Of whofe ftrange crimes no Canonift can tell One, one man only breeds my just offence; 45 Whom crimes gave wealth, and wealth gave Impudence: Time, that at last matures a clap to pox, Hath made him an Attorney of an Ass. But turn a wit, and scribble verses too; 50 55 With rhymes of this per cent. and that per year? And wooe in language of the Pleas and Bench? 60 NOTES. ture or the Goffel commands. A juft ridicule on those practica! Commentators, as they are called, who include all moral and religious Duties within them. Whereas their true original Then fick with Poetry, and poffeft with Muse Thou waft, and mad I hop'd; but men which chuse Law practice for meer gain; bold soul repute Worfe than imbrothel'd ftrumpets prostitute". Now like an owl-like watchman he must walk, His hand ftill at a bill; now he must talk Idly, like prifoners, which whole months will fwear, That only furetyfhip hath brought them there, And to every fuitor lye in every thing, Like a King's Favourite --- or like a King. NOTES. fense is much more confined, being a short summary of duty fitted for a fingle People, upon a particular occafion, and to ferve tranfitory ends. VER. 61. Language, which Boreas —] The Original has here a very fine ftroke of fatire, Than when winds in our ruin'd Abbyes roar. The frauds with which that work (fo neceflary for the welfare both of religion and the ftate) was begun; the rapine with which it was carried on; and the diffolutenefs in which the plunder arifing from it was wafted, had fcandalized all fober inen; and difpofed the best Proteftants to wish, that some part of that immenfe wealth, arifing from the fuppreffion of the Monafteries, had been referved for Charity, Hofpitality, and even for the public fervice of Religion. Curs'd be the wretch, fo venal and fo vain : 65 If PETER deigns to help you to your own : Grave, as when pris'ners fhake the head and fwear your cause, NOTES. 75 a He speaks here of thofe illiberal Advocates who frequent the Bar for mere gain, without any purpofe of promoting or advancing civil juftice; the confequence of which, he tells us, is a flavish attendance, together with the degradation of their parts and abilities. So that when they undertake to excuse the bad conduct of their client, they talk as idly, and are heard with the fame contempt, as debtors, whofe common cant is, that they were undone by Suretifhip. The Imitator did not feem to take the finenefs of the fatire, or he would not have neglected an abufe of this importance, to fall upon fuch paultry Like a wedge in a block', wring to the barre, Satan will not joy at their fins as he: So huge that men (in our times forwardness) NOTES. things as Peter, and those whom Peter confidered (and so used) as his patrimony. 80 These are the talents that adorn them all, |