Wealth in the grofs is death, but life diffus’d-;
As Poifon heals, in juft proportion us'd:

In heaps, like Ambergrife, a ftink it lies,
But well-difpers'd, is Incense to the Skies.

235

P. Who ftarves by Nobles, or with Nobles eats? The Wretch that trufts them, and the Rogue that

cheats.

240

Is there a Lord, who knows a chearful noon
Without a Fiddler, Flatt'rer, or Buffoon?
Whose table, Wit, or modeft Merit share,
Un-elbow'd by a Gamefter, Pimp, or Play'r?
Who copies Your's or OXFORD's better part,
To ease th'oppress'd, and raise the finking heart?
Where-e'er he fhines, oh Fortune, gild the scene
And Angels guard him in the golden Mean ! 246
There, English Bounty yet a-while may stand,
And Honour linger e'er it leaves the land.

NOTES.

whose full measure over- | Robert, created Earl of Oxflows on human race, repair the wrongs of Fortune done to the indigent; and, at the fame time, juftify the favours fhe had beftowed upon themselves.

VER 243. OXFORD's better part.] Edward Harley, Earl of Oxford. The son of

ford and Earl Mortimer by Queen Anne. This nobleman died regretted by all men of letters, great numbers of whom had experienced his benefits. He left behind him one of the most noble Libraries in Europe. P.

But all our praises why should Lords engross? Rife, honeft Mufe! and fing the MAN of Ross: 250 Pleas'd Vaga echoes thro' her winding bounds, And rapid Severn hoarse applause resounds. Who hung with woods yon mountain's fultry brow? From the dry rock who bade the waters flow? Not to the skies in useless columns toft, Or in proud falls magnificently lost,

255

But clear and artlefs, pouring thro' the plain
Health to the fick, and folace to the swain.
Whose Caufe-way parts the vale with fhady rows?
Whofe Seats the weary Traveller repofe?
Who taught that heav'n-directed spire to rise?
"The MAN of Ross," each lifping babe replies.

VARIATIONS.

After 250. in the MS.

Trace humble worth beyond Sabrina's fhore,
Who fings not him, oh may he fing no more!

NOTES.

260

VER. 250. The MAN of way of eminence, and partRoss:] The perfon here ce-ly by being buried without lebrated, who with a small fo much as an inscription) Eftate actually performed all was called Mr John Kyrle. thefe good works, and whofe He died in the year 1724, true name was almost loft, aged 90, and lies interred (partly by the title of the in the chancel of the church Man of Rofs given him by of Rofs in Herefordshire. P.

Behold the Market-place with poor o'erfpread!

The MAN of Ross divides the weekly bread:

He feeds yon Alms-house, neat, but void of ftate,
Where Age and Want fit smiling at the gate : 266
Him portion'd maids, apprentic'd orphans bleft,
The young who labour, and the old who reft.
Is any fick the MAN of Ross relieves,
Prescribes, attends, the med'cine makes, and gives.
Is there a variance; enter but his door,

Balk'd are the Courts, and conteft is no more.
Despairing Quacks with curses fled the place,
And vile Attorneys, now an useless race.

B. Thrice happy man! enabled to pursue
What all fo wish, but want the pow'r to do!
Oh fay, what fums that gen'rous hand fupply?
What mines, to fwell that boundless charity?

271

275

P. Of Debts, and Taxes, Wife and Children clear, This man poffeft-five hundred pounds a year. 280 Blush, Grandeur, blush! proud Courts, withdraw your blaze!

Ye little Stars! hide your diminish'd rays.

NOTES.

VER. 281. Blush, Gran- | deur, blush! proud Courts, withdraw your blaze! &c.] In this fublime apoftrophe,

they are not bid to blush because outftript in virtue, for no fuch contention is fupposed: but for being out

B. And what? no monument, infcription, stone? His race, his form, his name almost unknown? P. Who builds a Church to God, and not to Fame, Will never mark the marble with his Name: 286

290

Go, search it there, where to be born and die,
Of rich and poor makes all the history;
Enough, that Virtue fill'd the space between ;
Prov'd, by the ends of being, to have been.
When Hopkins dies, a thousand lights attend
The wretch, who living fav'd a candle's end:
Should'ring God's altar a vile image stands,
Belies his features, nay extends his hands ;
That live-long wig which Gorgon's felf might own,
Eternal buckle takes in Parian ftone.

VARIATIONS.

VER. 287. thus in the MS.

The Register inrolls him with his Poor,
Tells he was born and dy'd, and tells no more.
Juft as he ought, he fill'd the Space between ;
Then stole to reft, unheeded and unseen.

NOTES.

fhined in their own proper pretenfions to Splendour and Magnificence. SCRIBL.

VER. 287. Go, search it there,] The Parish-register.

VER. 296. Eternal buckle takes in Parian ftone.] The

296

poet ridicules the wretched tafte of carving large perriwigs on bufto's, of which there are several vile examples in the tombs at Westminster and elsewhere. P.

Behold what bleffings Wealth to life can lend !
And fee, what comfort it affords our end.

300

In the worst inn's worft room, with mat half-hung,
The floors of plaifter, and the walls of dung,
On once a flock-bed, but repair'd with straw,
With tape-ty'd curtains, never meant to draw,
The George and Garter dangling from that bed,
Where tawdry yellow ftrove with dirty red,
Great Villers lies-alas! how chang'd from him,
That life of pleasure, and that foul of whim! 306
Gallant and gay, in Cliveden's proud alcove,

The bow'r of wanton Shrewsbury and love;
Or just as gay, at Council, in a ring

Of mimick'd Statesmen, and their merry King. 310

NOTES.

by the D. of Buckingham. P.

VER. 305. Great Villers | banks of the Thames, built lies-] This Lord, yet more famous for his vices than his misfortunes, after having been poffefs'd of about 50,000l. a year, and paffed thro' many of the highest pofts in the kingdom, died in the year 1687, in a remote inn in Yorkshire, reduced to the utmost mifery. P.

VER. 307. Cliveden] A delightful palace, on the

VER. 308. Shrewsbury] The Countess of Shrewsbury, a woman abandoned to gallantries. The Earl her hufband was killed by the Duke of Buckingham in a duel; and it has been faid, that during the combat fhe held the Duke's horfes in the habit of a page. P.