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Elfe might he take to Virtuè fome years hence----
P. As S-k, if he lives, will love the PRINCE.
F. Strange spleen to S---k!

64

P. Do I wrong the man? God knows, I praise a courtier where I can. When I confefs, there is who feels for fame, And melts to goodnefs, need I SCARB'ROW name? Pleas'd let me own, in Efher's peaceful grove, (Where Kent and Nature vie for PELHAM's love) The fcene, the master, opening to my view, I fit and dream I fee my CRAGGS anew! Ev'n in a bishop I can spy defert; Secker is decent, Rundel has a heart, Manners with candour are to Benfon giv'n, To Berkley, ev'ry virtue under Heav'n.

But does the Court a worthy man remove? That inftant, I declare, he has my love;

NOTES.

79

75

Ver. 65. Scarb'row] Earl of, and knight of the garter, whole perfonal attachments to the king appeared from his fteady adherence to the royal intereft, after his refignation of his great employment of mafter of the horse; and whole known honour and virtue made him be esteemed by all parties.

Ver. 66. Efber's peaceful grove,] The house and gardens of Efher in Surry, belonging to the honourable Mr Pelham, brother of the Duke of Newcastle. The author could not have given him a more amiable idea of his character than in comparing him to Mr Craggs.

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Ver. 74. But does the Court a worthy man remove?] The poet means, remove him for his worth: not that he esteemed the being in or out a proof either of corruption, or virtue. "I had a glimple of a letter of yours lately, (fays he to Dr Swift), by which I find you are, like the vulgar, apter to think well of people out of power, than of people in power. Perhaps it is a mistake; but, however, there is fomething in it generous." Lett. 17, Sept. 3, 1726. vol. vi,

I fhun his zenith, court his mild decline;
Thus SOMMERS once, and HALLIFAX, were mine.
Oft, in the clear, ftill mirror of retreat,

I ftudy'd SHREWSBURY, the wife and great :
CARLETON'S calm fenfe, and STANHOPE'S noble flame,
Compar'd, and knew their gen'rous end the fame:
How pleafing ATTERBURY's fofter hour!
How thin'd the foul, unconquer'd in the Tow'r!
How can I PULT'NEY, CHESTERFIELD forget,
While Roman fpirit charms, and Attic wit:
ARGYLL, the state's whole thunder born to wield,
And shake alike the Senate and the Field:

NOTES.

85

Ver. 77. Sommers] John Lord Sommers died in 1716. He had been Lord Keeper in the reign of William III. who took from him the feals in 1700. The author had the honour of knowing him in 1706. A faithful, able, and incorrupt minifter; who, to the qualities of a confummate ftatelman, added thofe of a man of learning and politeness.

Ibid. Hallifax,] A peer, no leis diftinguished by his love of letters than his abilities in parliament. He was disgraced in 1710, on the change of Q. Anne's ministry.

Ver. 79. Shrewsbury,] Charles Talbot, Duke of Shrewfbury, had been fecretary of state, ambaffador in France, lord-lieutenant of Ireland, lord chamberlain, and lord treafurer. He feveral times quitted his employments, and was often recalled. He died in 1718

Ver. 80. Carleton] Hen. Boyle, Lord Carleton, (nephew of the famous Robert Boyle), who was fecretary of state under King William III. and president of the council under Q. Anne.

1

Ibid. Stanhope] James Earl Stanhope. A nobleman of equal courage, fpirit, and learning. General in Spain, and fecretary of state.

Ver. 84. Chesterfield] Philip Earl of Chesterfield, commonly given by writers of all parties for an example to the age he lives in, of fuperior talents, and public virtue.

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Or WYNDHAM, juft to freedom and the throne,
The mafter of our paffions, and his own.

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,
Still let me fay! no follower, but a friend.

91

95

Yet think not, friendship only prompts my lays; I follow Virtue; where fhe fhines, I praise : Point the to priest 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.
F. Then why fo few commended?

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P. Not fo fierce;

Find
you the virtue, and I'll find the verfe. 105
But random praife---the tafk can ne'er be done;
Each mother asks it for her booby son,

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 efteem 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 played 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.
Praife cannot ftoop, like Satire, to the ground;
The number may be hang'd, but not be crown'd.
Enough for half the greatest of these days,
To 'fcape my cenfure, not expect my praise.
Are they not rich? what more can they pretend?
Dare they to hope a poet for their friend?
115
What RICHLIEU wanted, Louis fcarce could gain,
And what young Ammon with'd, but wish'd in vain.
No pow'r the Mufe's friendship can command;
No pow'r when Virtue claims it, can withstand :
To Cato, Virgil paid one honest line;

O let my country's friends illumine mine!

120

---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 slave, And LYTTLETON a dark, defigning knave, St JoHN 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. 13c. Polwarth] The Hon. Hugh Hume, fon of Alexander Earl of Marchmont, grandfon of Patrick Earl of Marchmont, and diftinguished, like them, in the caufe 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, 141
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 minifter, no rules

Of honour bind me, not to maul his tools;
Sure, if they cannot cut, it may be faid
His faws are toothlefs, 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;

146

150

The prudent gen'ral turn'd it to a jest,

And begg'd, he'd take the pains to kick the reft: Which not at present 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 2] 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 verse taken out of a poem, to Sir R. W.

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