of cuckolds may suffice.
Thou on one sleeve wilt thy revenues wear; Thou smil'st, well pleas'd with the converted land,
And haunt the court, without a prospect there. To see the fifty churches at a stand.
Are these expedients for renown? Confess And that thy minister may never fail,
Thy little self, that I may scorn thee less. But what thy hand has planted still prevail,

Be wise, Vincenna, and the court forsake; Of minor prophets a succession sure
Our fortune there, nor thou nor I shall make. The propagation of thy zeal secure.
Even men of merit, ere their point they gain, See commons, peers, and ministers of state,
In hardy service make a long campaign;

In solemn council met, and deep debate !
Most manfully besiege the patron's gate,

What godlike enterprise is taking birth? And, oft repuls'd, as oft attack the great

What wonder opens on th' expecting Earth? With painful art, and application warm,

"Tis done! with loud applause the council rings! And take, at last, some lille place by storm; Fix'd is the fate of whores and fiddle-strings! Enough to keep two shoes on Sunday clean,

Though bold these truths, thou, Muse, with truths And slarve upon discreetly, in Sheer-lane.

like these, Already this thy fortune can afford;

Wilt none offend, whom 'tis a praise to please : Then starve without the favor of my lord. Let others flatter to be flatter'd ; thou, "Tis true, great fortunes some great men confer; Like just tribunals, bend an awful brow. But often, even in doing right, they err:

How terrible it were to common-sense, From caprice, not from choice, their favors come; To write a satire, which gave none offence ! They give, but think it toil to know to whom : And, since from life I take the draughts you see, The man that's nearest, yawning, they advance : If men dislike them, do they censure me? 'Tis inhumanity to bless by chance.

The fool, and knave, 'tis glorious to offend, If merit sues, and greatness is so loth

And godlike an attempt the world to mend; To break its downy trance, I pity both.

The world, where lucky throws to blockheads fall, I grant at court, Philander, at his need, Knaves know the game, and honest men pay all. (Thanks to his lovely wife,) finds friends indeed. How hard for real worth to gain its price! Of every charm and virtue she's possest:

A man shall make his fortune in a trice, Philander! thou art exquisitely blest;

If blest with pliant, though but slender, sense, The public envy! Now then, 'tis allow'd,

Feign'd modesty, and real impudence :
The man is found, who may be justly proud : A supple knee, smooth tongue, an easy grace,
But, see! how sickly is ambition's taste!

A curse within, a smile upon his face :
Ambition feeds on trash, and lothes a feast; A beauteous sister, or convenient wife,
For, lo! Philander, of reproach afraid,

Are prizes in the lottery of life;
In secret loves his wife, but keeps her maid. Genius and virtue they will soon defeat,

Some nymphs sell reputation ; others buy; And lodge you in the bosom of the great.
And love a market where the rates run high : To merit, is but to provide a pain
Italian music's sweet, because 'uis dear;

For men's refusing what you ought to gain.
Their vanity is tickled, not their ear :

May, Dodington, this maxim fail in you, Their tastes would lessen, if the prices fell, Whom my presaging thoughts already view And Shakspeare's wretched stuff do quite as well; By Walpole's conduct fir'd, and friendship grac'd, Away the disenchanted fair would throng, Still higher in your prince's favor plac'd ; And own, that English is their mother tongue. And lending, here, those awful councils aid,

To show how much our northern tastes refine, Which you, abroad, with such success obey'd ! Imported nymphs our peeresses outshine ;

Bear this from one, who holds your friendship dear;
While tradesmen starve, these Philomels are gay; What most we wish, with ease we fancy near.
For generous lords had rather give than pay.

Behold the masquerade's fantastic scene!
The legislature join'd with Drury-lane !
When Britain calls, th' embroider'd patriots run,

SATIRE IV.
And serve their country—if the dance is done.
“ Are we not then allow'd to be polite ?"

TO THE RIGHT HON. SIR SPENCER COMPTON. Yes, doubtless! but first set your notions right. Worth, of politeness is the needful ground; ROUND some fair tree th' ambitious woodbine grows, Where that is wanting, this can ne'er be found. And breathes her sweets on the supporting boughs: Triflers not e'en in trifles can excel;

So sweet the verse, th' ambitious verse, should be, 'Tis solid bodies only polish well.

(0! pardon nine) that hopes support from thee; Great, chosen prophet! for these latter days, Thee, Compton, born o'er senates to preside, To turn a willing world from righteous ways ! Their dignity to raise, their councils guide ; Well, Heydegger, dost thou thy master serve; Deep to discern, and widely to survey, Well has he seen his servant should not starve. And kingdoms' fates, without ambition, weigh ; Thou to his name hast splendid temples rais'd ; Of distant virtues nice extremes to blend, In various forms of worship seen him prais’d, | The crown's asserter, and the people's friend

a

Nor dost thou scorn, amid sublimer views,

Most charitably lends the town his face,
To listen to the labors of the Muse;

For ornament, in every public place;
Thy smiles pro!ect her, while thy talents fire, As sure as cards, he to th' assembly comes,
And 'lis bui half thy glory to inspire.

And is the furniture of drawing-rooms ::
Vex'd at a public fame, so justly won,

When ombre calls, his hand and heart are free, The jealous Chremes is with spleen undone ; And, join'd to two, he fuils not to make three: Chremes, for airy pensions of renown,

Narcissus is the glory of his race ;
Devotes his service to the state and crown: For who does nothing with a better grace ?
All schemes he knows, and, knowing, all improves, To deck my list, by Nature were design'd
Though Britain 's thankless, still this patriot loves : Such shining expletives of human-kind,
But patriois differ; some may shed their blood, Who want, while through blank life they dream
He drinks his coffee, for the public good;

along,
Consults the sacred steam, and there foresees Sense to be right, and passion to be wrong.
What storms, or sun-shine, Providence decrees; To counterpoise this hero of the mode,
Knows, for each day, the weather of our fate ; Some for renown are singular and odd:
A quidnunc is an almanac of state.

What other men dislike, is sure to please,
You smile, and think this statesman void of use; of all mankind, these dear antipodes ;
Why may not lime his secret worth produce ? "Through pride, not malice, they run counter still
Since apes can roast the choice Castanian nut; And birth-days are their days of dressing ill.
Since steeds of genius are expert at put;

Arbuthnot is a fool, and F-- a sage, Since half the Senate “Not content" can say, Sly will fright you, E

engage; Geese nations save, and puppies plots betray. By nature streams run backward, fame descends, What makes him model realms, and counsel Stones mount, and Sussex is the worst of friends ; kings?

They take their rest by day, and wake by night, An incapacity for smaller things :

And blush, if you surprise them in the right; Poor Chremes can't conduct his own eslate, If they by chance blurt out, ere well aware, And thence has undertaken Europe's fate.

A swan is white, or Queensberry is fair. Gehenno leaves the realm to Chremes' skill,

Nothing exceeds in ridicule, no doubt, And holdly claims a province higher still:

A fool in fashion, but a fool that's out. To raise a name, th' ambitious boy has got, His passion for absurdity's so strong, At once, a Bible, and a shoulder-knot ;

He cannot bear a rival in the wrong;
Deep in the secret, he looks through the whole, Though wrong the mode, comply ; more sense is
And pities the dull rogue that saves his soul ;

shown
To talk with rev'rence you must take good heed, In wearing others' follies, than your own.
Nor shock bis tender reason with the Creed ; If what is out of fashion most you prize,
Howe'er, well-bred, in public he complies,

Methinks you should endeavor to be wise.
Obliging friends alone with blasphemies.

But what in oddness can be more sublime Peerage is poison, good estates are bad

Than Sloane, the foremost toyman of his time? For this disease ; poor rogues run seldom mad. His nice ambition lies in curious fancies, Have not alluinders brought unhop'd relief, His daughter's portion a rich shell enhances, And falling stocks quite cur'd an unbelief? And Ashmole's baby-house is, in his view, While the sun shines, Blunt talks with wondrous Britannia's golden mine, a rich Peru! force ;

How his eyes languish ! how his thoughts adore But thunder mars small beer, and weak discourse. That painted coat, which Joseph never wore ! Such useful instruments the weather show, He shows, on holidays, a sacred pin, Just as their mercury is high or low:

That touch'd the ruff, that touch'd Queen Bess's chin Health chiefly keeps an aiheist in the dark ;

“Since that great dearth our chronicles deplore, A fever argues better than a Clarke:

Since that great plague that swept as many more, Let but the logic in his pulse decay,

Was ever year unblest as this?" he'll cry, The Grecian he'll renounce, and learn to pray ; " It has not brought us one new butterfly!" While C-mourns, with an unfeigned zeal, In times that suffer such learn'd men as these, Th’ apostate youth, who reasond once so well. Unhappy I—y! how came you to please ?

C-, who makes merry with the Creed, Not gaudy butterflies are Lico's game ; He almost thinks he disbelieves indeed :

But, in effect, his chase is much the same :
But only thinks so : to give both their due, Warm in pursuit, he levées all the great,
Salan, and he, believe, and tremble too.

Staunch to the foot of title and estate :
Of some for glory such the boundless rage, Where'er their lordships go, they never find
That they 're the blackest scandal of their age. Or Lico, or their shadows, lag behind ;
Narcissus the Tartarian dub disclaims;

He sets them sure, where'er their lord ships run, Nay, a free-mason, with some terror, names; Close at their elbows, as the morning-dun; Omits no duty; nor can envy say,

As if their grandeur by contagion wrought,
He miss'd, these many years, the church, or play : And fame was, like a fever, to be caught :
He makes no noise in parliament, 'tis true; But after seven years' dance, from place to place,
But pays his debts, and visit, when 'tis due ; The Dane* is more familiar with his grace.
His character and gloves are ever clean,

Who'd be a crulch to prop a rotten peer;
And then, he can out-bow the towing dean ; Or living pendant dangling at his ear,
A smile eternal on his lip he wears,

For ever whispering secrets, which were blown
Which equally the wise and worthless shares. For months before, by trumpets, through the town ?
In gay fatigues, this most undaunted chief,
Patient of idleness beyond belief,

* A Danish dog of the Duke of Argyll. 79

з с