75 Such this day's doctrine-in another fit VARIATIONS. VER. 77. What has not fir'd, &c.] in the MS. Of Tall-boy's breeches, and of Cæfar's foul. NOTES. VER. 87. VI. Contrarie- | God, but of her Stars, ties in the Witty and Refin'd. P. 85 Death, that Opiate of the foul!] See Note on y 90. of Ep. to Lord Cobham, VER. 89. Nor asks of Then all for Death, that Opiate of the foul! 96 100 With too much Spirit to be e'er at ease; 106 Of Mirth and Opium, Ratafie and Tears, 110 NOTES. VER. 107. Or her, who laughs at Hell, but (like her Grace)-Cries, "Ah! how charming if there's no 4 such place!"] i. e. Her who affects to laugh out of fashion, and strives to disbelieve out of fear. : The daily Anodyne, and nightly Draught, 120 From loveless youth to unrespected age, 125 Who breaks with her, provokes Revenge from Hell, But he's a bolder man who dares be well. 130 Her ev'ry turn with Violence pursu'd, Nor more a storm her Hate than Gratitude: VARIATIONS. After y 122. in the MS. Oppress'd with wealth and wit, abundance sad! One makes her poor, the other makes her mad. To that each Passion turns, or foon or late; Superiors? death? and Equals? what a curse! 135 But an Inferior not dependant? worfe. Offend her, and she knows not to forgive; 140 Oblige her, and she'll hate you while you live: Childless with all her Children, wants an Heir. VARIATIONS. After y 148. in the MS. This Death decides, nor lets the blessing fall NOTES. 150 VER. 150. Or wanders, luding and referring to the Heav'n-directed, &c.] Al- great principle of his Philo 1 Pictures like these, dear Madam, to design, Afks no firm hand, and no unerring line; Some wand'ring touches, some reflected light, Some flying stroke alone can hit 'em right: For how should equal Colours do the knack? 155 Chameleons who can paint in white and black ? "Yet Cloe sure was form'd without a spot"Nature in her then err'd not, but forgot. "With ev'ry pleasing, ev'ry prudent part, 66 Say, what can Cloe want?"-She wants a Heart. She speaks, behaves, and acts just as she ought; 161 But never, never, reach'd one gen'rous Thought. Virtue she finds too painful an endeavour, Content to dwell in Decencies for ever. NOTES. sophy, which he never loses | to secure it from being ridifight of, and which teaches, that Providence is incessantly turning the evils arifing from the follies and vices of men to general good. VER. 157. "Yet Cloe fure, &c.] The purpose of the poet in this Character is important: It is to shew that the politic or prudent government of the paffions is not enough to make a Character amiable, nor even culous, if the end of that government be not pursued, which is the free exercife of the social appetites after the selfish ones have been fubdued; for that if, tho' reason govern, the heart be never confulted, we interest ourselves as little in the fortune ofsuch a Character, as in any of the foregoing, which passions or caprice drive up and down at random. |