Not so, when diadem'd with rays divine, Touch'd with the Flame that breaks from Vir tue's Shrine, 235 may descend to Mordington from STAIR; (Such as on Hough’s unsully'd Mitre shine, 240 Or beam, good Digby, from a Heart like thine) Let Envy howl, while Heav'n's whole Chorus fings, 1 NOT E s. % Astre de la Plume blanche que le Roy porte ordinairement " à son Chapeau, et qui est en effet une espece de Comete, « fatale à nos ennemis.” P. VER. 237. Anilis) 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. P. 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. P. Ver. 240, 241. Hough and Digby] Dr. Joho Hough Bishop of Worcester, and the Lord Digby. The one an affertor of the Church of England in opposition to the false measures of King James II. The other as firmly attached to Law; Truth guards the Poet, sanctifies the line, Yes, the last Pen for Freedom let me draw, When Truth stands trembling on the edge of 249 pray you began, And write next winter more Esays on Man. 255 VARIATIONS. Ver. 255. in the MS. Quit, quit these themes, and write Essays on Man. NOT E s. the cause of that King. Both acting out of principle, and equally men of honour and virtue. P. Ver. u't.] This was the last Poem of the kind printed by our Author, with a resolution to publish no more; but to enter thus, in the most plain and solemn manner he could, á fort of PROTEST against that insuperable corruption and depravity of manners, which he had been so unhappy as to live to see. Could he have hoped to have amended any, he had continued those attacks; but bad men were grown so shameless and so powerful, that Ridicule was become as unsafe as it was ineffectual. The Poem raised him, as he knew it would, fome enemies ; but he had reason to be satisfied with the approbation of good men, and the testimony of his own conscience. P. Ο Ν Receiving from the Right Hon. the Lady FRANCES SHIRLEY A STANDISH and Two Pens. Y ES, I beheld th’ Athenian Queen Descend in all her fober charms; « And take (she said, and smild serene) « Take at this hand celestial arms: “ Secure the radiant weapons wield; « This golden lance shall guard Desert, “ And if a Vice dares keep the field, " This steel shall ftab it to the heart." Aw'd, on my bended knees I fell, Receiv'd the weapons of the sky; And dipt them in the fable Well, The Fount of Fame or Infamy. NO I E s. The Lady Frances Shirley] A Lady whose great Merit Mr: Pope took a real pleasure in celebrating. • What Well? what Weapon? (Flavia cries) “ A standish, steel and golden pen! " It came from Bertrand's', not the skies; “ I gave it you to write again. “ But, Friend, take heed whom you attack; “ You'll bring a House (I mean of Peers) “ Red, Blue, and Green, nay white and black, “ Land all about your ears. - You'd write as smooth again on glass, “ And run, on ivory, so glib, " As not to stick at fool or ass , “ Nor stop at Flattery or Fibo, “ Athenian Queen! and sober charms ! “ I tell ye, fool, there's nothing in't: “ 'Tis Venus, Venus gives these arms"; “ In Dryden's Virgil see the print. NOT E s. • A famous toy-shop at Bath. • Such toys being the usual presents from lovers to their mistresses When the delivers Æneas a suit of heavenly armour. “ Come, if you'll be a quiet soul, • That dares tell neither Truth nor Lies', “ I'll list you in the harmless roll “ Of those that sing of these poor eyes.” NOTE s. Fi.e. If you have neither the courage to write Satire, nor the application to attempt an Epic Poem.-He was then meditating on such a work. END of the FOURTH VOLUME. ng |