No Wit to flatter, left of all his ftore! No Fool to laugh at, which he valu'd more. NOTES. 320 VER. 313. There, Victor | parties concerned; who, it of his health, of fortune, is likely, had made but a friends, And fame-] The very forry decifion. The term implies the difficulty abhorrence of an empty purse he had to get the better of would have certainly perall these incumbrances. And verted the judgment of Want it is true, as his history in- with a full one: And the forms us, he had the impe- longings for a full one, would diment of good parts, which, probably have as much miffrom time to time, a little led Want with an empty one. hindered and retarded his Whereas Reason resolves this Victories. matter in a trice. There being a poffibility that Want with an empty purse may be relieved; but none, that Want with a full purse ever VER. 319. Refolve me, Reafon, which of thefe is worfe, Want with a full, or with an empty_purse?] The poet did well in appealing to Reafon, from the can. 325 Cutler faw tenants break, and houses fall, But you are tir'd-I'll tell a tale--B. Agreed. 330 336 P. Where London's column, pointing at the skies Like a tall bully, lifts the head, and lyes; VARIATIONS. VER. 337. in the former Editions, That knotty point, my Lord, fhall I difcufs, NOTES. 340 VER. 339. Where Lon- | ment, built in memory of don's column,] The Monu- the fire of London, with an There dwelt a Citizen of fober fame, A plain good man, and Balaam was his name; 345 An added pudding folemniz'd the Lord's : fure, His givings rare, fave farthings to the poor. The Dev'l was piqu'd fuch faintship to behold, And long'd to tempt him like good Job of old: 350But Satan now is wiser than of yore, And tempts by making rich, not making poor. Rouz'd by the Prince of Air, the whirlwinds fweep The furge, and plunge his Father in the deep; Then full against his Cornish lands they roar, 355 And two rich fhip-wrecks bless the lucky fhore. NOTES. infcription, importing that | inhabitants to those to whom that misfortune arrives: When a fhip happens to be ftranded there, they have been known to bore VER. 355. Cornish] The author has placed the fcene of these shipwrecks in Corn-holes in it, to prevent it's wall, not only from their getting off; to plunder, and frequency on that coaft, but fometimes even to massacre from the inhumanity of the the people: Nor has the Sir Balaam now, he lives like other folks, He takes his chirping pint, and cracks his jokes: An honeft factor ftole a Gem away: He pledg❜d it to the knight; the knight had wit, NOTES. Parliament of England been | they would try to do more yet able wholly to fupprefs these barbarities. P. VER. 360. And lo! &c.] The poet had obferv'd above, that when the luxuriously-felfish had got more than they knew how to ufe, than live; inftead of imparting the leaft pittance of it to those whom fortune had reduced to do less than live: The VANITY of which chimerical project he well expofed in these lines: What Riches give us let us then enquire. Meat, Fire, and Cloaths. What more? Meat, Cloaths, and Fire. But here, in one who had not yet learnt the art of difguifing the Poverty of Wealth by the Refinements of Luxury, he fhews, with admirable humour, the ridicule of that project : And lo! two Puddings smoak'd upon the board. M "Where once I went to church, I'll now go twice "And am fo clear too of all other vice." The Tempter faw his time; the work he ply'd; Stocks and Subfcriptions pour on ev'ry fide, 'Till all the Dæmon makes his full defcent In one abundant show'r of Cent per 370 375 Behold Sir Balaam, now a man of spirit, Afcribes his gettings to his parts and merit; What late he call'd a Bleffing, now was Wit, And God's good Providence, a lucky Hit. Things change their titles, as our manners turn: His Compting-house employ'd the Sunday-morn; Seldom at Church ('twas such a busy life) 381 But duly fent his family and wife. There (fo the Dev'l ordain'd) one Christmas-tide A Nymph of Quality admires our Knight; He marries, bows at Court, and grows polite: 385 Leaves the dull Cits, and joins (to please the fair) The well-bred cuckolds in St James's air: Who drinks, whores, fights, and in a duel dies: 390 2 |