EPISTOLA I. RIMA dicte mihi, fumma dicende camena, PRIMA b Spectatum fatis, et donatum jam rude, quaeris, Maecenas, iterum antiquo me includere ludo. с Non eadem eft aetas, non mens. Veianius, armis VER. 3. Sabbath of my days?] i. e. The 49th year, the age of the Author. VER. 8. Hang their old Trophies o'er the Garden gates,] An occafional ftroke of Satire on ill-placed ornaments. He has more openly ridiculed them in his Epifile on Tafte. EPISTLE I To L. BOLINGBROKE. T. JOHN, whofe love indulg'd my labours paft, Matures my prefent, and fhall bound my laft! Why will you break the Sabbath of my days? Now fick alike of Envy and of Praise. b Public too long, ah let me hide my Age! с See Modeft Cibber now has left the Stage: Hang their old Trophies o'er the Garden gates, 5 II Nore fond of bleeding, ev'n in BRUNSWICK's caufe, f A Voice there is, that whispers in my ear, ('Tis Reafon's voice, which fometimes one can hear) "Friend Pope! be prudent, let your Mufe take "breath, "And never gallop Pegafus to death; NOTES. "Load fome vain Church with old theatric state, VER. 10. ev'n in Brunswick's caufe.] In the former Editions it was, Britain's caufe. But the terms are fynony mous, Nunc itaque et verfus, et caetera ludicra pono: Quid verum atque decens, curo et rogo, et omnis in hoc fum: * Condo, et compono, quae mox depromere poffim. Ac ne forte roges, 'quo me duce, quo Lare tuter: m " Quo me cunque rapit tempeftas, deferor hofpes. Nunc agilis fio, et merfor" civilibus undis, Virtutis verae cuftos, ° rigidufque fatelles: * Nunc in Ariftippi P furtim praecepta relabor, Et mihi res, non me rebus, fubjungere conor. Ut nox longa, quibus mentitur amica; diesque NOTES. VER. 16. You limp, like Blackmore on `a Lord Mayor's borfe.] The fame of this heavy Poet, however problematical elsewhere, was univerfally received in the City of London. His verfification is here exactly described: ftiff, |