Careless how ill I with myself agree,
Kind to my dress, my figure, not to Me.
Is this my Guide, Philofopher, and Friend?
This he, who loves me, and who ought to mend;
Who ought to make me (what he can, or none)
That Man divine, whom Wisdom calls her own; 180
Great without Title, without Fortune bless'd;
Richy ev'n when plunder'd, 2 honour'd while oppress'd;
Lov'd without youth, and follow'd without power;
At home, though exil'd; free, though in the Tower;
In short, that reasoning, high, immortal Thing, 185
Just less than Jove, and d much above a King,
Nay, half in heaven- except (what 's mighty odd)
A fit of Vapours clouds this Demy-god!
A praetore dati; rerum * tutela mearum
Cum sis, et prave sectum stomacheris ob unguem,
De te pendentis, te refpicientis amici.
Ad fummam, sapiens uno minor est Jove, y dives, b Liber, honoratus, a pulcher, d rex denique regum; Praecipue fanus, nifi cum pituita molesta est.
THIS Piece is the most finished of all his Imitations, and executed in the high manner the Italian Painters call Con Amore. By which they mean, the exertion of that principle, which puts the faculties on the stretch, and produces the fupreme degree of excellence.
For the Poet had all the warmth of affection for the great Lawyer to whom it is addressed; and, indeed, no man ever more deserved to have a Poet for his Friend. In the obtaining of which, as neither Vanity, Party, nor Fear, had any share, so he supported his title to it by all the offices of true Friendship.
OT to admire, is all the Art I know, To make men happy, and to keep them so." (Plain Truth, dear MURRAY, needs no flowers of speech, So take it in the very words of Creech.)
This Vault of Air, this congregated Ball, Self-center'd Sun, and Stars that rise and fall,
EPISTOLA VI.
IL admirari, prope res est una, Numici, Solaque quae poffit facere et servare beatum. Hunc folem, et stellas, et decedentia certis
There are, my Friend! whose philosophic eyes
Look through and trust the Ruler with his skies,
To him commit the hour, the day, the year,
And view this dreadful All without a fear.
Admire we then what d Earth's low entrails hold,
Arabian fhores, or Indian feas infold;
All the mad trade of Fools and Slaves for Gold?
Orf Popularity? or Stars and Strings?
The Mob's applauses, or the gifts of Kings?
Say, with what & eyes we ought at Courts to gaze,
And pay the Great our homage of Amaze?
If weak the pleasure that from these can spring,
The fear to want them is as weak a thing:
Whether we dread, or whether we defire,
In either cafe, believe me, we admire;
Whether we i joy or grieve, the fame the curfe,
Surpriz'd at better, or surpriz'd at worse.
Thus good or bad, to one extreme betray
'Th' unbalanc'd Mind, and snatch the Man away; 25.
Tempora momentis, funt qui formidine nulla
Imbuti spectent. d quid censes, munera terrae?
Quid, maris extremos Arabas ditantis et Indos?
Ludicra, quid, f plaufus, et amici dona Quiritis?
Quo spectanda modo, & quo fenfu credis et ore?
Qui timet his adversa, fere miratur eodem
Quo cupiens pacto: pavor est utrobique moleftus:
Improvisa fimul species exterret utrumque:
Gaudeat, an doleat; cupiat, metuatne; quid ad rem,
Fork Virtue's self may too much zeal be had;
The worst of Madmen is a Saint run mad.
Go then, and if you can, admire the state Of beaming diamonds, and reflected plate; Procare a Tafste to double the surprize,
And gaze on m Parian Charms with learned eyes:
Be ftruck with bright Brocade, or Tyrian Dye,
Our Birth-day Nobles' splendid Livery.
If not so pleas'd, at Council-board rejoice,
To fee their Judgments hang upon thy Voice;
From morn to night, at Senate, Rolls, and Hall,
Plead much, read more, dine late, or not at all.
But wherefore all this labour, all this ftrife?
For Fame, for Riches, for a noble Wife?
Shall One whom Nature, Learning, Birth conspir'd 40
To form, not to admire, but be admir'd,
Sigh, while his Chloe blind to Wit and Worth
Weds the rich Dulness of some Son of earth?
Si, quidquid vidit melius pejusve sua spe,
Defixis oculis animoque et corpore torpet?
* Insani sapiens nomen ferat, aequus iniqui;
Ultra quam fatis est, virtutem si petat ipsam.
I nunc, argentum et marmor m vetus, aeraque et artes
Suspice: cum gemmis Tyrios mirare colores:
Gaude, quod spectant oculi te mille loquentem:
Gnavus P mane forum, et vespertinus pete tectum;
Ne plus frumenti dotalibus emetat agris
Mutus et (indignum; quod fit pejoribus ortus)
*Hic tibi fit potius, quam tu mirabilis illi.
Yet time ennobles, or degrades each Line;
It brighten'd Craggs's, and may darken thine:
And what is Fame? the Meanest have their day,
The Greateft can but blaze, and pass away.
Grac'd as thou art, with all the Power of Words,
So known, so honour'd, at the house of Lords:
Confpicuous Scene! another yet is nigh,
(More filent far) where Kings and Poets lie;
u Where Murray (long enough his Country's pride)
Shall be no more than Tully, or than Hyde!
w Rack'd with Sciatics, martyr'd with the Stone, Will any mortal let himself alone?
See Ward by batter'd Beaux invited over,
And desperate Misery lays hold on Dover.
The cafe is easier in the Mind's disease;
There all Men may be cur'd, whene'er they please.
Would ye be blest? despise low Joys, low Gains;
Disdain whatever Cornbury disdains;
Be virtuous, and be happy for your pains.
* Quicquid fub terra est, in apricum proferet aetas;
Defodiet condetque nitentia. cum bene notum
Porticus Agrippae, et via te confpexerit Appî;
Ire tamen restat, Numau quo devenit et Ancus.
w Si latus aut renes morbo tentantur acuto,
Quare fugam morbi. * vis recte vivere? quis non?
Si virtus hoc una potest dare, fortis omiffis
Hoc age deliciis.
|