Chapter V: Part THE SECOND (2)

From treating of the minister's virgin innocence, our author, by a very unaccountable transition, proceeds to a family man, namely, the modern MÆCENAS, the CENSOR MORUM, the ARBITER ELEGANTIARUM of Great Britain; in a word, to the most illustrious JAMES CECIL EARL OF SALISBURY, and lord chamberlain to his majesty, whom, in a kind of episode he thus addresses,

Oh! had the gods but kindly will'd it so
That thou had'st lived two hundred years ago:
Had'st thou then rul'd the stage, from sportive scorn
Thy prudent care had guarded peers unborn.
No simple chamberlains had libell'd been,
No OSTRICKS fool'd in SHAKESPEARE's saucy scene.

But then wisely recollecting this not to be altogether the most friendly of wishes, in as much, that, if his lordship had been chamberlain to QUEEN ELIZABETH, he could not, in the common course of events, have been, as his honour SIR RICHARD PEPPER ARDEN most sweetly sings in his PROBATIONARY ODE,

"The tallest, fittest man to go before the king,"

In the days of GEORGE THE THIRD; by which we should most probably not only have been deprived of the attic entertainments of SIGNORS DELPINI and CARNEVALE, but perhaps too have lost some of our best dramatic writers; such as GREATHEAD, HAYLEY, DR. STRATFORD, and TOMMY VAUGHAN: our author, with a sudden kind of repentance, says,

But hence fond thoughts, nor be by passion hurried!
Had he then lived, he now were dead and buried.
Not now should theatres his orders own;
Not now in alehouse signs his face be shewn.

If we might be so presumptuous as to impute a fault to our author, we should say that he is rather too fond of what the French style _equivoque_.--This partiality of his breaks forth in a variety of places; such as SIR JOSEPH MAWBEY being

------a knowing man in _grain_,
------MARTIN's _sterling_ sense, &c. &c.

In the present instance too, where, supposing the noble Marquis to have lived two hundred years ago, he says,

"Not now should theatres his _orders_ own."

He leaves us completely in the dark, whether by the word _orders_, we are to understand his lordship's commands as _theatrical anatomist_, or the _recommendations_, which he is pleased to make to the managers of our public amusements, to admit his dependants and servants gratuitously; and which recommendations in the vulgar tongue of the theatres are technically styled _orders_. If we might hazard an opinion, from the known condescension of his lordship, and his attention to the accommodation of his inferiors, we should be inclined to construe it in the latter sense; an attention, indeed, which, in the case in question, is said to be so unbounded, that he might exclaim with ÆNEAS

Nemo ex hoc numero mihi non donatus abibit.

Should any caviler here object, that for every five shillings thus generously bestowed on the dependant, a proportionate _vacuum_ is made in the pocket of the manager, let him recollect, that it is a first and immutable principle of civil policy, that _the convenience of the few must yield to the accommodation of the many_; and, that the noble Marquis, as a peer and legislator of Great Britain, is too closely attached to our excellent constitution to swerve from so old and established a maxim.

With respect to the last line of the couplet,

"Not now in alehouse signs his face be shewn,"

we must confess that our author's imagination has here been rather too prurient.--His lordship's head does not, as far as we can learn, upon the most minute enquiry, _at present_, grace any alehouse whatever--It was indeed for some little time displayed at HATFIELD in HERTS; but the words "_Good entertainment within_," being written under it, they were deemed by travellers so extremely unapposite, that to avoid further expence, LORD SALISBURY's head was taken down, and "_The old bald face Stag_" resumed its pristine station.

Yet, enraptured with his first idea, our author soon forgets his late reflection, and proceeds on the supposition of the noble lord having exercised his pruning knife upon SHAKESPEARE and JOHNSON, and the advantages which would have been derived from it, some of which he thus beautifully describes:

To plays should RICHMOND then undaunted come,
Secured from listening to PAROLLES's drum:
Nor shouldst thou, CAMELFORD, the fool reprove,
Who lost a world to gain a wanton's love.
"Give me a horse," CATHCART should ne'er annoy:
Nor thou, oh! PITT, behold the angry boy.

The last line but one of these,

Give me a horse, &c.

seems to allude to a circumstance that occurred in America, where his lordship being on foot, and having to march nearly five miles over a sandy plain in the heat of summer, fortunately discovered, tied to the door of a house, a horse belonging to an officer of cavalry. His lordship thinking that riding was pleasanter than walking, and probably also imagining that the owner might be better engaged, judged it expedient to avail himself of this steed, which thus so fortunately presented itself, and accordingly borrowed it. The subsequent apology, however, which he made when the proprietor, rather out of humour at his unlooked-for pedestrian expedition, came up to reclaim his lost goods, was so extremely ample, that the most rigid asserter of the old fusty doctrines of _meum_ and _tuum_ cannot deny that the dismounted cavalier had full compensation for any inconvenience that he might have experienced. And we must add, that every delicacy of the noble lord on this subject ought now to terminate.

We shall conclude with an extract from some complimentary verses by a noble secretary, who is himself both an AMATEUR and ARTISTE.--Were any thing wanting to our author's fame, this elegant testimony in his favour must be decisive with every reader of taste.

Oh! mighty ROLLE, may long thy fame be known!
And long thy virtues in his verse be shewn!
When THURLOW's christian meekness, SYDNEY's sense,
When RICHMOND's valour, HOPETOWN's eloquence,
When HAWKESB'RY's patriotism neglected lie
Intomb'd with CHESTERFIELD's humanity,
When PRETTYMEN, sage guardian of PITT's youth,
Shall lose each claim to honesty and truth,
When each pure blush DUNDAS's cheek can boast,
With ARDEN's law and nose alike are lost,
When grateful ROBINSON shall be forgot,
And not a line be read of MAJOR SCOTT,
When PHIPPS no more shall listening crouds engage,
And HAMLET's jests be rased from memory's page,
When PITT each patriot's joy no more shall prove,
Nor from fond beauty catch the sigh of love,
When even thy sufferings, virtuous chief! shall fade,
And BASSET's horsewhip but appear a shade,
Thy sacred spirit shall effulgence shed
And raise to kindred fame the mighty dead:
Long ages shall admire thy matchless soul,
And children's children lisp the praise of ROLLE.

* * * * *

_NUMBER VII._

It now only remains for us to perform the last melancholy office to the dying drummer, and to do what little justice we can to the very ingenious and striking manner in which our author closes at once his prophecy and his life.

It is a trite observation, that the curious seldom hear any good of themselves; and all epic poets, who have sent their heroes to conjurors, have, with excellent morality, taught us, that they who pry into futurity, too often anticipate affliction.--VIRGIL plainly intimates this lesson in the caution which he puts into the mouth of ANCHISES, when ÆNEAS enquires into the future destiny of the younger MARCELLUS, whose premature death forms the pathetic subject of the concluding vision in the sixth book of the ÆNEID:

"O nate, ingentum lectum ne quære tuorum."

"Seek not to know (the ghost replied with tears)
The sorrows of thy sons in future years."
DRYDEN.

Then, instead of declining any further answer, he very unnecessarily proceeds to make his son as miserable as he can, by detailing all the circumstances best calculated to create the most tender interest.--The revelation of disagreeable events to come, is by our poet more naturally put into the mouth of an enemy.--After running over many more noble names than the records of the herald's office afford us any assistance in tracing, the second sighted Saxon, in the midst of his dying convulsions, suddenly bursts into a violent explosion of laughter.--This, of course, excites the curiosity of ROLLO, as it probably will that of our readers; upon which the drummer insults his conqueror with rather a long but very lively recital of all the numerous disappointments and mortifications with which he foresees that the destinies will affect the virtues of ROLLO's great descendant, the present illustrious member for Devonshire. He mentions Mr. ROLLE's many unsuccessful attempts to obtain the honour of the peerage; alludes to some of the little splenetive escapes into which even his elevated magnanimity is well known to have been for a moment betrayed on those trying occasions. We now see all the drift and artifice of the poet, and why he thought the occasion worthy of making the drummer so preternaturally long winded, in displaying at full all the glories of the house of peers; it was to heighten by contrast the chagrin of ROLLO at finding the doors of this august assembly for ever barred against his posterity.

To understand the introductory lines of the following passage, it is necessary to inform our readers, if they are not already acquainted with the fact, that somewhere in the back settlements of America, there is now actually existing an illegitimate batch of little ROLLE's.

Though wide should spread thy spurious race around,
In other worlds, which must not yet be found,
While they with savages in forests roam
Deserted, far from their paternal home;
A mightier savage in thy wilds EX-MOOR,
Their well-born brother shall his fate deplore,
By friends neglected, as by foes abhorr'd,
No duke, no marquis, not a simple lord.
Tho' thick as MARGARET's knights with each address,
New peers, on peers, in crouds each other press,
He only finds, of all the friends of PITT,
His luckless head no coronet will fit.

But what our author seems more particularly to have laboured, is a passage which he has lately inserted: it relates to the cruel slight which was shewn to Mr. ROLLE during the late royal progress through the west.--Who is there that remembers the awful period when the regency was in suspence, but must at the same time remember the patriotic, decent, and consistent conduct of Mr. ROLLE? How laudably, in his parliamentary speeches, did he co-operate to the best of his power, with the popular pamphlets of the worthy Dr. WITHERS! How nobly did he display his steady loyalty to the father, while he endeavoured to shake the future right of the son to the throne of his ancestors! How brightly did he manifest his attachment to the person of his MAJESTY, by voting to seclude him in the hour of sickness from the too distressing presence of his royal brothers and his children; and, after all, when he could no longer resist the title of the heir apparent, with what unembarrassed grace did he agree to the address of his constituents, complimenting the prince on his accession to that high charge, _to which his_ SITUATION and VIRTUES _so eminently_ ENTITLED _him:_ yet, even then, with how peculiar a dexterity did Mr. ROLLE mingle what some would have thought an affront, with his praises, directly informing his ROYAL HIGHNESS that he had no confidence whatever in any virtues but those of the minister. But, alas, how uncertain is the reward of all sublunary merit! Those good judges who inquired into the literary labours of the pious and charitable Dr. WITHERS, did not exalt him to that conspicuous post, which he so justly deserved, and would so well have graced; neither did one ray of royal favour cheer the loyalty of Mr. ROLLE during his majesty's visit to DEVONSHIRE; though with an unexampled liberality, the worthy member had contracted for the fragments of Lord MOUNT EDGECUMBE's desert, and the ruins of his triumphal arches; had brought down several of the minister's young friends to personate virgins in white, sing, and strew flowers along the way; and had actually dispatched a chaise and four to Exeter, for his old friend and instructor, _mynheer_ HOPPINGEN VAN CAPERHAGEN, dancing-master and poet; who had promised to prepare both the _balets_ and _ballads_ for this glorious festivity. And for whom was Mr. ROLLE neglected? For his colleague, Mr. BASTARD; a gentleman who, in his political oscillations, has of late vibrated much more frequently to the opposition than to the treasury bench. This most unaccountable preference we are certain must be matter of deep regret to all our readers of sensibility;--to the drummer it is matter of exultation.

In vain with such bold spirit shall he speak,
That furious WITHERS shall to him seem meek;
In vain for party urge his country's fate;
To save the church, in vain distract the state;
In loyal duty to the father shewn,
Doubt the son's title to his future throne;
And from the suffering monarch's couch remove
All care fraternal, and all filial love:
Then when mankind in choral praise unite,
Though blind before, see virtues beaming bright;
Yet feigning to confide, distrust evince,
And while he flatters, dare insult his PRINCE.
Vain claims!--when now, the people's sins transferred
On their own heads, mad riot is the word;
When through the west in gracious progress goes
The monarch, happy victor of his woes;
While Royal smiles gild every cottage wall,
_Hope never comes to_ ROLLE, _that comes to all_;
And more with envy to disturb his breast,
BASTARD's glad roof receives the Royal guest.

Here the drummer, exhausted with this last wonderful exertion, begins to find his pangs increase fast upon him; and what follows, for two and thirty lines, is all interrupted with different interjections of laughter and pain, till the last line, which consists entirely of such interjections.--Our readers may probably recollect the well-known line of THOMPSON.

"OH, SOPHONISBA, SOPHONISBA, OH!"

Which, by the way, is but a poor plagiarism from SHAKESPEARE:

"OH, DESDEMONA, DESDEMONA, OH!"

There is certainly in this line a very pretty change rung in the different ways of arranging the name and the interjection; but perhaps there may be greater merit, though of another kind, in the sudden change of passions which OTWAY has expressed in the dying interjection of PIERRE:

"We have deceiv'd the senate--ha! ha! oh!"

These modern instances, however, fall very short of the admirable use made of interjections by the ancients, especially the GREEKS, who did not scruple to put together whole lines of them.--Thus in the PHILOCTETES of SOPHOCLES, besides a great number of hemistics, we find a verse and a half:

{"----------Papai.
Papa, papa, papa, papa, papa papai."}

The harsh and intractable genius of our language will not permit us to give any adequate idea of the soft, sweet, and innocent sound of the original.--It may, however, be faithfully, though coarsely, translated

"------Alas!
Alack! alack! alack! alack! alack! alas!"

At the same time, we have -our doubts whether some chastised tastes may not prefer the simplicity of ARISTOPHANES; though it must not be concealed, that there are critics who think he meant a wicked stroke of ridicule at the PHILOCTETES of SOPHOCLES, when, in his own PLUTUS, he makes his sycophant, at the smell of roast meat, exclaim--

{"Yy, yy, yy, yy, yy, yy!"}

Which we shall render by an excellent interjection, first coined from the rich mint of MAJOR JOHN SCOTT, in his incomparable Ode--

"Sniff, sniff, sniff, sniff, sniff, sniff, sniff, sniff, sniff,
sniff,
sniff, sniff."

But whatever may be the comparative merits of these passages, ancient and modern, we are confident no future critic will dispute but that they are all excelled by the following exquisite couplet of our author:

Ha! ha!--this soothes me in severest woe;
Ho! ho!--ah! ah!--oh! oh!--ha! ah!--ho!--oh!!!

We have now seen the drummer quietly inurn'd, and sung our requiem over his grave: we hope, however, that

----He, dead corse, may yet, in complete calf,
Revisit oft the glimpses of the candle,
Making night chearful.

We had flattered ourselves with the hope of concluding the criticisms on the ROLLIAD with an ode of Mr. ROLLE himself, written in the original EX-MOOR dialect; but we have hitherto, owing to the eagerness with which that gentleman's literary labours are sought after, unfortunately been unable to procure a copy. The learned Mr. DAINES BARRINGTON having, however, kindly hinted to us, that he thought he had once heard Sir JOHN HAWKINS say, that he believed there was something applicable to a drum in the possession of Mr. STEVENS, the erudite annotator on SHAKESPEARE, Sir JOSEPH BANKS kindly wrote to that gentleman; who, upon searching into his manuscripts at Hampstead, found the following epitaph, which is clearly designed for our drummer. Mr. STEVENS was so good as to accompany his kind and invaluable communication with a dissertation to prove that this FRANCIS of GLASTONBURY, from similarity of style and orthography, must have been the author of the epitaph which declares that celebrated outlaw, ROBIN HOOD, to have been a British peer. Mr. PEGGE too informs us, that the HARLEIAN MISCELLANY will be found to confirm this idea; and at the same time suggests, whether, as that dignified character, Mr. WARREN HASTINGS, has declared himself to be descended from an Earl of HUNTINGDON, and the late Earl and his family have, through some unaccountable fantasy, as constantly declined the honour of the affinity, this apparent difference of opinion may not be accounted for by supposing him to be descended from _that_ Earl?--But, if we are to imagine any descendants of that exalted character to be still in existence, with great deference to Mr. PEGGE's better judgment, might not Sir ALEXANDER HOOD, and his noble brother, from similarity of name, appear more likely to be descendants of this celebrated archer? and from him also inherit that skill which the gallant admiral, on a never to be forgotten occasion, so eminently displayed in drawing a _long bow?_ We can only now lament, that we have not room for any minute enquiry into these various hypotheses, and that we are under the necessity of proceeding to the drummer's epitaph, and the conclusion of our criticisms.

[Blackletter:
"A stalwart Saxon here doth lie,
Japeth nat, men of Normandie;
Rollo nought scoft his dyand wordes
Of poynt mo perrand than a swordis.
And leal folk of Englelonde
Shall haven hem yvir mo in honde.
Bot syn that in his life I trowe,
Of shepes skynnes he had ynowe,
For yvir he drommed thereupon:
Now he, pardie, is dede and gone,
May no man chese a shepis skynne
To wrappe his dyand wordes inne."
Od. Frauncis of Glastonbury.]

POLITICAL ECLOGUES.

ROSE; OR, _THE COMPLAINT._

ARGUMENT.

In this Eclogue our Author has imitated the Second of his favourite Virgil, with more than his usual Precision. The Subject of Mr. ROSE's COMPLAINT is, that he is left to do the whole Business of the Treasury during the broiling Heats of Summer, while his Colleague, Mr. STEELE, enjoys the cool Breezes from the Sea, with Mr. PITT, at Brighthelmstone. In this the Scholar has improved on the Original of his great Master, as the Cause of the Distress which he relates is much more natural. This Eclogue, from some internal Evidence, we believe to have been written in the Summer of 1785, though there may be one or two Allusions that have been inserted at a later Period.

None more than ROSE, amid the courtly ring,
Lov'd BILLY, joy of JENKY and the KING.
But vain his hope to shine in BILLY's eyes;
Vain all his votes, his speeches, and his lies.
STEELE's happier claims the boy's regard engage; 5
Alike their studies, nor unlike their age:
With STEELE, companion of his vacant hours,
Oft would he seek Brighthelmstone's sea-girt tow'rs;
For STEELE, relinquish Beauty's trifling talk,
With STEELE each morning ride, each evening walk; 10
Or in full tea-cups drowning cares of state,
On gentler topics urge the mock debate;
On coffee now the previous question move;
Now rise a surplusage of cream to prove;
Pass muffins in Committees of Supply, 15
And "butter'd toast" amend by adding "dry:"
Then gravely sage, as in St. Stephen's scenes,
With grief more true, propose the Ways and Means;
Or wanting these, unanimous of will,
They negative the leave to bring a bill. 20
In one sad joy all ROSE's comfort lay;
Pensive he sought the treasury day by day;
There, in his inmost chamber lock'd alone,
To boxes red and green he pour'd his moan
In rhymes uncouth; for Rose, to business bred 25
A purser's clerk, in rhyme was little read;
Nor, since his learning with his fortunes grew,
Had such vain arts engaged his sober view;
For STOCKDALE's shelves contented to compose
The humbler poetry of lying prose. 30
O barb'rous BILLY! (thus would he begin)
ROSE and his lies you value not a pin;
Yet to compassion callous as a Turk,
You kill me, cruel, with eternal work.
Now, after six long months of nothing done, 35
Each to his home, our youthful statesmen run;
The mongrel 'squires, whose votes our Treasury pays,
Now, with their hunters, till the winter graze;
Now e'en the reptiles of the Blue and Buff,
In rural leisure, scrawl their factious stuff; 40
Already pious HILL, with timely cares,
New songs, new hymns, for harvest-home prepares:
But with the love-lorne beauties, whom I mark
Thin and more thin, parading in the park,
I yet remain; and ply my busy feet 45
From _Duke-street_ hither, hence to _Downing-street_,
In vain!--while far from this deserted scene,
With happier STEELE you saunter on the Steine.
And for a paltry salary, stript of fees,
Thus shall I toil, while others live at ease? 50
Better, another summer long, obey
Self-weening LANSDOWNE's transitory sway:
Tho' GRAFTON call'd him proud, I found him kind;
With me he puzzled, and with him I din'd.
Better with FOX in opposition share, 55
Black tho' he be, and tho' my BILLY fair.
Think, BILLY, think JOHN BULL a tasteless brute,
By black, or fair, decides not the dispute:
Ah! think, how politics resemble chess;
Tho' now the white exult in short success, 60
One erring move a sad reverse may bring,
The black may triumph, and check-mate our king.
You slight me, BILLY; and but little heed,
What talents I possess, what merits plead;
How in white lies abounds my fertile brain; 65
And with what forgeries I those lies sustain.
A thousand fictions wander in my mind;
With me all seasons ready forgeries find.
I know the charm by ROBINSON employed,
How to the Treas'ry JACK his rats decoy'd. 70
Not wit, but malice, PRETTYMAN reveals,
When to my head he argues from my heels.
My skull is not so thick; but last recess
I finish'd a whole pamphlet for the press;
And if by some seditious scribbler maul'd, 75
The pen of CHALMERS to my aid I call'd,
With PRETTY would I write, tho' judg'd by you;
If all that authors think themselves be true.
O! to the smoky town would BILLY come;
With me draw estimates, or cast a sum; 80
Pore on the papers which these trunks contain,
Then with red tape in bundles tie again;
Chaste tho' he be, if BILLY cannot sing,
Yet should he play to captivate the KING.
Beneath two Monarchs of the Brunswick line, 85
In wealth to flourish, and in arms to shine,
Was Britain's boast; 'till GEORGE THE THIRD arose,
In arts to gain his triumphs o'er our foes.
From RAMSAY's pallet, and from WHITEHEAD's lyre,
He sought renown that ages may admire: 90
And RAMSAY gone, the honours of a name
To REYNOLDS gives, but trusts to WEST for fame:
For he alone, with subtler judgment blest,
Shall teach the world how REYNOLDS yields to WEST.
He too, by merit measuring the meed, 95
Bids WARTON now to WHITEHEAD's bays succeed;
But, to reward FAUQUIER's illustrious toils,
Reserves the richer half of WHITEHEAD's spoils.
For well the monarch saw with prescient eye,
That WARTON's wants kind OXFORD would supply, 100
Who, justly liberal to the task uncouth,
Learns from St. JAMES's hard historic truth.
Blest OXFORD! in whose bowers the Laureat sings!
O faithful to the worst, and best of Kings,
Firm to the Right Divine of regal sway, 105
Though Heav'n and Thou long differ'd where it lay!
Still of preferment be thy Sister Queen!
Thy nobler zeal disdains a thought so mean;
Still in thy German Cousin's martial school,
Be each young hope of BRITAIN train'd to rule; 110
But thine are honours of distinguishd grace,
Thou once a year shall view thy sovereign's face,
While round him croud thy loyal sons, amaz'd,
To see him stare at tow'rs, by WYATT rais'd.
Yet fear not, OXFORD, lest a monarch's smiles 115
Lure fickle WYATT from the unfinish'd piles;
To thee shall WYATT still be left in peace,
'Till ENGLISH ATHENS rival ancient Greece.
For him see CHAMBERS, greatly pretty, draw
Far other plans than ever Grecian saw; 120
Where two trim dove-cotes rise on either hand,
O'er the proud roofs, whose front adorns the Strand;
While thro' three gateways, like three key-holes spied,
A bowl inverted crowns the distant side.
But music most great GEORGE's cares relieves, 125
Sage arbiter of minims, and of breves!
Yet not by him is living genius fed,
With taste more frugal he protects the dead;
Not all alike; for, though a Briton born,
He laughs all natal prejudice to scorn; 130
His nicer ear our barbarous masters pain,
Though PURCELL, our own Orpheus, swell the strain;
And mighty HANDEL, a gigantic name,
Owes to his country half his tuneful fame.
Nor of our souls neglectful, GEORGE provides, 135
To lead his flocks, his own Right Reverend guides;
Himself makes bishops, and himself promotes,
Nor seeks to influence, tho' he gives, their votes.
Then for a Prince so pious, so refin'd,
An air of HANDEL, or a psalm to grind, 140
Disdain not, BILLY: for his sovereign's sake
What pains did PAGET with his gamut take!
And to an Earl what rais'd the simple Peer?
What but that gamut, to his Sovereign dear?
O come, my BILLY, I have bought for you 145
The barrel-organ of a strolling Jew;
Dying, he sold it me at second-hand:
Sev'n stops it boasts, with barrels at command.
How at my prize did envious UXBRIDGE fume,
Just what he wish'd for his new music-room. 150
Come, BILLY, come. Two wantons late I dodg'd,
And mark'd the dangerous alley where they lodg'd.
Fair as pearl-powder are their opening charms,
In tender beauty; fit for BILLY's arms;
And from the toilet blooming as they seem, 155
Two cows would scarce supply them with cold cream.
The house, the name to BILLY will I show,
Long has DUNDAS the secret wish'd to know,
And he shall know: since services like these
Have little pow'r our virtuous youth to please. 160
Come, BILLY, come. For you each rising day
My maids, tho' tax'd, shall twine a huge bouquet:
That you, next winter, at the birth-night ball
In loyal splendor may out-dazzle all;
Dear Mrs. ROSE her needle shall employ, 165
To 'broider a fine waistcoat for my boy;
In gay design shall blend with skilful toil,
Gold, silver, spangles, crystals, beads, and foil,
'Till the rich work in bright confusion show
Flow'rs of all hues--and many more than blow. 170
I too, for something to present--some book
Which BILLY wants, and I can spare--will look:
EDEN's five letters, with an half-bound set
Of pamphlet schemes to pay the public debt;
And pasted there, too thin to bind alone, 175
My SHELBURNE's speech so gracious from the throne.
COCKER's arithmetic my gift shall swell;
By JOHNSON how esteem'd, let BOSWELL tell.
Take too these Treaties by DEBRETT; and here
Take to explain them, SALMON's Gazetteer. 180
And you, Committee labours of DUNDAS,
And you, his late dispatches to Madras,
Bound up with BILLY's fav'rite act I'll send;
Together bound--for sweetly thus you blend.
ROSE, you're a blockhead! Let no factious scribe 185
Hear such a thought, that BILLY heeds a bribe:
Or grant th' Immaculate, not proof to pelf,
Has STEELE a soul less liberal than yourself?
--Zounds! what a blunder! worse than when I made
A FRENCH arrêt, the guard of BRITISH trade. 190
Ah! foolish boy, whom fly you?--Once a week
The KING from Windsor deigns these scenes to seek.
Young GALLOWAY too is here, in waiting still.
Our coasts let RICHMOND visit, if he will;
There let him build, and garrison his forts, 195
If such his whim:--Be our delight in courts.
What various tastes divide the fickle town!
One likes the fair, and one admires the brown;
The stately, QUEENSB'RY; HINCHINBROOK, the small;
THURLOW loves servant-maids; DUNDAS loves all. 200
O'er MORNINGTON French prattle holds command;
HASTINGS buys German phlegm at second-hand;
The dancer's agile limbs win DORSET's choice;
Whilst BRUDENELL dies enamour'd of a voice:
'Tis PEMBROKE's dearest pleasure to elope, 205
And BILLY, best of all things, loves--a trope;
My BILLY I: to each his taste allow:
Well said the dame, I ween, who kiss'd her cow.
Lo! in the West the sun's broad orb disp lay'd
O'er the Queen's palace, lengthens every shade: 210
See the last loiterers now the Mall resign;
E'en Poets go, that they may seem to dine:
Yet, fasting, here I linger to complain.
Ah! ROSE, GEORGE ROSE! what phrenzy fires your brain!
With pointless paragraphs the POST runs wild; 215
And FOX, a whole week long, is unrevil'd:
Our vouchers lie half-vamp'd, and without end
Tax-bills on tax-bills rise to mend and mend.
These, or what more we need, some new deceit
Prepare to gull the Commons, when they meet. 220
Tho' scorn'd by BILLY, you ere long may find
Some other Minister, like LANSDOWNE kind.
He ceas'd, went home, ate, drank his fill, and then
Snor'd in his chair, 'till supper came at ten. 224

IMITATONS.

VIRGIL. ECLOGUE II.

Formosum pastor Corydon, ardebat Alexin,
Delicias domini; nec, quid speraret habebat,
Tantum inter dènsas, umbrosa cacumina, fagos
Assiduè veniebat; ibi hæc incondita solus
Montibus et sylvis studio jactabat inani.

O crudelis Alexi! nihil mea carmina curas;
Nil nostri miserere: mori me denique coges.
Nunc etiam pecudes umbras et frigora captant;
Nunc virides etiam occultant spineta lacertos;
Thestylis et rapido fessis messoribus æstu
Allia serpyllumque herbas contundit olentis.

At mecum raucis, tua dum vestigia lustro,
Sole sub ardenti resonant arbusta cicadis.
Nonnè fuit melius tristes Amyrillidis iras
Atque superba pata fastidia? Nonnè Menalcan
Quamvis ille niger, quamvis tu candidus esses,
O formose puer, nimiùm ne crede colori.
Alba ligustra cadunt, vaccinia nigra leguntur.
Sum tibi despectus; nec qui sim quæris, Alexi:
Quam dives pecoris nivei, quam lactis abundans.
Mille meæ Siculis errant in montibus agnæ:

Lac mihi non æstate novum, non frigore desit.
Canto, quæ solitus, si quando armenta vocabat,
Amphion Dircæus in Actoeo Aracyntho.
Nec sum adeò informis: nuper me in littore vidi,
Cum placidum ventis staret mare: non ego Daphnim,
Judice te, metuam, si nunquam fallat imago.

O tantum libeat mecum tibi sordida rura
Atque humilis habitare casas, et figere cervos,
Hædorumque gregem viridi compellere hibisco.
Mecum unà in Sylois imitabere Pana canendo.

Pan primus calamos cerâ conjungere plures
instituit;----------------
------Pan curat oves, oviumque magistros.
Neu te poeniteat calamo trivisse labellum.
Hæc eadem ut sciret, quid non faciebat Amyntas?

Est mihi disparibus septem compacta cicutis
Fistula, Damætas dono mihi quam dedit olim,
Et dixit moriens: "te nunc habet ista secundum."
Dixit Damætas: invidit stultus Amyntas.

Prætereà duo-nec tutâ mihi valle reperti
Capreoli, sparsis etiam nunc pellibus albo,
Bina die siccant ovis ubera; quos tibi servo.
Jampridem a me illos abducere Thestylis orat,
Et faciet; quoniam sordent tibi munera nostra!

Huc ades, O formose puer. Tibi lilia plenis
Ecce ferunt nymphæ calathis: tibi candida Naïs
Pallentis violas, et summa papavera carpens
Narcissum et florem jungit bene olentis anethi.
Tum casiâ, atque aliis intexens suavibus herbis
Mollia luteolâ pingit vaccinia calthâ.

Ipse ego cana legam tenerà lanugine mala,
Castaneasque nuces, mea quas Amaryllis amabat:
Addam ceroa pruna; honos erit huic quoque pomo
Et vos, O lauri carpam, et te, proxima myrtus
Sic positæ, quoniam suaves miscetis odores.

Rusticus es, Corydon! nec munera curat Alexis
Nec, si muneribus certes, concedat Iolas.
Eheu! quid volui misero mihi? Floribus Austrum
Perditus et liquidis immissi fontibus apros.
Quem fugis, ah! demens? habitârunt Di quoque sylvas,
Dardaniusque Paris. Pallas, quas condidit, arces
Ipsa colat: Nobis placeant ante omnia sylvæ.

Torva leæna lupum sequitur lupus ipse capellam,
Florentem cytasum sequitur lasciva capella;
Te Corydon, O Alexi: trahit sua quemque voluptas.
Me tamen urit amor: quis enim modis adsit amori.
Aspice! aratra jugo referunt suspensa juvenci,
Et sol crescentis discedens duplicat umbras:
Ah! Corydon, Corydon, quæ te dementia cepit?
Semiputata tibi frondosâ vitis in ulmo est.
Quin tu aliquid saltem, potius quorum indiget usus,
Viminibus, mollique paras detexere junco?
Invenies alium, si te hic fastidit, Alexin.

NOTES.

Ver. 29 and 32 allude to a pamphlet on the Irish Propositions, commonly called the Treasury Pamphlet, and universally attributed to Mr. Rose. This work of the Honourable Secretary's was eminently distinguished by a gentleman-like contempt for the pedantry of grammar, and a poetical abhorrence of dull fact.

Ver. 42. For a long account of Sir Richard Hill's harvest-home, and of the godly hymns and ungodly ballads, sung on the occasion, see the newspapers in Autumn, 1784.

Ver. 49. Justice to the minister obliges us to observe, that he is by no means chargeable with the scandalous illiberality above intimated, of reducing the income of the Secretaries of the Treasury to the miserable pittance of 3000l. a year. This was one of the many infamous acts which to deservedly drew down the hatred of all true friends to their king and country, on those pretended patriots, the Whigs.

Ver. 66. We know not of what forgeries Mr. Rose here boasts. Perhaps he may mean the paper relative to his interview with Mr. Gibbon and Mr. Reynolds, so opportunely found in an obscure drawer of Mr. Pitt's bureau. See the Parliamentary debates of 1785.

Ver. 71. Alludes to a couplet in the LYARS, which was written before the present Eclogue.

Ver. 78. The _Reply to the Treasury Pamphlet_ was answered, not by Mr. Rote himself, but by Mr. George Chalmers.

Ver. 88. The following digression on his Majesty's love of the fine arts, though it be somewhat long, will carry its apology with it in the truth and beauty of the panegyric. The judicious reader will observe that the style is more elevated, like the subject, and for this the poet may plead both the example and precept of his favourite Virgil.

--------sylvæ sint Consule dignæ.

Ver. 91 and 92. Since the death of Ramsay, Sir Joshua Reynolds is _nominally_ painter to the king, though his Majesty sits only to Mr. West.

Ver. 93. This line affords a striking instance of our Poet's dexterity in the use of his classical learning. He here translates a single phrase from Horace.

_Judicium subtile_ videndis artibus illud.

When he could not possibly apply what concludes,

Boetum in crasso jurares æere natum.

Ver. 95. Our most gracious Sovereign's comparative estimate of Messrs. Whitehead and Warton, is here happily elucidated, from a circumstance highly honourable to his Majesty's taste; that, whereas he thought the former worthy of two places, he has given the latter only the worst of the two. Mr. Fauquier is made Secretary and Register to the order of the Bath, in the room of the deceased Laureat.

Ver. 107. We suspect the whole of this passage in praise of his Majesty, has been retouched by Mr. Warton, as this line, or something very like it, occurs in his "Triumphs of Isis," a spirited poem, which is omitted, we know not why, in his publication of his works.

Ver. 149. Our readers, we trust, have already admired the several additions which our poet has made to the ideas of his great original. He has here given an equal proof of his judgment in a slight omission. When he converted Amyntas into Lord Uxbridge, with what striking propriety did he sink upon us the epithet of _stultus_, or _foolish_; for surely we cannot suppose that to be conveyed above in the term of _simple_ peer.

Ver. 156. In the manuscript we find two lines which were struck out; possibly because our poet supposed they touched on a topic of praise, not likely ta be very prevalent with Mr. PITT, notwithstanding what we have lately heard of his "Atlantean shoulders." They are as follows:

Yet strong beyond the promise of their years,
Each in one night would drain two grenadiers.

Ver. 181. The orders of the Board of Controul, relative to the debts of the Nabob of Arcot, certainly _appear_ diametrically opposite to Mr. Dundas's Reports, and to an express clause of Mr. Pitt's bill. Our author, however, like Mr. Pitt and Mr. Dundas, roundly asserts the consistency of the whole.

Ver. 189. This unfortunate slip of the Honourable Secretary's constitutional logic happened in a debate on the Irish Propositions. Among the many wild chimeras of faction on that memorable occasion, one objection was, that the produce of the French West-Indian Islands might be legally smuggled through Ireland into this country. To which Mr. Rose replied, "That we might repeal all our acts in perfect security, because the French King had lately issued an arrêt which would prevent this smuggling."

Ver. 216. We flattered ourselves that this line might have enabled us to ascertain the precise time when this eclogue was written. We were, however, disappointed, as on examining the file of Morning Posts for 1784, we could not find a single week in which Mr. FOX is absolutely without some attack or other. We suppose therefore our author here speaks with the allowed latitude of poetry.

* * * * *

THE LYARS.

ARGUMENT.

This Eclogue is principally an Imitation of the third Bucolic of Virgil, which, as is observed by Dr. Joseph Warton, the Brother of our incomparable Laureat, is of that Species called Amoeboea, where the Characters introduced contend in alternate Verse; the second always endeavouring to surpass the first Speaker in an equal number of Lines, As this was in point of Time the first of our Author's Pastoral Attempts, he has taken rather more Latitude than he afterwards allowed himself in the rest, and has interspersed one or two occasional Imitations from other Eclogues of the Roman Poet.

In Downing-street, the breakfast duly set,
As BANKS and PRETTYMAN one morn were met,
A strife arising who could best supply,
In urgent cases, a convenient lie;
His skill superior each essay'd to prove 5
In verse alternate--which the Muses love!
While BILLY, listening to their tuneful plea,
In silence sipp'd his _Commutation_ Tea,
And heard them boast, how loudly both had ly'd:
The Priest began, the Layman thus reply'd! 10

PRETTYMAN.
Why wilt thou, BANKS, with me dispute the prize?
Who is not cheated when a Parson lies?
Since pious Christians, ev'ry Sabbath-day,
Must needs believe whate'er the Clergy say!
In spite of all you Laity can do, 15
One lie from us is more than ten from you!

BANKS.
O witless lout! in lies that touch the state,
We, Country Gentlemen, have far more weight;
Fiction from us the public still must gull:
They think we're honest, as they know we're dull! 20

PRETTYMAN.
In yon Cathedral I a Prebend boast,
The maiden bounty of our gracious host!
Its yearly profits I to thee resign,
If PITT pronounce not that the palm is mine!

BANKS.
A Borough mine, a pledge far dearer sure, 25
Which in St Stephen's gives a seat secure!
If PITT to PRETTYMAN the prize decree,
Henceforth CORFE-CASTLE shall belong to thee!

PITT.
Begin the strain--while in our easy chairs
We loll, forgetful of all public cares! 30
Begin the strain--nor shall I deem my time
Mispent, in hearing a debate in ryhme!

PRETTYMAN.
Father of lies! By whom in EDEN's shade
Mankind's first parents were to sin betray'd;
Lo! on this altar, which to thee I raise, 35
Twelve BIBLES, bound in red Morocco, blaze.

BANKS.
Blest powers of falsehood, at whose shrine I bend,
Still may success your votary's lies attend!
What prouder victims can your altars boast,
Than honours stain'd, and fame for ever lost? 40

PRETTYMAN.
How smooth, persuasive, plausible, and glib,
From holy lips is dropp'd the specious fib!
Which whisper'd slily, in its dark career
Assails with art the unsuspecting ear.

BANKS.
How clear, convincing, eloquent, and bold, 45
The bare-fac'd lie, with manly courage told!
Which, spoke in public, falls with greater force,
And heard by hundreds, is believ'd of course.

PRETTYMAN.
Search through each office for the basest tool
Rear'd in JACK ROBINSONS's abandon'd school; 50
ROSE, beyond all the sons of dulness, dull,
Whose legs are scarcely thicker than his scull;
Not ROSE, from all restraints of conscience free,
In double-dealing is a match for me.

BANKS.
Step from St. Stephen's up to Leadenhall, 55
Where Europe's crimes appear no crimes at all;
Not Major SCOTT, with bright pagodas paid,
That wholesale dealer in the lying trade;
Not he, howe'er important his design,
Can lie with impudence surpassing mine. 60

PRETTYMAN.
Sooner the ass in fields of air shall graze,
Or WARTON's Odes with justice claims the bays;
Sooner shall mackrel on the plains disport,
Or MULGRAVE's hearers think his speech too short;
Sooner shall sense escape the prattling lips 65
Of Captain CHARLES, or COL'NEL HENRY PHIPPS;
Sooner shall CAMPBELL mend his phrase uncouth,
Than Doctor PRETTYMAN shall speak the truth!

BANKS.
When FOX and SHERIDAN for fools shall pass,
And JEMMY LUTTRELL not be thought an ass; 70
When all their audience shall enraptur'd sit
With MAWBEY's eloquence, and MARTIN's wit;
When fiery KENYON shall with temper speak,
When modest blushes die DUNDAS's cheek;
Then, only then, in PITT's behalf will I 75
Refuse to pledge my honour to a lie.

PRETTYMAN.
While in suspence our Irish project hung,
A well-framed fiction from this fruitful tongue
Bade the vain terrors of the City cease,
And lull'd the Manufacturers to peace: 80
The tale was told with so demure an air,
Not weary Commerce could escape the snare.

BANKS.
When Secret Influence expiring lay,
And Whigs triumphant hail'd th' auspicious day,
I bore that faithless message to the House, 85
By PITT contriv'd the gaping 'squires to chouse;
That deed, I ween, demands superior thanks:
The British Commons were the dupes of BANKS.

PRETTYMAN.
Say, in what regions are those fathers found,
For deep-dissembling policy renown'd; 90
Whose subtle precepts for perverting truth,
To quick perfection train'd our patron's youth,
And taught him all the mystery of lies?
Resolve me this, and I resign the prize.

BANKS.
Say, what that mineral, brought from distant climes, 95
Which screens delinquents, and absolves their crimes;
Whose dazzling rays confound the space between
A tainted strumpet and a spotless Queen;
Which Asia's Princes give, which Europe's take;
Tell this, dear Doctor, and I yield the stake. 100

PITT.
Enough, my friends--break off your tuneful sport,
'Tis levee day, and I must dress for Court;
Which hath more boldly or expertly lied,
Not mine th' important contest to decide.
Take thou this MITRE, Doctor, which before 105
A greater hypocrite sure never wore;
And if to services rewards be due,
Dear BANKS, this CORONET belongs to you:
Each from that Government deserves a prize,
Which thrives by shuffling, and subsists by lies. 110

IMITATIONS.
Ver. 6. Amant alterna Camenæ.
Ver. 10. Hos Corydon, illos referebat in ordine Thyrsis.
Ver. 29. Dicite--quandoquidem in molli consedimus herbâ
Ver. 61. Ante leves ergo pas entur in æthere cervi
Et freta destituent nudos in littore pisces--
Ver. 89. Die quibus in terris, &c.
Ver. 104. Non nostrum inter vos tantas componere lites.
Ver. 105. Et vitulà tu dignus et hic.

NOTES. Ver. 17. Our poet here seems to deviate from his general rule, by the introduction of a phrase which appears rather adapted to the lower and less elevated strain of pastoral, than to the dialogue of persons of such distinguished rank. It is, however, to be considered, that it is far from exceeding the bounds of possibility to suppose, that, in certain instances, the epithet of "Witless," and the coarse designation of "Lout," may be as applicable to a dignitary of the church, as to the most ignorant and illiterate rustic.

Ver. 62. The truth of this line must be felt by all who have read the lyrical effusions of Mr. Warton's competitors, whose odes were some time since published, by Sir John Hawkins, Knight. The present passage must be understood in reference to these, and not to the Laureat's general talents.

Ver. 85. The ingenious and sagacious gentleman, who, at the period of the glorious revolution of 1784, held frequent meetings at the Saint Alban's Tavern, for the purpose of bringing about an union that might have prevented the dissolution of parliament; which meetings afforded time to one of the members of the proposed union to concert means throughout every part of the kingdom, for ensuring the success of that salutary and constitutional measure, which, through his friend Mr. B--ks, he had solemnly pledged himself not to adopt. How truly does this conduct mark "the statesman born!" -------- Dolus an virtus, quis in hoste requirit?

Ver. 98. It must be acknowledged that there is some obscurity in this passage, as well as in the following line,

"Which Asia's princes give, which Europe's take:"

and of this, certain seditious, malevolent, disaffected critics have taken advantage, and have endeavoured, by a forced construction, to discover in them an unwarrantable insinuation against the highest and most sacred characters; from which infamous imputation, however, we trust, the well-known and acknowledged loyalty of our author's principles will sufficiently protect him.

* * * * *

_MARGARET NICHOLSON._

ARGUMENT.

Mr. WILKES and Lord HAWKESBURY alternately congratulate each other on his Majesty's late happy Escape, The one describes the Joy which pervades the Country: the other sings the Dangers from which our Constitution has been preserved. Though in the following Eclogue our Author has not selected any single one of _Virgil_ for a close and exact Parody, he seems to have had his Eye principally upon the Vth, or the _Daphnis_, which contains the Elegy and _APOTHEOSIS_ of _Julius Cæsar_.

The Session up: the INDIA-BENCH appeas'd,
The LANSDOWNES satisfied, the LOWTHERS pleas'd,
Each job dispatch'd:--the Treasury boys depart,
As various fancy prompts each youthful heart;
PITT, in chaste kisses seeking virtuous joy, 5
Begs Lady CHATHAM's blessing on her boy;
While MORNINGTON, as vicious as he can,
To fair R--L--N in vain affects the man:
With Lordly BUCKINGHAM retir'd at STOWE,
GRENVILLE, whose plodding brains no respite know, 10
To prove next year, how our finances thrive,
Schemes new reports, that two and two make five.
To plans of Eastern justice hies DUNDAS;
And comley VILLARS to his votive glass;
To embryo tax bills ROSE; to dalliance STEELE; 15
And hungry hirelings to their hard-earn'd meal.
A faithful pair, in mutual friendship tied,
Once keen in hate, as now in love allied
(This, o'er admiring mobs in triumph rode,
Libell'd his monarch and blasphem'd his God; 20
That, the mean drudge of tyranny and BUTE,
At once his practis'd pimp and prostitute),
Adscomb's proud roof receives, whose dark recess
And empty vaults, its owner's mind express,
While block'd-up windows to the world display 25
How much he loves a tax, how much invites the day.
Here the dire chance that god-like GEORGE befel,
How sick in spirit, yet in health how well;
What Mayors by dozens, at the tale affrighted,
Got drunk, address'd, got laugh'd at, and got knighted; 30
They read, with mingled horror and surprise,
In London's pure Gazette, that never lies.
Ye Tory bands, who, taught by conscious fears,
Have wisely check'd your tongues, and sav'd your ears,--
Hear, ere hard fate forbids--what heavenly strains 35
Flow'd from the lips of these melodious swains.
Alternate was the song; but first began,
With hands uplifted, the regenerate man.

WILKES.
Bless'd be the beef-fed guard, whose vigorous twist
Wrench'd the rais'd weapon from the murderer's fist, 40
Him Lords in waiting shall with awe behold
In red tremendous, and hirsute in gold.
On him, great monarch, let thy bounty shine,
What meed can match a life so dear as thine?
Well was that bounty measured, all must own, 45
That gave him _half_ of what he saved--_a crown_.
Bless'd the dull edge, for treason's views unfit,
Harmless as SYDNEY's rage, or BEARCROFT's wit.
Blush, clumsy patriots, for degenerate zeal,
WILKES had not guided thus the faithless steel! 50
Round your sad mistress flock, ye maids elect,
Whose charms severe your chastity protect;
Scar'd by whose glance, despairing love descries,
That virtue steals no triumph from your eyes.
Round your bold master flock, ye mitred hive, 55
With anathems on Whigs his soul revive!
Saints! whom the sight of human blood appals,
Save when to please the Royal will it falls.
He breathes! he lives! the vestal choir advance,
Each takes a bishop, and leads up the dance, 60
Nor dreads to break her long respected vow,
For chaste--ah strange to tell!--are bishops now:
Saturnian times return!--the age of truth,
And--long foretold--is come the virgin youth.
Now sage professors, for their learning's curse, 65
Die of their duty in remorseless verse:
Now sentimental Aldermen expire
In prose half flaming with the Muse's fire;
Their's--while rich dainties swim on every plate--
Their's the glad toil to feast for Britain's fate; 70
Nor mean the gift the Royal grace affords,
All shall be knights--but those that shall be lords.
Fountain of Honour, that art never dry,
Touch'd with whose drops of grace no thief can die,
Still with new titles soak the delug'd land, 75
Still may we all be safe from KETCH's menac'd hand!

JENKINSON.
Oh wond'rous man, with a more wond'rous Muse!
O'er my lank limbs thy strains a sleep diffuse,
Sweet as when PITT with words, disdaining end,
Toils to explain, yet scorns to comprehend. 80
Ah! whither had we fled, had that foul day
Torn him untimely from our arms away?
What ills had mark'd the age, had that dire thrust
Pierc' his soft heart, and bow'd his bob to dust?
Gods! to my labouring sight what phantoms rise! 85
Here Juries triumph, and there droops Excise!
Fierce from defeat, and with collected might,
The low-born Commons claim the people's right:
And mad for freedom, vainly deem their own,
Their eye presumptuous dares to scan the throne. 90
See--in the general wreck that smothers all,
Just ripe for justice--see my HASTINGS fall.
Lo, the dear Major meets a rude repulse,
Though blazing in each hand he bears a BULSE?
Nor Ministers attend, nor Kings relent, 95
Though rich Nabobs so splendidly repent.
See EDEN's faith expos'd to sale again,
Who takes his plate, and learns his French in vain.
See countless eggs for us obscure the sky,
Each blanket trembles, and each pump is dry. 100
Far from good things DUNDAS is sent to roam,
Ah!--worse than banish'd--doom'd to live at home.
Hence dire illusions! dismal scenes away--
Again he cries, "What, what!" and all is gay.
Come, BRUNSWICK, come, great king of loaves and fishes,
Be bounteous still to grant us all our wishes! 106
Twice every year with BEAUFOY as we dine,
Pour'd to the brim--eternal George--be thine
Two foaming cups of his nectareous juice,
Which--new to gods--no mortal vines produce. 110
To us shall BRUDENELL sing his choicest airs,
And capering MULGRAVE ape the grace of bears;
A grand thanksgiving pious YORK compose,
In all the proud parade of pulpit prose;
For sure Omniscience will delight to hear, 115
Thou 'scapest a danger, that was never near.
While ductile PITT thy whisper'd wish obeys,
While dupes believe whate'er the Doctor says,
While panting to be tax'd, the famish'd poor
Grow to their chains, and only beg for more; 120
While fortunate in ill, thy servants find
No snares too slight to catch the vulgar mind:
Fix'd as the doom, thy power shall still remain,
And thou, wise King, as uncontroul'd shall reign.

WILKES.
Thanks, _Jenky_, thanks, for ever could'st thou sing, 125
For ever could I sit and hear thee praise the King.
Then take this book, which with a Patriot's pride,
Once to his sacred warrant I deny'd,
Fond though he was of reading all I wrote:
No gift can better suit thy tuneful throat. 130

JENKINSON.
And thou this Scottish pipe, which JAMIE's breath
Inspir'd when living, and bequeath'd in death,
From lips unhallow'd I've prcserv'd it long:
Take the just tribute of thy loyal song. 134

IMITATIONS.
Ver. 59. Ergo alacris sylvas et cetera rura voluptas.
Panaque pastoresque tenet, Dryadasque puellas.
Ver. 61. Nec lupus insidias pecori, &c.
Ver. 63. Jam redit et Virgo, redeunt Saturnia regna.
Ver. 78. Tale tuum carmen nobis, divine Poeta,
Quale sopor sessis in gramine.
Ver. 106. Sis bonus; O! felixque tuis--
Ver. 107. Pocula bina novo spumantia lacte quot--annis
Craterasque duo statuam tibi.
Ver. 109. Vina _novum_ fundum calathis Arvisia nectar.
Ver. 114. Cantabunt mihi Damætas et Lictius Ægon.
Saltantes Satyros imitabitur Alphæsibæus.
Ver. 121. Dum juga montis aper, &c.
Semper honos, nomenque tuum, laudesque manebunt.
Ver. 130. At tu sume pedurn, quod cum me sæpe rogaret
Non tulit Antigenes, et erat turn dignus amari.
Ver. 134. Est mihi--
Fistula, Damætas dono mini quam dedit olim,
Et dixit moriens, "Te nunc, habet ista secundum."
ECL. II.

NOTES. Ver. 46. _half--a crown!_--Literally so.