And certain Laws, by fufferers thought unjust, '60 Hopes after hopes of pious Papists fail'd, But (thanks to Homer) fince I live and thrive, Sure I fhould want the care of ten Monroes, If I would fcribble, rather than repofe. 65 70 g Years following years, fteal fomething every day, At laft they steal us from ourselves away; In one our Frolics, one Amusements end, In one a Mistress drops, in one a Friend: That turn'd ten thousand verses, now ftands ftill ? 75 But Unde fimul primum me demifere Philippi, h But after all, what would you have me do? When out of twenty I can please not two; When this Heroics only deigns to praise, Sharp Satire that, and that Pindaric lays? But grant I may relapfe, for want of grace, Who there his Mufe, or felf, or foul attends, In crouds, and courts, law, bufinefs, feafts, and friends? My counsel fends to execute a deed: A Poet begs me I will hear him read: In Palace-yard at nine you'll find me there At ten, for certain, Sir, in Bloomfbury-square- 95 "Oh Denique non omnes eadem mirantur amantque. Carmine tu gaudes: hic delectatur iambis; Ille Bioneis fermonibus, et fale nigro. Tres mihi convivae prope diffentire videntur, Quid dem? quid non dem? renuis quod tu, jubet alter: "Oh but a Wit can study in the streets, A hackney-coach may chance to fpoil a thought; Go, lofty Poet! and in such a croud, Sing thy fonorous verse-but not aloud. To ease and filence, every Mufe's fon: Would drink and doze at Tooting or Earl's-Court. 100 105 110 How match the bards whom none e'er match'd before? The Hic extremo in Aventino; vifendus uterque. Intervalla vides humane commoda. " Verum "Purae funt plateae, nihil ut meditantibus obstet." Feftinat calidus mulis gerulifque redemtor: Torquet nunc lapidem, nunc ingens machina tignum: Triftia robuftis luctantur funera plaustris: Hac rabiofa fugit canis, hac lutulenta ruit fus. * I nunc, et verfus tecum meditare canoros. Scriptorum chorus omnis amat nemus, et fugit urbes, Rite cliens Bacchi, fomno gaudentis et umbra. I The Man, who, ftretch'd in Ifis' calm retreat, And here, while town, and court, and city roars, Compofing fongs, for Fools to get by heart? 125 m The Temple late two brother Sergeants faw, Who deem'd each other Oracles of Law; With equal talents, these congenial fouls, One lull'd th' Exchequer, and one ftunn'd the Rolls; Each had a gravity would make you split, And shook his head at Murray, as a Wit. Tu me inter ftrepitus nocturnos atque diurnos 1 'Twas, 1 Ingenium, fibi quod vacuas defumfit Athenas, Et ftudiis annos feptem dedit, infenuitque Plerumque, et rifu populum quatit; hic ego rerum m Frater erat Romae confulti rhetor; ut alter 'Twas," Sir, your law"-and " Sir, your eloquence," "Yours, Cowper's manner-and yours, Talbot's fenfe." Thus we difpofe of all poetic merit, 135 Yours Milton's genius, and mine Homer's spirit. " 140 Weave laurel Crowns, and take what names we pleafe, My dear Tibullus!" if that will not do, "Let me be Horace, and be Ovid you: "Or, I'm content, allow me Dryden's ftrains, "And you fhall rise up Otway for your pains." Much do I fuffer, much, to keep in peace This jealous, wafpish, wrong-head, rhyming race; Carmina compono, hic elegos; mirabile vifu, Mox etiam (fi forte vacas) fequere, et procul audi, 145 And |