EPILOGUE TO THE SA TIRE S. DIALOGUE I. Fr. NOT twice a twelvemonth you appear in print, And when it comes, the court see nothing in'to You grow correct that once with rapture writ, And are, besides, too moral for a wit. Decay of parts, alas ! we all must feel — 5 Why now, this moment, don't I see you steal ? 'Tis all from Horace ; Horace long before ye Said, “ Tories call'd him Whig, and Whigs a Tory:" And taught his Romans, in much better metre, “ To laugh at fools who put their trust in Peter." But think your reputation made : Or, like St. Paul, you'll lie a-bed too long. Besides, you grow too moral for a wit. Because you II 15 But Horace, Sir, was delicate, was nice; Bubo observes, he lash'd no sort of vice : Horace would say, Sir Billy seru'd the crown, Blunt could do bus'ness, H-ggins knew the town; In Sappho touch the failings of the sex, In rev'rend bishops note some small neglects, And own, the Spaniard did a waggish thing, Who cropt our ears, and sent them to the King. His sly, polite, insinuating style Could please at court, and make AUGUSTUS smile : An artful manager, that crept between His friend and shame, and was a kind of screen. But 'faith your very friends will soon be sore ; Patriots there are, who wish you'd jest no moreAnd where's the glory ? 'twill be only thought 25 The great man never offer'd you a groat. Go 21 Ver. 12. Bubo observes,] Bube is said to mean Mr. Dodding: ton, afterward Lord Melcombe. Ver. 14. Huggins] Formerly gaoler of the Fleet prison, enriched himself by many exactions, for which he was tried and expelled. VER. 15. In Sappbo touch] In former editions, Sir George of some slight gallantries suspect. Ver. 18. Wbo cropt our cars,] Said to be executed by the captain of a Spanish ship on one Jenkins, a captain of an English one. He cut off his ears, and bid him carry them to the King his master. After ver. 26 in the MS. There's honest Tacitus * once talk'd as big, But is he now an independant W big ?? * Mr. Thomas Gordon, who was bought off by a place at court. |