i

k

With f laughter fure Democritus had dy'd, 320
Had he beheld an Audience gape fo wide.
Let Bear or Elephant be e'er fo white,
The people, fure, the people are the fight!
Ah lucklefsh Poet! ftretch thy lungs and roar,
That Bear or Elephant fhall heed thee more; 325
While all its throats the Gallery extends,
And all the Thunder of the Pit afcends!
Loud as the Wolves, on Orcas' ftormy steep,
Howl to the roarings of the Northern deep.
Such is the shout, the long-applauding note, 330
At Quin's high plume, or Oldfield's petticoat;
Or when from Court a birth-day fuit bestow'd,
Sinks them loft Actor in the tawdry load.
Booth enters --- hark! the Universal peal!
"But has he spoken?" Not a fyllable. 3-55
What shook the stage, and made the people stare?
"Cato's long wig, flow'r'd gown, and lacquer'd chair.
Yet left you think I railly more than teach,
Or praise malignly Arts I cannot reach,
Let me for once presume t'instruct the times, 340
To know the Poet from the Man of rhymes:

NOTES.

P.

VER. 328. Orcas' farmy fleep.] The fartheft Northern Promontory of Scotland, oppofite to the Orcades.

Ire poeta; meum qui pectus inaniter angit,

Irritat, mulcet, falfis terroribus implet,

Ut magus; et modo meThebis, modo ponit Athenis.

P Verum age, et his, qui fe lectori credere malunt,

Quam Spectatoris fastidia ferre superbi,

Curam impende brevem: fi munus Apolline dig

num

Vis complere libris; et vatibus addere calcar,
Ut ftudio majore petant Helicona virentem.

*Multa quidem nobis facimus mala faepe poetae,

(Ut vineta egomet caedam mea) cum tibi librum

• Solicito damus, aut feffo: cum laedimur, * unum

S

NOTES.

VER. 347. To Thebes, to Athens, etc.] i. e. is equally knowing in the manners of the moft different people; and has the fkill to employ thofe manners with decorum.

O

"Tis he, who gives my breast a thousand pains, Can make me feel each Paffion that he feigns; Inrage, compofe, with more than magic Art, With Pity, and with Terror, tear my heart; 345 And fnatch me, o'er the earth, or thro' the air, To Thebes, to Athens, when he will, and where.

P But not this part of the Poetic state Alone, deferves the favour of the Great: Think of thofe Authors, Sir, who would rely 350 More on a Reader's fenfe, than Gazer's eye. Or who shall wander where the Muses fing? Who climb their mountain,orwho tafte their fpring? How shall we fill a Library with Wit, When Merlin's Cave is half unfurnish'd yet? 355 My Liege! why Writers little claim your thought, I guess; and, with their leave, will tell the fault: We' Poets are (upon a Poet's word)

Of all mankind, the creatures most abfurd:

The 'season, when to come, and when to go, 360 To fing, or cease to fing, we never know;

NOTES.

VER. 354. a Library] Munus Apolline dignum. The Palatine Library then building by Auguftus.

P.

VER. 355. Merlin's Cave] A Building in the Royal Gardens of Richmond, where is a fimall, but choice Collection of Books. P.

VOL. IV.

O

Si quis amicorum eft aufus reprendere versum:
Cum loca jam recitata revolvimus irrevocati :
Cum lamentamur non apparere labores
Noftros, et tenui deducta poemata filo;

W

*

Cum fperamus eo rem venturam, ut, fimul atque
Carmina refcieris nos fingere, commodus ultro
Arceffas, et egere vetes, et fcribere cogas.
Sed tamen eft operae precium cognofcere, quales
Aedituos habeat belli fpectata domique
Virtus, indigno non committenda poetae.

* Gratus Alexandro regi Magno fuit ille
Choerilus, incultis qui verfibus et male natis
Rettulit acceptos, regale numifma, Philippos.
Sed veluti tractata notam labemque remittunt
Atramenta, fere fcriptores carmine foedo
Splendida facta linunt. idem rex ille, poema
Qui tam ridiculum tam care prodigus emit,
Edicto vetuit, ne quis fe praeter Apellem
Pingeret, aut alius Lyfippo duceret aerá
Fortis Alexandri vultum fimulantia. quod fi

NOTES.

VER. 385. But Kings in Wit may want difcerning Spirit.] This is not much to be wondered at fince the Sacerdotal Cha

W

And if we will recite nine hours in ten,
You lose your patience, just like other men.
Then too we hurt ourselves, when to defend
A 'fingle verse, we quarrel with a friend; 365
Repeat unafk'd; lament, the " Wit's too fine
For vulgar eyes, and point out ev'ry line.
But most, when straining with too weak a wing,
We needs will write Epiftles to the King;
And from the moment we oblige the town,370
Expect a place, or penfion from the Crown;
Or dubb'd Historians by exprefs command,
T'enroll your triumphs o'er the feas and land,
Be call'd to Court to plan fome work divine,
As once for Louis, Boileau and Racine.

375

Yet think, great Sir! (fo many Virtues shown) Ah think, what Poet best may make them known? Or chufe at least fome Minister of Grace, Fit to beftow the Laureat's weighty place.

381

Charles, to late times to be transmitted fair, Affign'd his figure to Bernini's care; And great Naffau to Kneller's hand decreed To fix him graceful on the bounding Steed; So well in paint and stone they judg'd of merit: But Kings in Wit may want difcerning Spirit. 385

NOTES.

racter has been separated from the Regal. This difcerning of Spirits now feems to be the allotment of the ecclefiaftical branch,