280

One, driven by strong benevolence of soul,
Shall fly, like Oglethorpe, from pole to pole ;-
Is known alone to that directing Power,
Who forms the genius in the natal hour;
That God of nature, who, within us still,
Inclines our action, not constrains our will;
Various of temper, as of face or frame,
Each individual: his great end the same.
Yes, sir, how small soever be my heap,

A part I will enjoy as well as keep.
My heir may sigh, and think it want of grace
A man so poor would live without a place:
But sure no statute in his favor says,
How free or frugal I shall pass my days:

285

I, who at some times spend, at others spare, 290 Divided between carelessness and care.

277 Fly like Oglethorpe. Warton, with ridiculous panegyric, pronounces Oglethorpe at once a great hero and a great legis. lator.' He had served a good deal in the German armies under Eugene; and on his return to England, projected a colony in Georgia; for which he set out, with the two Wesleys in his train. He obtained a charter for his colony, and exhibited some Indian chiefs at St. James's. In 1745, as major-general, he commanded a division of cavalry under the duke of Cumberland; but offending him by the apparently slight negligence of taking up his quarters, one night of the march, on the flank of the army, when he was supposed to be in the front, was summarily deprived of his command. A court-martial acquitted him; but he was employed no more. He thenceforth spent his life roving through London society, enjoying and enjoyed, mingling much with men of literature, laughing at all the generals of his day, and indignant, to the last, at the duke of Cumberland. He died, at a very advanced age, with the reputation of a brave man, a man of intelligence, and a man of pleasantry: but higher qualities are required to compound either great heroes or great legislators.

"Tis one thing madly to disperse my store;
Another, not to heed to treasure more;
Glad, like a boy, to snatch the first good day;
And pleased, if sordid want be far away.

What is 't to me, (a passenger, God wot!)
Whether my vessel be first-rate or not?
The ship itself may make a better figure;
But I that sail am neither less nor bigger.
I neither strut with every favoring breath,
Nor strive with all the tempest in my teeth:
In power, wit, figure, virtue, fortune, placed
Behind the foremost, and before the last.

'But why all this of avarice? I have none.'
I wish you joy, sir, of a tyrant gone:
But does no other lord it at this hour,
As wild and mad? the avarice of power?

Does neither rage inflame, nor fear appal?

295

300

305

Not the black fear of death, that saddens all? 309
With terrors round, can reason hold her throne,
Despise the known, nor tremble at the unknown?
Survey both worlds, intrepid and intire,
In spite of witches, devils, dreams, and fire?
Pleased to look forward, pleased to look behind,
And count each birthday with a grateful mind?
Has life no sourness, drawn so near its end? 316
Canst thou endure a foe, forgive a friend?
Has age but melted the rough parts away,
As winter-fruits grow mild ere they decay?
Or will you think, my friend, your business done,
When, of a hundred thorns, you pull out one?
Learn to live well, or fairly make your will;
You've play'd, and loved, and eat, and drunk
your fill:

319

324

Walk sober off, before a sprightlier age
Comes tittering on, and shoves you from the stage:
Leave such to trifle with more grace and ease,

Whom folly pleases, and whose follies please.

THE

SATIRES

OF

DR. JOHN DONNE,

DEAN OF ST. PAUL'S,

VERSIFIED.

Quid vetat et nosmet, Lucilî scripta legentes, Quærere, num illius, num rerum dura negarit Versiculos natura magis factos, et euntes Mollius?

HORACE.

DONNE'S SATIRES VERSIFIED.

THE object of this work was vindication. Pope, assailed for the severity of his satires, determined to show that men of acknowleged merit had written satires as severe : an argument, obviously going no farther than to involve others in the charge, of which he was unable to clear himself; or to justify error by names and numbers. For this purpose, he selected (it is said, at the suggestion of the duke of Shrewsbury and the earl of Oxford) some of Donne's writings, which it was his intention to reinforce by examples from the celebrated bishop Hall. But to make either of those authorities popular in his day of graceful versification, he felt the necessity of softening their barbarian ruggedness, and throwing the interest of modern topics over their remote allusions. The work was difficult, but Pope was successful; and if he did not establish his own character for gentleness, by exhibiting the fierce vigor of those who libelled before him; he at least increased the general stock of literature, by a production at once polished and forcible.

Donne was a memorable personage; his mind and his career were alike characterised by great nerve and great eccentricity. Educated as a Roman catholic, he abjured the tenets of Rome; intended for the bar, he threw it off' for the church; high in favor with the chancellor, lord Ellesmere, he forfeited his patronage, by running away with his niece. He was now left to poverty, and he struggled