EPISTLE

TO THE SAME,

ON HER LEAVING THE TOWN AFTER THE CORONATION.

s fome fond Virgin, whom her mother's care

5

Drags from the Town to wholesome Country air,
Juft when she learns to roll a melting eye,
And hear a fpark, yet think no danger nigh;
From the dear man unwilling fhe must fever,
Yet takes one kifs before fhe parts for ever:
Thus from the world fair Zephalinda flew,
Saw others happy, and with fighs withdrew;
Not that their pleasures caus'd her discontent,
She figh'd not that they stay'd, but that she went. 10
She went, to plain-work, and to purling brooks,
Old-fafhion'd halls, dull Aunts, and croaking rooks:
She went from Op'ra, Park, Affembly, Play,

To morning-walks, and pray'rs three hours a day;
To part her time 'twixt reading and bohea,
To mufe, and fpill her folitary tea,

15

Or

POPE.

NOTES.

Coronation] Of King George the first, 1715.

VER. 1. As fome fond Virgin,] There is so much likeness (to ufe Johnson's words on another poem) in the initial comparison, that there is no illuftration. As one lady lamented the going out of London, fo did another. WARTON.

Or o'er cold coffee trifle with the spoon,

Count the flow clock, and dine exact at noon :
Divert her eyes with pictures in the fire,

Hum half a tune, tell ftories to the squire;
Up to her godly garret after sev'n,

20

There starve and pray, for that's the way to heav'n.
Some Squire, perhaps, you take delight to rack;
Whofe game is Whisk, whofe treat a toast in fack;
Who vifits with a Gun, prefents you birds, 25
Then gives a fmacking bufs, and cries,-No Words!
Or with his hound comes hallooing from the stable ;
Makes love with nods, and knees beneath a table;
Whose laughs are hearty, tho' his jefts are coarse,
And loves you best of all things-but his horse.
In fome fair ev'ning, on your elbow laid,
You dream of Triumphs in the rural shade;
In pensive thought recall the fancy'd scene,
See Coronations rife on ev'ry green;

30

Before you pass th' imaginary fights

35

Of Lords, and Earls, and Dukes, and garter'd Knights,

NOTES.

While

66

VER. 23. Some Squire, c.] Dr. Warton obferves, that no country Squire" has ever been painted with such true colours and natural features as Addifon's Tony Foxhunter, except Western, in Tom Jones. But of the old English gentleman, who refides in the country, a groffer caracature, though its humour is unrivalled, than that of Squire Western, was never drawn; and this by Pope is equally falfe and overcharged. - An Allworthy is oftener to be found than a Squire Western. The character of the English Gentleman (the perfon of hereditary property refiding in the country) is, in general, among that of the moft humane, the moft liberal, and the most valuable of the community.

While the fpread fan o'erfhades your clofing eyes;
Then give one flirt, and all the vision flies.
Thus vanish fceptres, coronets, and balls,

40

And leave you in lone woods, or empty walls!
So when your Slave, at fome dear idle time,
(Not plagu❜d with head-achs, or the want of rhyme)
Stands in the streets, abftracted from the crew,

you;

And while he seems to study, thinks of
Just when his fancy points your fprightly eyes,
Or fees the blush of foft Parthenia rise,

45

Gay pats my fhoulder, and you vanish quite,
Streets, Chairs, and Coxcombs rush upon my fight;
Vex'd to be still in town, I knit my brow,
Look four, and hum a Tune, as you may now.

50

POPE fays, this Epiftle is written to the fame Lady as the preceding; that is, Martha Blount. From the manufcript letters, however, which I have had an opportunity of confulting, it appears this must have been addreffed to the elder fifter, who was more handsome, and more sensible than Martha. She was the first object of Pope's attachment; but not meeting with fo much encouragement, he transferred his attentions to her fifter.

The affumed name of Teresa wàs Zephalinda, under which she corresponded, for many years, with a Mr. More, under the feigned name of Alexis. Martha was called Parthenia.

THE BASSET-TABLE,

AN ECLOGUE*.

CARDELIA. SMILINDA.

CARDELIA.

HE Baffet-Table spread, the Tallier come;

THE

Why stays SMILINDA in the Dreffing-Room? Rife, penfive Nymph, the Tallier waits for you;

SMILINDA.

Ah, Madam, fince my SHARPER is untrue,
I joyless make my once ador'd Alpeu.

I saw him stand behind OMBRELIA'S Chair,
And whisper with that foft, deluding air,
And those feign'd fighs which cheat the list'ning Fair.

5

CAR

NOTES.

• Mr. Dallaway has given good reasons for fuppofing that the Town Eclogues were written entirely by Lady Mary Wortley Montagu. Moft probably Lady M. has the greateft claim to them; but as fome corrected copies were found among Gay's and Pope's papers, and have been received into Pope's works, I have ventured to retain them; but, as far as their literary merit is concerned, it very little matters to whom they exclufively belong.

VER. 1. The Baffet-Table Spread,] There were fix Town Eclogues; two written by Mr. Pope, and the reft by Lady Wortley Montagu, whofe fine genius and abilities are well known; and from whose hand I am glad to prefent the reader with the following Sonnet, preferved by Algarotti, in the feventh volume of his Works:

CARDELIA.

Is this the cause of your Romantic strains?
A mightier grief my heavy heart fuftains.
As You by Love, so I by Fortune cross't;
One, one bad Deal, Three Septlevas have lost.

SMILINDA.

Is that the grief, which you compare with mine? With ease, the smiles of Fortune I refign:

10

Would all my gold in one bad Deal were gone; 15 Were lovely SHARPER mine, and mine alone.

CARDELIA.

A Lover loft, is but a common care :

And prudent Nymphs against that change prepare: The KNAVE OF CLUBS thrice loft! Oh! who could

guefs

This fatal Stroke, this unforeseen Distress?

20

SMI

NOTES.

"Thou Silver Deity of secret night,

Direct my footsteps through the Woodland fhade;

Thou confcious witnefs of unknown delight,

The Lover's Guardian, and the Mufe's aid.

By thy pale beams I folitary rove,

To thee my tender grief confide;

Serenely fweet you gild the filent grove,

My friend, my goddess, and my guide.

Ev'n thee, fair Queen, from thy amazing height,
The charms of young Endimion drew,

Veil'd in the mantle of concealing night,

With all thy greatness, and thy coldness too!"

WARTON.