And x from the moment we oblige the town,
Expect a place, or Penfion from the Crown;
Or, dubb'd Hiftorians by exprefs command,
Tenroll your triumphs o'er the feas and land,
Be call'd to Court to plan fome work divine,
As once for LOUIS, Boileau and Racine.
Yet think, great Sir! (fo many Virtues shown) Ah think, what Poet beft may make them known? Or chufe at least fome Minister of Grace,
Fit to bestow the Laureat's weighty place.
a Charles, to late times to be tranfinitted fair, Affign'd his figure to Bernini's care;
Noftros, et tenui deducta poemata filo;
Cum × fperamus eo rem venturam, ut, fimul atque
Carmina refcieris nos fingere, commodus ultro
Arceffas, et egere vetes, et fcribere cogas.
Sed tamen eft y operae pretium cognofcere, quales
Aedituos habeat belli spectata domique
Virtus, indigno non committenda poetae.
a Gratus Alexandro regi Magno fuit ille
Choerilus, incultis qui verfibus et male natis
Rettulit acceptos, regale numifma, Philippos.
Sed veluti tractata notam labemque remittunt
Atramenta, fere fcriptores carmine foedo
Splendida facta linunt. idem rex ille, poema
Qui tam ridiculum tam care prodigus emit,
Edicto vetuit, ne quis fe praeter Apellem
Pingeret, aut alius Lyfippo duceret aera
And b great Naffau to Kneller's hand decreed
To fix him graceful on the bounding Steed;
So well in paint and stone they judg'd of merit :
But Kings in Wit may want difcerning Spirit.
The Hero William, and the Martyr Charles,
One knighted Blackmore, and one penfion'd Quarles;
Which made old Ben and surly Dennis fwear,
"No Lord's anointed, but a c Ruffian Bear.'
Not with fuch majesty, such bold relief,
The Forms august, of King, or conquering Chief,
E'er fwell'd on marble; as in verse have fhin'd
(In polifh'd verfe) the manners and the Mind.
Oh! could I mount on the Mæonian wing,
Your Arms, your Actions, your Repose to fing! 395
What f feas you travers'd, and what fields
you fought!
Your Country's Peace, how oft, how dearly bought!
Fortis b Alexandri vultum fimulantia. quod fi
Judicium fubtile videndis artibus illud
Ad libros et ad haec Mufarum dona vocares ;
c Boeotum in craffo jurares aëre natum.
[At neque dedecorant tua de se judicia, atque Munera quae multa dantis cum laude tulerunt, Dilecti tibi Virgilius Variufque poetae ;]
Nec magis expreffi & vultus per ahenea signa, Quam per vatis opus mores animique virorum Clarorum apparent. nec fermones ego mallem Repentes per humum, e quam res componere geftas, Terrarumque f fitus et flumina dicere, et arces
How g barbarous rage fubfided at your
And Nations wonder'd while they dropp'd the fword! How, when you nodded, o'er the land and deep,
h Peace ftole her wing, and wrapt the world in fleep; Till earth's extremes your mediation own,
And i Afia's Tyrants tremble at your Throne-
But k Verse, alas! your Majesty disdains;
And I'm not us'd to Panegyric ftrains :
The Zeal of Fools offends at any time,
But most of all, the Zeal of Fools in rhyme.
Besides, a fate attends on all I write,
That when I aim at praise, they fay m I bite.
A vilen Encomium doubly ridicules:
There's nothing blackens like the ink of fools.
If true, a woful likeness; and if lyes,
"Praise undeferv'd is fcandal in disguise :"
Montibus impofitas, et 3 barbara regna, tuisque
Aufpiciis totum h confecta duella per orbem,
Clauftraque cuftodem pacis cohibentia Janum,
Et i formidatam Parthis, te principe, Romam :
Si quantum cuperem, poffem quoque. fed neque parvum
k Carmen majestas recipit tua; nec meus audet
Rem tentare pudor, quam vires ferre recufent.
Sedulitas autem 1 ftulte, quem diligit, urget;
Praecipue cum fe numeris commendat et arte.
Difcit enim citius, meminitque libentius illud
Quod quis m deridet, quam quod probat et veneratur.
Nil moror" officium, quod me gravat: ac neque ficto
In pejus vultu proponi cereus ufquam,
Well may he p blush, who gives it, or receives;
And when I flatter, let my dirty leaves
(Like Journals, Odes, and fuch forgotten things
As Eusden, Philips, Settle, writ of Kings)
Clothe fpice, line trunks, or, fluttering in a row,
Befringe the rails of Bedlam and Soho.
factis decorari verfibus opto: Ne p rubeam pingui donatus munere, et una Cum fcriptore meo capfa porrectus aperta, 4 Deferar in vicum vendentem thus et odores, Et piper, et quicquid chartis amicitur ineptis.
"Ludentis fpeciem dabit, & torquebitur." HoR.
EAR Col'nel, Cobham's and your country's
Friend!
You love a Verfe, take fuch as I can fend.
b A Frenchman comes, presents you with his Boy, Bows, and begins-" This Lad, Sir, is of Blois : "Obferve his shape how clean! his locks how curl'd! My only fon, I'd have him fee the world:
"His French is pure; his Voice too-you shall hear. "Sir, he's your flave, for twenty pound a year. "Mere wax as yet, you fashion him with ease, "Your Barber, Cook, Upholsterer, what you please: "A perfect genius at an Opera fong
"To fay too much, might do my honour wrong.
EPISTOLA II.
FLORE, bono claroque fidelis amice Neroni,
b Si quis forte velit puerum tibi vendere natum Tibure vel Gabiis, et tecum fic agat: "Hic et "Candidus, et talos a vertice pulcher ad imos, “Fiet eritque tuus nummorum millibus octo; "Verna minifteriis ad nutus aptus heriles; “Litterulis Graecis imbutus, idoneus arti
Cuilibet: argilla quidvis imitaberis uda :
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