And when it comes, the Court fee nothing in't.

VARIATIONS.

After 2. in the MS.

You don't, I hope, pretend to quit the trade,
Because you think

your reputation made :

Like good ** of whom fo much was faid,

That when his name was up, he lay a-bed.
Come, come, refresh us with a livelier fong,
Or like ** you'll lie a-bed too long.

NOTES.

VER. 1. Not twice a twelve-month etc.] Thefe two lines are from Horace; and the only lines that are so in the whole Poem; being meant to give a handle to that which follows in the character of an impertinent Cenfurer,

'Tis all from Horace; etc. P.

VER. 2. the Court fee nothing in't.] He chofe this expreffion for the fake of its elegant and fatiric ambiguity. His writings abound in them.

You grow correct, that once, with Rapture writ,
And are, befides, too moral for a Wit.

Decay of Parts, alas! we all muft feel --

Why now, this moment, don't I fee you steal? 'Tis all from Horace; Horace long before ye

5

Said, "Tories call'd him Whig, and Whigs a Tory;"
And taught his Romans, in much better metre,
"To laugh at Fools who put their truft in Peter." 10
But Horace, Sir, was delicate, was nice;

Bubo obferves, he lafh'd no fort of Vice:
Horace would fay, Sir Billy ferv'd the Crown,
Blunt could do Bus'nefs, H-ggins knew the Town;
In Sappho touch the Failing of the Sex,

In rev'rend Bishops note fome fmall Neglects,
And own, the Spaniard did a waggish thing,

Who cropt our Ears, and fent them to the King.

VARIATIONS.

P. Sir, what I write, fhould be correctly writ.
F. Correct! 'tis what no genius can admit.
Befides, you grow too moral for a Wit.

NOTES.

15

VER. 12. Bubo obferves,] Some guilty perfon very fond of making fuch an obfervation. P.

VER. 14. H-ggins] Formerly Jaylor of the Fleet prifon, enriched himself by many exactions, for which he was tried and expelled. P.

VER. 18. Who cropt our Ears,] Said to be executed by the Captain of a Spanish ship on one Jenkins a Captain of

His fly, polite, infinuating style

Could please at Court, and make AUGUSTUS fmile:
An artful Manager, that crept between

His Friend and Shame, and was a kind of Screen.
But 'faith your very Friends will foon be fore;
Patriots there are, who wish you'd jest no more
And where's the Glory; 'twill be only thought
The Great man never offer'd you a groat.

Go fee Sir ROBERT

P. See Sir ROBERT !--- hum
And never laugh for all my life to come?
Seen him I have, but in his happier hour
Of Social Pleasure, ill-exchang'd for Pow'r;
Seen him, uncumber'd with the Venal tribe,
Smile without Art, and win without a Bribe.

NOTES.

21

25

30

an English one. He cut off his ears, and bid him carry them to the King his master. P.

VER. 22. Screen.]

Omne vafer vitium ridenti Flaccus amico

Tangit, et admiffus circum præcordia ludit.

Perf. P.

Ibid. Screen.] A metaphor peculiarly appropriated to a certain person in power. P.

VER. 24. Patriots there are, &c.] This appellation was generally given to those in oppofition to the Court. Though fome of them (which our author hints at) had views too mean and interested to deferve that nanie. P.

VER. 26. The Great man] A phrafe, by common use, appropriated to the first minifter. P.

VER. 31. Seen him, uncumber'd] Thefe two verses were