Then wisely plead, to me they meant no hurt, But 'twas my guest at whom they threw the dirt? Sure, if I spare the minister, no rules Of honour bind me, not to maul his tools; Sure, if they cannot cut, it may be said His saws are toothless, and his hatchet's lead. It anger'd TURENNE, once upon a day, To see a footman kick'd that took his pay: But when he heard th' affront the fellow gave, The prudent gen'ral turn'd it to a jest, 146 150 And begg'd, he'd take the pains to kick the rest: 155 Which not at present having time to do [you? F. Hold, Sir! for God's sake, where's th' affront to Against your worship when had S―k * writ? Or P-ge pour'd forth the torrent of his wit? Or grant the bard whose distich all commend [In pow'r a servant, out of pow'r a friend] To W-let guilty of same venial sin ; What's that to you who ne'er was out nor in? 160 165 The priest whose flattery be-dropt the crown, How hurt he you? he only stain❜d the gown. And how did, pray, the florid youth offend, Whose speech you took, and gave it to a friend? P. Faith, VER. 159. Or P-ge] Judge Page, who is said to have treated delinquents too roughly. VER. 164. The priest, &c.] Meaning Dr. Alured Clarke, who wrote a panegyric on Queen Caroline. P. Faith, it imports not much from whom it came; Whoever borrow'd, could not be to blame, Since the whole house did afterwards the same. 170 Let courtly wits to wits afford supply, As hog to hog in huts of Westphaly; If one through nature's bounty or his lord's, From him the next receives it, thick or thin, 175 As pure a mess almost as it came in ; The blessed benefit, not there confin'd, Drops to the third, who nuzzles close behind; From tail to mouth, they feed and they carouse: 180 F. This filthy simile, this beastly line Quite turns my stomach P. So does flatt'ry mine; And all your courtly civet-cats can vent, Perfume to you, to me is excrement. But hear me further-Japhet, 'tis agreed, 185 Writ not, and Chartres scarce could write or read; But 190 Must VER. 166. florid youth] Lord Hervey, alluding to his painting himself. VER. 185 in the MS. I grant it, Sir; and further, 'tis agreed, Must never patriot then declaim at gin, Ask you what provocation I have had? 195 Th' affront is mine, my friend, and should be yours. Mine, as a foe profess'd to false pretence, Who think a coxcomb's honour like his sense; Mine, as a friend to ev'ry worthy mind; F. You're strangely proud. 201 P. So proud, I am no slave: So impudent, I own myself no knave: So odd, my country's ruin makes me grave. O sacred weapon! left for truth's defence, Sole dread of folly, vice, and insolence! To all but Heav'n-directed hands deny'd, 206 210 The Muse may give thee, but the Gods must guide: Rev'rent I touch thee! but with honest zeal; To rouse the watchmen of the public weal, 12 216 Το To virtue's work provoke the tardy Hall, 220 All his Grace preaches, all his Lordship sings, 224 All that makes saints of queens, and gods of kings. All, all but truth, drops dead-born from the press, Like the last Gazette, or the last address. 231 When black ambition stains a public cause, There, other trophies deck the truly brave, [shrine, 235 After ver. 227 in the MS. Far Where's now the star that lighted Charles to rise? Angels, that watch'd the royal oak so well, As to the regal touch, and papal toe; Britain's to France, and thine to India, Spain ! VER. 228. When black ambition, &c.] The case of Cromwell in the civil war of England; and (ver. 229.) of Louis XIV, in his conquest of the Low Countries. Far other stars than * and ** wear, 240 And may descend to Mordington from STAIR; Let Let flatt'ry sick'ning see the incense rise, Sweet to the world, and grateful to the skies : 245 F. Alas! alas! pray end what you began, 255 VER. 237. Anstis] The chief Herald at Arms. It is the custom at the funeral of great peers, to cast into the grave the broken staves and ensigns of honour. VER. 238. For other stars than * and ** wear,] That is, Kent and Grafton. VER. 239. STAIR;] John Dalrymple Earl of Stair, Knight of the Thistle, served in all the wars under the Duke of Marlborough; and afterwards as Embassador in France. VER. 240, 241. HOUGH and DIGBY] Dr. John Hough, Bishop of Worcester; and the Lord Digby. The one an assertor of the Church of England, in opposition to the false measures of King James II. The other as firmly attached to the cause of that King. Both acting out of principle, and equally men of honour and virtue. Ver. 255 in the MS. Quit, quit these themes and write Essays on Man. |