Scilicet UNI AEQUUS VIRTUTI ATQUE EJUS AMICIS. Quin ubi fe a vulgo et fcena in fecreta remorant Virtus Scipiadae et mitis fapientia Laeli, Nugari cum illo, et difcincti ludere, donec Decoqueretur olus, foliti. Quidquid fum ego, quamvis Infra Lucili cenfum, ingeniumque; tamen me Cum magnis vixisse invita fatebitur ufque Invidia; et fragili quaerens illidere dentem, NOTES. nagement of the fecret-service money, and could pay him fuch a penfion, without its being known, or ever coming to account. But now Mr. Pope declined the offer without hefitation: only, in return for fo friendly a proposal, he told the Secretary, that if at any time he wanted money he would draw upon him for 100 or 2001. which liberty, notwithstanding, he never took. Mr. Craggs more than once preffed him on this head; and urged the conveniency of a Chariot; which Mr. Pope was senfible enough of: But the precarioufnefs of that fupply made him very prudently decline the thoughts of an equipage, which it was much better never to fet up, than not properly to fupport. Yes, while I live, no rich or noble knave Shall walk the World, in credit, to his grave. 120 And HE, whofe lightning pierc'd th' Iberian Lines, NOTES. 134 VER. 129. And HE, whose lightning, etc.] Charles Mordaunt Earl of Peterborow, who in the year 1705 took Barcelona, and in the winter following with only 280 horfe and 900 foot enterprized and accomplished the Conqueft of Valentia. P. VER. 133. Envy must own, &c.] Horace makes the point of honour to confift fimply in his living familiarly with the Great, Cum magnis vixiffe invita fatebitur ufque Invidia. Our poet, more nobly, in his living with them on the footing of an honeft man.-He prided himself in this fuperiority, as ap n H. Efto, fiquis mala. fed bona fi quis NOTES. pears from the following words, in a letter to Dr. Swift. "To have pleased great men, according to Horace, is a praise; but not to have flattered them, and yet not have displeased "them, is a greater." Let. vII. Jan. 12, 1723. VER. 146. A man was hang'd &c.] Si mala condiderit — A great French Lawyer explains this matter very truly. "L'Ariftocratie eft le Gouvernement qui profcrit le plus les Ouvrages "fatiriques. Les Magiftrats y font de petits fouverains, "qui ne font pas affez grands pour meprifer les injures. Si dans la Monarchie quelque trait va contre le Monarque, ❝il eft fi haut que le trait n'arrive point jusqu'à lui; un Seig"neur Ariftocratique en eft percé de part en part. Auffi les With eyes that pry not, tongue that ne'er repeats, Fond to spread friendships, but to cover heats; To help who want, to forward who excel; 140 This, all who know me, know; who love It stands on record, that in Richard's times 145 A man was hang'd for very honest rhymes. m Confult the Statute: quart. I think, it is, Edwardi fext. or prim. et quint. Eliz. See Libels, Satires-here you have it read. n 149 P. " Libels and Satires! lawless things indeed! NOTES. "Decemvirs, qui formoient une Ariftocratie, punirent-ils de mort "les Ecrits Satiriques." De L'Efprit des Loix, L. xii. c. 13. VER. 150. Libels and Satires! lawless things indeed! But grave Epifles, etc.] The legal objection is here more justly and decently taken off than in the Original. Horace evades the force of it with a quibble, Efto, fiquis mala; fed bona fi quis. But the Imitator's grave Epiftles fhew the fatire to be a ferious reproof, and therefore juftifiable; which the integer ipfe of the Original does not: for however this might plead in mitigation of the offence, nothing but their being grave Epiftles could justify the attack. Judice condiderit laudatus CAESARE? fi quis Opprobriis dignum laceraverit, integer ipfe? T. Solventur rifu tabulae: tu miffus abibis. NOTES. VER. 152. F. Indeed?] Hor. Some Critics tell us, it is want of tafte to put this line in the mouth of Trebatius. But our Poet confutes this cenfure, by fhewing how well the fenfe of it agrees to his Friend's characThe Lawyer is cautious and fearful; but as foon as SIR ROBERT, the Patron both of Law and Gofpel, is mentioned ter. |