FHayman inv. et del. C.Grignion Sculp Shut, shut the Door, good John fatigud I said Tye up the Knocker, say I'm sick, I'm dead. Ep: to Arbuthnot. And now the Poem, which holds fo much of the DRAMA, and opens with all the diforder and vexation that every kind of impertinence and flander could occafion, concludes with the utmost calmness and ferenity, in the retired enjoyment of all the tender offices of FRIENDSHIP and PIETY [388, to the end.] EPISTLE to Dr. ARBUTHNOT, BEING THE PROLOGUE TO THE SATIRE S. HUT, fhut the door, good John! fatigu'd P. SHUI faid, Tye up the knocker, fay I'm fick, I'm dead, NOTES. 5 VER. 1. Shut, fhut the door, good John!] John Searl, his old and faithful fervant: whom he has remembered, under that character, in his Will, What walls can guard me, or what shades can hide? Is there a Parfon, much be-mus'd in beer, 15 A Clerk, foredoom'd his father's foul to cross, Is there a Bard in durance? turn them free, Is there a Prentice, having feen two plays, Who would do something in his Semptrefs' praise NOTES. VER. 12. Ev'n Sunday fhines no Sabbath-day to me.] The beauty of this line arifes from the figurative terms of the predicate alluding to the fubject. A fecret, in elegant expreffion, which our Author often practifed. VER. 13. Mint.] A place to which infolvent debtors retired, to enjoy an illegal protection, which they were there fuffered to afford one another, from the perfecution of their creditors. Arthur, whose giddy fon neglects the Laws, Imputes to me and my damn'd works the caufe: Poor Cornus fees his frantic wife elope, And curfes Wit, and Poetry, and Pope. 25. Friend to my Life! (which did not you prolong, The world had wanted many an idle fong) What Drop or Noftrum can this plague remove?.. Or which must end me, a Fool's wrath or love? 30. A dire dilemma! either way I'm sped. If foes, they write, if friends, they read me dead. Seiz'd and ty'd down to judge, how wretched I! Who can't be filent, and who will not lye: To laugh, were want of goodness and of grace,3·5 And to be grave, exceeds all Pow'r of face. I fit with fad civility, I read With honest anguish, and an aching head; VARIATIONS. VER. 29. in the 1ft Ed. Dear Doctor, tell me, is not this a curfe? NOTES. VER. 23. Arthur,] Arthur Moore, Efq. Alluding to the fcene in the Plain-Dealer, where Oldfox gags, and ties down the Widow, to hear his well-pen'd flanzas. VER. 38. honeft anguish,] i. e. undiffembled. Ibid. an aching head; Alluding to the disorder he was then fo conftantly afflicted with. And drop at laft, but in unwilling ears, 39 This faving counfel, "Keep your piece nine years.” "I want a Patron; afk him for a Place." 50 Informs you, Sir, 'twas when he knew no better. "Dare you refuse him? Curl invites to dine, "He'll write a Journal, or he'll turn Divine.” VARIATIONS. VER. 53. in the MS. If you refuse, he goes, as fates incline, NOTES. VER. 43. Rhymes ere he wakes,] A pleasant allufion to thofe words of Milton, Dictates to me flumb'ring, or inspires Eafy my unpremeditated Verse. VER. 49. Pitholeon] The name taken from a foolish Poet of Rhodes, who pretended much to Greek. Schol in Horat. 1. i. Dr. Bentley pretends, that this Pitholeon libelled Cæfar also. See notes on Hor. Sat. 10, I, i, P |