Or WYNDHAM, just to freedom and the throne, Names, which I long have lov'd, nor lov'd in vain, Rank'd with their friends, not number'd with their train; And if yet higher the proud lift should end, 91 Yet think not, friendship only prompts my lays; I follow Virtue; where the fhines, I praise : 95 Point the to prieft or elder, Whig or Tory, Or round a Quaker's beaver caft a glory. I never (to my forrow I declare) Din'd with the MAN of Ross, or my LORD MAY'R Some, in their choice of friends (nay, look not grave,) Have ftill a fecret bias to a knave': To find an honest man I beat about, And love him, court him, praise him, in or out. P. Not fo fierce; Find NOTES. Ver. 88. Wyndham] Sir William Wyndham, chancellor of the exchequer under Queen Anne, made early a confiderable figure; but fince a much greater both by his ability and eloquence, joined with the utmoft judgment and temper. Ver. 92. And if yet higher, &c.] He was at that time honoured with the esteem and favour of his Royal Highness the Prince. Ver 99. my Lord May'r.] Sir John Bernard, Lord Mayor in the year of the poem, 1738. A citizen eminent for his virtue, public fpirit, and great talents in parliament. An excellent man, magiftrate, and fenator. In the year 1747, the city of London, in memory of his many and fingal fervices to his country, erected a ftatue to him. But his image had been placed long before in the heart of every good man. Each Each widow afks it for the best of men, 109 For him the weeps, and him the weds agen. 120 O let my country's friends illumine mine! ---What are you thinking? F. 'Faith the thought's no fin, I think your friends are out, and would be in. P. If merely to come in, Sir, they go out, The way they take, is ftrangely round about. 125 F. They too may be corrupted, you'll allow? P. I only call thofe Knaves who are so now. Is that too little? Come then, I'll comply--Spirit of Arnall! aid me while I lie. COBHAM's a coward, POLWARTH is a flave, And LYTTLETON a dark, defigning knave, St. Joan has ever been a wealthy fool--But let me add, Sir ROBERT's mighty dull, Has never made a friend in private life, And was, befides, a tyrant to his wife. NOTES. 130 135 But Ver. 129. Spirit of Arnall!] Look for him in his place, Dunc. book ii. ver. 315. Ver. 130. Polwarth] The Hon. Hugh Hume, fon of Alexander Earl of Marchmont, grandíon of Patrick Earl of Marchmont, and diftinguished, like them, in the cause of Liberty, But pray, when other's praise him, do I blame? Call Verres, Wolfey, any odious name? Why rail they then, if but a wreath of mine, Oh, all-accomplish'd St JOHN ! deck thy fhrine? What? fhall each fpurgall'd hackney of the day, When Paxton gives him double pots and pay, 14 Or each new-penfion'd fycophant, pretend To break my windows if I treat a friend; Then wifely plead, to me they meant no hurt, But 'twas my guest at whom they threw the dirt? Sure, if I fpare the minister, no rules Of honour bind me, not to maul his tools; Sure, if they cannot cut, it may be said His faws are toothless, and his hatchets lead. It anger'd TURENNE, once upon a day, To fee a footman kick'd that took his pay: But when he heard th' affront the fellow gave, Knew one a man of honour, one a knave; The prudent gen'ral turn'd it to a jeft, 146 150 And begg'd, he'd take the pains to kick the reft: Which not at prefent having time to do-- 156 F. Hold Sir! for God's fake where's th' affront to you? Against your Worship when had S--k writ? Or P---ge pour'd forth the torrent of his wit? Or grant the bard whose distich all commend 160 [In pow'r a fervant, out of pow'r a friend] NOTES. Ver. 136. do I blame? Call Verres, Wolfey, any odious name] The leaders of parties, be they as florid as they will, generally do their bufinefs by a fingle rule of rhetoric, which they may have learned of Quintilian, or perhaps of a much older fophift, "Si nihil quod nos adjuvet, erit, quæramus quid adverfarium lædat." Ver. 160, the bard] A verfe taken out of a poem, to Sir R.W. To To W---le guilty of fome venial fin; 171 From him the next receives it, thick or thin, 175 As pure a mefs almost as it came in; The bleffed benefit, not there confin'd, Drops to the third, who nuzzles close behind; From tail to mouth, they feed and they caroufe: The laft full fairly gives it to the Houfe. F. This filthy fimile, this beaftly line Quite turns my stomach-- 18. P. So does Flatt'ry mine; And all your courtly civet-cats can vent, Perfume to you, to me is excrement. But hear me further---Japhet, 'tis agreed 185 Writ not, and Chartres fcarce could write or read, NOTES. Ver. 164. The priest, &c.] Spoken not of any particular prieft, but of many priests. Ver. 166. And how did, &c.] This feems to allude to a complaint made ver 71. of the proceding Dialogue. Ver. 185.Japhet--Chartres] See the epiftle to Lord Bathurst. Ver. 185. in the MS. VARIATIONS. I grant it, Sir: and further, 'tis agreed, Japhet writ not, and Chartres fcarce could read. In In all the courts of Pindus guiltless quite; But pens can forge, my friend, that cannot write; 195 Afk you what provocation I have had? The ftrong antipathy of good to bad.. When truth or virtue an affront endures, Th' affront is mine, my friend, and should be yours, Mine, as a foe profefs'd to false pretence, 201 Who think a Coxcomb's honour like his Sense; F. You're ftrangely proud. P. So proud, I am no flave: So impudent, I own myself no knave: So odd, my country's ruin makes me grave. 206 Safe from the bar, the pulpit, and the throne, 210 The Mufe may give thee, but the Gods muft guide: NOTES. Ver. 204. And mine as Man, ruho feel for all mankind.] From Terence: "Homb fum: humani nihil a me alienum puto." Rev'rent |