Who starves a Sister, or forswears a Debt1? Ye Gods! shall Cibber's Son, without rebuke, 115 Swear like a Lord, or Rich3 out-whore a Duke4? A Fav'rite's Porter with his Master vie, Be brib'd as often, and as often lie? Shall Ward 5 draw Contracts with a Statesman's skill? 6 Or Japhet pocket, like his Grace, a Will? Is it for Bond 7, or Peter, (paltry things) I 20 To pay their Debts, or keep their Faith, like Kings? 125 Learn, from their Books, to hang himself and Wife 10? This, this, my friend, I cannot, must not bear; Vice thus abus'd, demands a Nation's care; And hurls the Thunder of the Laws on Gin 12. 1 In some editions, Who starves a Mother,- Warburton. I have been informed that these verses related to Lady M. W. Montagu and her sister the Countess of Mar. Bowles. [This charge against Lady M. W. M. rests on the scandal of Horace Walpole, in one of his letters to Sir H. Mann. She is there accused of having treated her sister hardly, while the latter was out of her senses, and of having frightened a Frenchman of the name of Ruzemonde (who had entrusted her with a large sum of money to buy stock for him) out of England by threats of betraying her intrigue with him, first to her husband, then to her brother-in-law. Lord Wharncliffe, in the Appendix to Vol. III. of his Letters and Works of Lady M. W M., states that the former accusation is utterly unfounded, and shews that the latter rests on a perversion of facts.] 2 Virtue, I grant you, is an empty boast;] A satirical ambiguity-either that those starve who have it, or that those who boast of it, have it not: and both together (he insinuates) make up the present state of modern virtue. War burton. [Cf. Dunciad, 111. v. 126.] 130 8 If Blount] Author of an impious and foolish book called the Oracles of Reason, who being in love with a near kinswoman of his, and rejected, gave himself a stab in the arm, as pretending to kill himself, of the consequence of which he really died. P. 9 Passeran!] Author of another book of the same stamp, called A philosophical discourse on death, being a defence of suicide He was a nobleman of Piedmont, banished from his country for his impieties, and lived in the utmost misery, yet feared to practise his own precepts; and at last died a penitent. Warburton. 10 But shall a Printer, &c.] A Fact that happened in London a few years past. The unhappy man left behind him a paper justifying his action by the reasonings of some of these authors. P. This calls the Church to deprecate our Sin,] Alluding to the forms of prayer, composed in the times of public calamity; where the fault is generally laid upon the People. Warburton. 12 Gin.] A spirituous liquor, the exorbitant use of which had almost destroyed the lowest rank of the People till it was restrained by an act of Parliament in 1736. P. 13 An eloquent and persuasive preacher, who wrote an excellent Defence of Christianity against Tindal. Warton. 14 Mrs. Drummond, celebrated in her time. Warton.. 15 Llandaff] A poor Bishoprick in Wales, as poorly supplied. P. By Dr John Harris. Carruthers. Let humble ALLEN', with an awkward Shame, 135 Virtue may choose the high or low Degree, 'Tis just alike to Virtue, and to me; 140 And stoops from Angels to the Dregs of Earth: 145 150 Old England's Genius, rough with many a Scar, 155 Hear her black Trumpet thro' the Land proclaim, 160 'Tis Av'rice all, Ambition is no more! See, all our Fools aspiring to be Knaves! The Wit of Cheats, the Courage of a Whore, 165 Are what ten thousand envy and adore; At Crimes that 'scape, or triumph o'er the Law; Yet may this Verse (if such a Verse remain) 170 FR. DIALOGUE II. IS all a Libel-Paxton 3 (Sir) will say. [Ralph Allen, of Prior Park, an intimate friend and constant correspondent of Pope's, to whom he performed many kind services. He was afterwards a munificent patron to Fielding. Of his charitable habits there is evidence in Pope's Will.] 2 [Said by Warburton to refer to the Empress Theodora, the wife of Justinian, though Gibbon is sceptical as to the intended allusion 3 Paxton] Late solicitor to the Treasury. Warburton. [Cf. infra, v. 141. He was, according to Carruthers, deeply involved in the charges against Sir R. Walpole; and temporarily imprisoned.] How should I fret to mangle ev'ry line, Feign what I will, and paint it e'er so strong, F. Yet none but you by Name the guilty lash; 3 Spare then the Person, and expose the Vice. P. How, Sir? not damn the Sharper, but the Dice? Spread thy broad wing, and souse on all the kind. Ye Statesmen, Priests, of one Religion all! Ye Tradesmen vile, in Army, Court, or Hall, Ye Rev'rend Atheists- F. Scandal! name them! Who? P. Why that's the thing you bid me not to do. 20 I never nam'd; the Town's enquiring yet. The pois'ning Dame- F. You mean- P. I don't. F. You do! The bribing Statesman- F. Hold, too high you go. P. The brib'd Elector- F. There you stoop too low. 25 P. I fain would please you, if I knew with what; Tell me, which Knave is lawful Game, which not? F. A Dean, Sir? no: his Fortune is not made; You hurt a man that's rising in the Trade. P. If not the Tradesman who set up to-day, Or, if a Court or Country's made a job, 1 [i. e. of next year.] 2 Feign what I will, etc.] The Poet has here introduced an oblique apology for himself with great art. You attack personal characters, say his enemies. No, replies he, so far from that, I paint from my invention; and to prevent a likeness I exaggerate every feature. But alas! the growth of vice is so monstrous quick, that it rises up to a resemblance before I can get from the press. 3 Ev'n Guthry] The Ordinary of Newgate, who publishes the memoirs of the Malefactors, and is often prevailed upon to be so tender of their reputation, as to set down no more than 30 35 40 Must great Offenders, etc.] The case is archly put. Those who escape public justice being the particular property of the Satirist. 6 Like royal Harts, etc.] Alluding to the old Game Laws. Warburton. 7 wretched Wild,] Jonathan Wild, a famous Thief, and Thief-Impeacher, who was at last caught in his own train and hanged. P. [Fielding's Jonathan Wild appeared in 1743, nearly a quarter of a century after the death of its hero. But highwaymen flourished till a considerably later date.] Have you less pity for the needy Cheat, Scarce hurts the Lawyer, but undoes the Scribe. To tax Directors, who (thank God) have Plums; May pinch ev'n there why lay it on a King. P. Must Satire, then, nor rise nor fall? Ev'n Peter trembles only for his Ears1. F. What? always Peter? Peter thinks you mad; 45 50 155 60 The Scene, the Master, opening to my view, (Where Kent and Nature vie for PELHAM'S 6 Love) P. Do I wrong the Man? 65 I sit and dream I see my CRAGGS anew! 9 But does the Court a worthy Man remove? Ev'n Peter trembles only for his ears,] Peter had, the year before this, narrowly escaped the Pillory for forgery: and got off with a severe rebuke only from the bench. P. 2 [V. ante, Dial. 1. v. 92.] 3 Scarb'row] Earl of, and Knight of the Garter, whose personal attachments to the king appeared from his steady adherence to the royal interest, after his resignation of his great employment of Master of the Horse; and whose known honour and virtue made him esteemed by all parties. P. [He committed suicide in a fit of melancholy in 1740; and was mourned by Lord Chesterfield as 'the best man he ever knew, and the dearest friend he ever had.'] 4 Esher's peaceful Grove,] The house and gardens of Esher in Surrey, belonging to the Honourable Mr Pelham, Brother of the Duke of Newcastle. The author could not have given a more amiable idea of his Character than in comparing him to Mr Craggs. P. 5 [The architect and friend of Lord Burling ton.] 70 75 6 [Henry Pelham became First Lord of the treasury in 1743, through Walpole's influence; and died in 1754, the King exclaiming on his death: 'Now I shall have no more peace.'] 7 [Thos. Secker (1693-1768), successively bishop of Bristol and of Oxford, and archbishop of Canterbury. His career is accounted for by his personal reputation for liberality and moderation.] 8 [Dr Rundel, bishop of Derry, esteemed equally by Pope and Swift. See their letters of Sept. 3, 1735 and foll.] 9 [Bishop of Gloucester. field.] He ordained Whit 10 [Dr Berkeley, bishop of Cloyne (born 1684, died 1707), the illustrious author of Alciphron. Ä very different bishop (Atterbury) said of him that so much understanding, so much knowledge, so much innocence, and such humility, I did not think had been the portion of any but angels, till I saw this gentleman.'] noble Flame, I shun his Zenith, court his mild Decline; 80 85 Or WYNDHAM 10, just to Freedom and the Throne, Names, which I long have lov'd, nor lov'd in vain, 90 Rank'd with their Friends, not number'd with their Train; And if yet higher the proud List should end 11, Still let me say: No Follower, but a Friend. Yet think not, Friendship only prompts my lays; I follow Virtue; where she shines, I praise: Point she to Priest or Elder, Whig or Tory, Din'd with the MAN of Ross 12, or my LORD MAY'R 13. 1 Somers] John Lord Somers died in 1716. He had been Lord Keeper in the reign of William III. who took from him the seals in 1700. The author had the honour of knowing him in 1706. A faithful, able, and incorrupt minister; who, to the qualities of a consummate statesman, added those of a man of Learning and Politeness. P. 2 Halifax] A peer, no less distinguished by his love of letters than his abilities in Parliament. He was disgraced in 1710, on the Change of Q. Anne's ministry. P. 3 Shrewsbury, Charles Talbot, Duke of Shrewsbury, had been Secretary of state, Embassador in France, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Lord Chamberlain, and Lord Treasurer. He several times quitted his employments, and was often recalled. He died in 1718. P. 4 Carleton] Hen Boyle, Lord Carleton (nephew of the famous Robert Boyle), who was Secretary of state under William III. and President of the Council under Q. Anne. P. 5 Stanhope] James Earl Stanhope. A Nobleman of equal courage, spirit, and learning. General in Spain, and Secretary of state. P. [The first Earl Stanhope, and the uncle of Chatham.] 6 [Francis Atterbury, bishop of Rochester, the friend of Pope and Swift and a consistent Jacobite, was arrested in 1722 on a charge of treasonable complicity in a plot for bringing back the Pretender, and sentenced to banishment. He joined the Pretender's Court, and for some time directed his affairs. He died in 1731.] 95 the great opponent of Sir Robert Walpole; eloquent as an orator and witty as a pamphleteer.] 8 Chesterfield Philip Earl of Chesterfield, commonly given by Writers of all Parties for an EXAMPLE to the Age he lives in, of superior talents, and public Virtue. Warburton. [Philip Dormer, Earl of Chesterfield, lord heutenant of Ireland in 1744 and Secretary of State in 1747. His Irish administration is the highest point in his political career. As a writer he is famous for the sceptical Letters to his Son; of his wit some instances are given in Hayward's Essay on Lord C.] 9 [This Duke of Argyll, after defending Scotland against the Pretender's invasion of 1715, played a very changeful part in political life; and at his death in 1744 was one of the chiefs of the opposition against the Whigs. The two lines in the text are said to have been added in consequence of a threat of the Duke's that he would run any man through the body who should dare to use his name in an invective.] 10 Wyndham] Sir William Wyndham, Chancellor of the Exchequer under Queen Anne, made early a considerable figure; but since a much greater both by his ability and eloquence, joined with the utmost judgment and temper. P. [Bolingbroke's friend.] 11 And if yet higher, etc.] He was at this time honoured with the esteem and favour of his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales. Warburton. 12 [cf. Moral Essays, Ep. 11.] 13 [Sir John Barnard. Cf. ante, Bk 1. Ep. ii. 7 [William Pulteney (Earl of Bath in 1742), v. 85.] |