Such this day's doctrine-in another fit She fins with Poets thro' pure Love of Wit. 75 The Nofe of Hautgout, and the Tip of Tafte, 80 85 The mighty bleffing, "while we live, to live." 90 VARIATIONS. VER: 77. What has not fir'd, &c.] in the MS. In whose mad brain the mixt ideas roll Of Tall-boy's breeches, and of Cæfar's foul. NOTES. VER. 87. VI. Contrarie- | God, but of her Stars, ties in the Witty and Refin'd. P. VER. 89. Nor afks of 90. Death, that Opiate of the foul !] See Note on of Ep. to Lord Cobham, Then all for Death, that Opiate of the foul! 96 With too much Quickness ever to be taught; 100 Turn then from Wits; and look on Simo's Mate, No Afs fo meek, no Afs fo obftinate. Or her, that owns her Faults, but never mends, 106 Or her, who laughs at Hell, but (like her Grace) Cries," Ah! how charming, if there's no fuch place!" Or who in sweet viciffitude appears Of Mirth and Opium, Ratafie and Tears, 110 NOTES. VER. 107. Or her, who | fuch place!"] i. e. Her who laughs at Hell, but (like affects to laugh out of faher Grace)-Cries, "Ah!hion, and strives to disbehow charming if there's no lieve out of fear. The daily Anodyne, and nightly Draught, To kill those foes to Fair ones, Time and Thought. 120 But what are these to great Atoffa's mind ? IIS Scarce once herself, by turns all Womankind! Who, with herself, or others, from her birth Finds all her life one warfare upon earth : Shines, in expofing Knaves, and painting Fools, Yet is, whate'er she hates and ridicules. No Thought advances, but her Eddy Brain Whisks it about, and down it goes again. Full fixty years the World has been her Trade, The wifest Fool much Time has ever made. From loveless youth to unrespected age, No Paffion gratify'd except her Rage. So much the Fury still out-ran the Wit, The Pleasure mifs'd her, and the Scandal hit. Who breaks with her, provokes Revenge from Hell, But he's a bolder man who dares be well. Her ev'ry turn with Violence pursu'd, Nor more a storm her Hate than Gratitude :^ VARIATIONS. After 122. in the MS. Opprefs'd with wealth and wit, abundance fad 1- 125 130 To that each Paffion turns, or foon or late; Love, if it makes her yield, must make her hate: 140 By Spirit robb'd of Pow'r, by Warmth of Friends, By Wealth of Follow'rs! without one distress 145 Sick of herself thro' very selfishness! Atoffa, curs'd with ev'ry granted pray'r, Childless with all her Children, wants an Heir. VARIATIONS. After 148. in the MS. This Death decides, nor lets the bleffing fall Curs'd chance! this only could afflict her more, poor. 150 VER. 150. Or wanders, | lading and referring to the Heav'n-directed, &c.] Al- great principle of his Philo 155 Pictures like these, dear Madam, to design, Afks no firm hand, and no unerring line ; Some wand'ring touches, fome reflected light, Some flying stroke alone can hit 'em right: For how should equal Colours do the knack? Chameleons who can paint in white and black? "Yet Cloe fure was form'd without a spot"Nature in her then err'd not, but forgot. "With ev'ry pleafing, ev'ry prudent part, "Say, what can Cloe want?"-She wants a Heart. She speaks, behaves, and acts just as she ought; 161 But never, never, reach'd one gen'rous Thought. Virtue fhe finds too painful an endeavour, Content to dwell in Decencies for ever. NOTES. fophy, which he never lofes | to fecure it from being ridifight of, and which teaches, that Providence is inceffantly turning the evils arifing from the follies and vices of men to general good. VER. 157: "Yet Cloe fure, &c.] The purpose of the poet in this Character is important: It is to fhew that the politic or prudent government of the paffions is not enough to make a Character amiable, nor even culous, if the end of that government be not pursued, which is the free exercife of the focial appetites after the felfish ones have been subdued; for that if, tho' reafon govern, the heart be never confulted, we interest ourselves as little in the fortune of fuch a Character, as in any of the foregoing, which paffions or caprice drive up and down at random. |