EPISTLE THE TWELFTH. TO MY FRIEND MR. MOTTEUX,* ON HIS TRAGEDY CALLED BEAUTY IN DISTRESS. 5 'Tis hard, my friend, to write in such an age, 15 *Peter Motteux, to whom this piece is addressed, was born in Normandy, but settled as a merchant in London very young, and lived in repute. He died in a house of ill fame near the Strand, and was supposed to have been murdered, in 1718. He produced eleven dramatic pieces, and his Beauty in Distress is thought much the best of them: it was played in Lincoln's-inn-fields by Betterton's company in 1698. D. 25 Nor, when accus'd by me, let them complain : Thy incidents, perhaps, too thick are sown; 30 35 Let thy own Gauls condemn thee, if they dare; 40 Born there, but not for them, our fruitful soil 23. V. 19. Rebellion, worse than witchcraft] From 1 Sam. xv. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft,' &c. T. And, like pure gold, it bends at every touch: 45 Our sturdy Teuton yet will art obey, More fit for manly thought, and strengthen'd with allay. But whence art thou inspir'd, and thou alone, It moves our wonder, that a foreign guest Should overmatch the most, and match the best. 50 55 EPISTLE THE THIRTEENTH.* TO MY HONOURED KINSMAN JOHN DRYDEN, OF CHESTERTON, IN THE COUNTY OF HUNTINGDON, ESQ. How bless'd is he, who leads a country life, Unvex'd with anxious cares, and void of strife! *This poem was written in 1699. The person to whom it is address'd was cousin-german to the poet, and a younger brother of the baronet. D. V. 1. How bless'd is he] This is one of the most truly Horatian epistles in our language, comprehending a variety of topics and useful reflections, and sliding from subject to subject with ease and propriety. Writing this note in the year 1799, I am much struck with the lines that follow the 175th, as containing the soundest political truths. Dr. J. W. Who studying peace, and shunning civil rage, come, ; 5 10 15 From your award to wait their final doom He to God's image, she to his was made; 20 25 So, farther from the fount the stream at random stray'd. How could he stand, when, put to double pain, He must a weaker than himself sustain ! Each might have stood perhaps; but each alone Two wrestlers help to pull each other down. ; 30 Not that my verse would blemish all the fair; But yet if some be bad, 'tis wisdom to beware; And better shun the bait than struggle in the snare. Thus have you shunn'd, and shun the married state, Trusting as little as you can to fate. No porter guards the passage of your door, T' admit the wealthy, and exclude the poor; For God, who gave the riches, gave the heart, To sanctify the whole, by giving part; 35 Heaven, who foresaw the will, the means has wrought, And to the second son a blessing brought; But you, like Jacob, are Rebecca's heir. 40 45 So may your stores and fruitful fields increase; And ever be you bless'd, who live to bless. As Ceres sow'd, where'er her chariot flew ; As heaven in deserts rain'd the bread of dew; So free to many, to relations most, You feed with manna your own Israel host. With crowds attended of your ancient race, 50 You seek the champain sports, or sylvan chase: With well breath'd beagles you surround the wood, E'en then industrious of the common good: And often have you brought the wily fox To suffer for the firstlings of the flocks; Chas'd even amid the folds; and made to bleed, Like felons, where they did the murderous deed. This fiery game your active youth maintain❜d, Not yet by years extinguish'd, though restrain'd: 55 |