F. A Dean, Sir ? no.: his Fortune is not made,
You hurt a man that's rising in the Trade.

35
P. If not the Tradesman who set up to day,
Much less the 'Prentice who to morrow may.
Down, down, proud Satire ! tho’a Realm be spoild,
Arraign no mightier Thief than wretched Wild;
Or, if a Court or Country's made a job,

40 Go drench a Pick-pocket, and join the Mob.

But, Sir, I beg you (for the Love of Vice !)
The matter's weigħty, pray consider twice;
Have you less pity for the needy Cheat,
The poor and friendless Villain, than the Great? 45
Alas! the fmall Discredit of a Bribe
Scarce hurts the Lawyer, but undoes the Scribe.
Then better sure it Charity becomes
To tax Directors, who thank God) have Plums;
Still better, Ministers; or, if the thing

50 May pinch ev'n there--why lay it on a King.

Notes.
VER. 35. You hurt a man that's rising in the Trade.)
For, as the reasonable De la Bruyere observes, Qui ne:
« fait être un ERASME, doit penser à être Evique.'
SCRIBL.

Ver. 39. Wretched Wild.) Jonathan Wild, a famous Thief, and Thief-Impeacher, who was at last caught in his own train and hanged. P.

VER. 42. for the love of Vice] We must consider the Poet as here directing his discourse to a follower of the new sys: tem of Politics, That private vices are public benefits. SCRIBL.

56

F. Stop ! stop!

P. Must Satire, then, nor rise nor fall? Speak out, and bid me blame no Rogues at all.

F. Yes, strike that Wild, I'll justify the blow.

P. Strike? why the man was hang’d ten years ago: Who now that obsolete Example fears? Ev'n Peter trembles only for his Ears.

F. What always Peter ? Peter thinks you mad,
You make men desp'rate if they once are bad :
Else might he take to Virtue fome years hence --- 60

P. As S---k, if he lives, will love the PRINCE.
F. Strange spleen to S---k!

P. Do I wrong the Man ?
God knows, I praise a Courtier where I can.
When I confess, there is who feels for Fame,
And melts to Goodness, need I SCARB'ROW name?
Pleas’d let me own, in Esher's peaceful Grove
(Whent Kent and Nature vye for Pelham's Love)

Notes. Ver. 57. Ev’n Peter trembles only for his ears.] Peter had, the year before this, narrowly escaped the Pillory for forgery : and got off with a severe rebuke only from the bench. P.

VER. 65. Scarb'row Earl of; and Knight of the Garter, whose personal attachments to the King appeared from his fteddy adherence to the royal intereit, after his resignation of his great employment of Master of the Horse and whose known honour and virtue made him esteemed by all parties. P.

VER. 66. Efber's peaceful grove,] The house and gar.

64

The Scene, the Master, opening to my view,
I sit and dream I see my CRAGGs anew !

Ev'n in a Bilhop I can spy Desert;
Secker is decent, Rundel has a Heart,
Manners with Candour are to Benson giv'n,
To Berkley, ev'ry Virtue under Heav'n.

But does the Court a worthy Man remove?
That inftant, I declare, he has my Love:

75

Notes.

dens of Esher in Syrry, belonging to the Honourable Mr. Pelham, Brother of the Duke of Newcastle. The author could not have given a more amiable idea of his Character than in comparing him to Mr. Craggs. P.

VER. 67. Kent and Nature] Means no more than art and nature. And in this consists the compliment to the Artist.

Ver. 71. Secker is decent] These words (like those y 135. of the first Dialogue) are another instance of the mafignity of the public judgment. The Poet thought, and not without reason, that they conveyed a very high idea of the worthy person to whom they are applied; to be DECENT (or to become every itation of life in which a man is placed) being the noblest encomium on his wisdom and virtue. It is the very topic he employs in speaking of a favourite friend, one he most esteemed and loved,

Noble and young, who frikes the heart,

With ev'ry Sprightly, ev'ry DECENT part. The word in both places implying every endowment of the heart. As in that celebrated verse of Horace, from whence the expression was taken, aud which no one has a better right to apply to himself than this excellent prelate :

Quid verum atque DECENS curo et rogo; et omnis in hoc fum. So that to be decent is to excell in the moral character.

I shun his Zenith, court his mild Decline;
Thus SOMMERS once, and HALIFAX, were mine
Oft, in the clear, ftill Mirrour of Retreat,
I ftudy'd SHREWSBURY, the wife and great :
CARLETON's calm Sense, and STANHOPE's noble
Flame,

80
Compar'd, and knew their gen'rous End the same :
How pleasing ATTERBURY's softer hour!
How shind the Soul, unconquer'd in the Tow'r !

NOTES. VER. 77. Sommers) John Lord Sommers died in 1716. He had been Lord Keeper in the reign of William III. who took from him the seals in 1700. The author had the honour of knowing him in 1706. A faithful, able, and incorrupt minister; who, to the qualities of a consummate statesman, added those of a man of Learning and Politeness. P.

Ibid Halifax] A peer, no less distinguished by his love of letters than his abilities in Parliament. He was disgraced in 1710, on the Change of Q. Anne's ministry. P.

VER. 79. 'Shrewsbury,] Charles Talbot, Duke of Shrewsbury, had been Secretary of fate, Embassador in France, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Lord Chamberlain, and Lord Treasurer. He several times quitted his employments, and was often recalled. He died in 1718. P.

Ver. 80. Carleton] Hen. Boyle, Lord Carleton (nephew of the famous Robert Boyle) who was Secretary of Itate under William III. and Prelident of the Council under Q. Anne, P.

Ibid. Stanhope] James Earl Stanhope. A Nobleman of equal courage, fpirit, and learning. General in Spain, and Secretary of itate. P.

How can I PULT'NEY, CHESTERFIELD forget,
While Roman Spirit charms, and Attic Wit:

85
ARGYLL, the State's whole Thunder born to wield,
And shake alike the Senate and the Field :
Or WYNDHAM, just to Freedom and the Throne,
The Master of our Passions, and his own..
Names, which I long have lov'd, nor lov'd in vain,
Rank'd with their Friends, not number'd with their

89

Train;

And if yet higher the proud List should end,
Still let me say! No Follower, but a Friend.

Yet think not, Friendship only prompts my lays ; I follow Virtue; where she shines, I praise :

95 Point she to Priest or Elder, Whig or Tory, Or round a Quaker's Beaver cast a Glory.

Notes. Ver. 84. Chesterfield] Philip Earl of Chesterfield, commonly given by Writers of all Parties for an EXAMPLE to the Age he lives in, of fuperior talents, and public Virtue.

-Ver. 88. Wyndham] Sir William Wyndham, Chancellor of the Exchequer under Queen Anne, made early a considerable figure; but since a much greater both by his ability and eloquence, joined with the utmoft judgment and temper. P.

Ver. 92. And if yet higher, etc.] He was at this time honoured with the esteem and favour of his Royal Highness the Prince.

Ver. 93. Still let me say! No Follower, but a Friend.] i. e. Unrelated to their parties, and attached only to their persons.