All, all but Truth, drops dead-born from the Prefs, Like the last Gazette, or the last Address. 227

When black Ambition stains a public Cause, A Monarch's sword when mad Vain-glory draws, Not Waller's Wreath can hide the Nation's Scar, Nor Boileau turn the Feather to a Star.

231

Not so, when diadem'd with rays divine, Touch'd with the Flame that breaks from Virtue's

Shrine,

Her Priestess Muse forbids the Good to die,

And opes the Temple of Eternity.

VARIATIONS.

After 227. in the MS.

Where's now the Star that lighted Charles to rife?
---With that which follow'd Julius to the skies.
Angels, that watch'd the Royal Oak fo well,
How chanc'd ye nod, when luckless Sorel fell?
Hence, lying miracles! reduc'd so low
As to the regal-touch, and papal-toe;
Hence haughty Edgar's title to the Main,
Britain's to France, and thine to India, Spain!

NOTES.

VER. 228. When black Ambition etc.] The case of Cromwell in the civil war of England; and (229.) of Louis XIV. in his conquest of the Low Countries.

P.

VER. 231. Nor Boileau turn the Feather to a Star.] See his Ode on Namur; where (to use his own words) " il a fait un " Aftre de la Plume blanche que le Roy porte ordinairement " à fon Chapeau, et qui eft en effet une espece de Comete, "fatale à nos ennemis.

P.

There, other Trophies deck the truly brave,
Than such as Anstis casts into the Grave;
Far other Stars than * and * * wear,
And may descend to Mordington from STAIR:
(Such as on HoUGH's unfully'd Mitre shine, 240
Or beam, good DIGBY, from a heart like thine)
Let Envy howl, while Heav'n's whole Chorus sings,
And bark at Honour not confer'd by Kings;
Let Flatt'ry fick'ning fee the Incense rife,
Sweet to the World, and grateful to the Skies:
Truth guards the Poet, sanctifies the line, 246
And makes immortal, Verse as mean as mine.

Yes, the last Pen for Freedom let me draw, When Truth stands trembling on the edge of Law; Here, Last of Britons! let your Names be read; Are none, none living? let me praise the Dead,

NOTES.

VER. 237. Anftis] The chief Herald at Arms. It is the custom, at the funeral of great peers, to cast into the grave the broken staves and ensigns of honour.

P.

VER. 239. Stair;] John Dalrymple Earl of Stair, Knight of the Thistle; served in all the wars under the Duke of Marlborough; and afterwards as Embassador in France.

P.

VER. 240, 241. Hough and Digby] Dr. John Hough Bishop of Worcester, and the Lord Digby. The one an affertor of the Church of England in oppofition to the false measures of King James II. The other as firmly attached to the cause of that King. Both acting out of principle, and equally men of

honour and virtue.

P.

And for that Cause which made your Fathers shine, Fall by the Votes of their degen'rate Line.

Fr. Alas! alas! pray end what you began, And write next winter more Effays on Man. 255

VARIATIONS.

Ver. 255, in the MS.

Quit, quit these themes, and write Essays on Man.

NOTES.

VER. ult.] This was the last poem of the kind printed by our author, with a resolution to publish no more; but to enter thus, in the most plain and folemn manner he could, a fort of PROTEST against that infuperable corruption and depravity of manners, which he had been so unhappy as to live to fee. Could he have hoped to have amended any, he had continued those attacks; but bad men were grown so shameless and so powerful, that Ridicule was become as unfafe as it was ineffectual. The Poem raised him, as he knew it would, some enemies; but he had reason to be satisfied with the approbation of good men, and the teftimony of his own confcience. P.

ON

Receiving from the Right Hon. the Lady

FRANCES SHIRLEY

A STANDISH and Two PENS.

Y

ES, I beheld th'Athenian Queen
Descend in all her sober charms;

" And take (she faid, and smil'd serene)
"Take at this hand celestial arms:

"Secure the radiant weapons wield;

"This golden lance shall guard Defert, "And if a Vice dares keep the field, "This steel shall stab it to the heart."

Aw'd, on my bended knees I fell,
Receiv'd the weapons of the sky;
And dipt them in the fable Well,
The fount of Fame or Infamy.

The Lady Frances Shirley] A Lady whose great Merit Mr.

Pope took a real pleasure in celebrating.

“What Well? what Weapon? (Flavia cries)

A standish, steel and golden pen!

"It came from Bertrand's, not the skies;

" I gave it you to write again.

"But, Friend, take heed whom you attack; "You'll bring a House (I mean of Peers) " Red, Blue, and Green, nay white and black, " L------ and all about your ears.

"You'd write as smooth again on glass,
" And run, on ivory, so glib,
"As not to stick at fool or afsb,
Nor stop at Flattery or Fibs.

"Athenian Queen! and fober charms!
" I tell ye, fool, there's nothing in't;
""Tis Venus, Venus gives these arms;
" In Dryden's Virgil see the print.

NOTES.

• A famous toy-shop at Bath.

The Dunciad.

The Epistle to Dr. Arbuthnot.

Such toys being the usual presents from lovers to their mif

treffes.

When she delivers Æneas a fuit of heavenly armour.