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A little Houfe, with Trees a-row,
And, like its Mafter, very low.

There dy'd my Father, no man's Debtor,
And there I'll die, nor worfe nor better.

To fet this matter full before ye,
Our old Friend Swift will tell his Story.
"Harley, the Nation's great Support,"
But you may read it, I ftop short.

SATIRE VI.

80

The First Part imitated in the Year 1714, by Dr. SWIFT; the latter Part added afterwards.

'VE often wish'd that I had clear

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For life, fix hundred pounds a year,
A handfome Houfe to lodge a Friend,
A River at my garden's end,
A Terras-walk, and half a Rood
Of Land, set out to plant a Wood.
Well, now I have all this and more,

I ask not to encrease my store;
But here a Grievance feems to lie,

All this is mine but till I die;

I can't but think 'twould found more clever,
To me and to my Heirs for ever.

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Si neque majorem feci ratione mala rem,
Nec fum facturus vitio culpave minorem:

Si veneror ftultus nihil horum, O fi angulus ille
Proximus accedat, qui nunc denormat agellum!
O fi urnam argenti fors quæ mihi monftret! ut illi,
Thefauro invento qui mercenarius agrum

Illum ipfum mercatus aravit, dives amico
Hercule, fi, quod adeft, gratum juvat: hac prece te

oro,

Pingue pecus domino facias, et caetera praeter
Ingenium; utque foles, cuftos mihi maximus adfis.
Ergo ubi me in montes et in arcem ex Urbe removi,
Quid prius illluftrem Satiris Mufaque pedestri?
Nec mala me ambitio perdit, nec plumbeus Aufter,
Autumnufque gravis, Libitinae quaeftus acerbae.
Matutine pater, feu Jane libentius audis,
Unde homines operum primos vitaeque labores
Inftituunt, (fic Dîs placitum) tu carminis efto
Principium Romae fponforem me rapis: Eia,

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• If I ne'er got or lost a groat,

By any Trick, or any Fault;

And if I pray by Reafon's rules,

And not like Forty other Fools:

As thus, "Vouchfafe, oh Gracious Maker! "To grant me this and t'other Acre:

"Or, if it be thy Will and Pleasure,

"Direct my Plow, to find a Treasure.”
But only what my Station fits,
And to be kept in my right wits.
Preferve, Almighty Providence!
Juft what you gave me, Competence:
And let me in these shades compofe
Something in Verse as true as Profe;

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• Remov'd from all th'Ambitious Scene,

Nor puff'd by Pride, nor funk by Spleen.'

In fhort, I'm perfectly content,

Let me but live on this fide Trent;

Nor cross the Channel twice a year,

To spend fix Months with Statesmen here.
I muft by all means come to town,
'Tis for the fervice of the Crown.
"Lewis, the Dean will be of use,
"Send for him up, take no excuse."
The toil, the danger of the Seas;
Great Minifters ne'er think of these;
Or let it coft five hundred pound,
No matter where the money's found,

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Ne prior officio quifquam refpondeat, urgue:
Sive Aquilo radit terras, feu bruma nivalem
Interiore diem gyro trahit, ire neceffe eft.
Poftmodo, quod mî obfit, clare certumque locuto,
Luftandum in turba, et facienda injuria tardis.
Quid tibi vis, infane? et quas res agis? improbus
urguet

Iratis precibus. tu pulfes omne quod obftat,

Ad Maecenatem memori fi mente recurras.

Hoc juvat, et melli eft; ne mentiar. at fimul atras
Ventum eft Efquilias; aliena negotia centum
Per caput, et circa faliunt latus. Ante fecundam

It is but fo much more in debt,

And that they ne'er confider'd yet.

"Good Mr. Dean go change your gown, "Let my Lord know you're come to town. I hurry me in hafte away,

Not thinking it is Levee-day;
And find his Honour in a Pound,
Hemm'd by a triple Circle round,

Checquer'd with Ribbons blue and green :
How should I thruft myself between ?
Some Wag obferves me thus perplext,
And smiling, whispers to the next,

"I thought the Dean had been too proud,
"To juftle here among a croud."

Another in a furly fit,

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Tells me I have more Zeal than Wit,

"So eager to express your love,

"You ne'er confider whom you fhove, "But rudely prefs before a Duke."

I own, I'm pleas'd with this rebuke,

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And take it kindly meant to show
What I defire the World fhould know.

I get a whisper, and withdraw;
When twenty Fools I never faw
Come with Petitions fairly penn'd,
Defiring I would stand their friend.
This, humbly offers me his Cafe-
That, begs my int'reft for a Place-

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