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F. A Dean, Sir? no: his Fortune is not made, You hurt a man that's rifing in the Trade.

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P. If not the Tradefman who fet up to day, Much lefs the 'Prentice who to morrow may. Down, down, proud Satire! tho' a Realm be spoil'd, Arraign no mightier Thief than wretched Wild; Or, if a Court or Country's made a job, Go drench a Pick-pocket, and join the Mob. But, Sir, I beg you (for the Love of Vice !) The matter's weighty, pray confider twice; Have you lefs pity for the needy Cheat,

40

The poor and friendless Villain, than the Great? 45 Alas! the fmall Difcredit of a Bribe

Scarce hurts the Lawyer, but undoes the Scribe.

Then better fure it Charity becomes

To tax Directors, who (thank God) have Plums;

Still better, Minifters; or, if the thing

May pinch ev❜n there--why lay it on a King.

NOTES.

66

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VER. 35. You hurt a man that's rifing in the Trade.] For, as the reasonable De la Bruyere obferves, Qui ne "fait être un ERASME, doit penser à être Evéque.” SCRIBL.

VER. 39. Wretched Wild] Jonathan Wild, a famous Thief, and Thief-Impeacher, who was at laft caught in his own train and hanged. P.

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VER. 42. for the love of Vice] We must confider the Poet as here directing his difcourfe to a follower of the new sys tem of Politics, That private vices are public benefits. SCRIBL.

F. Stop! ftop!

P. Muft Satire, then, nor rife nor fall? Speak out, and bid me blame no Rogues at all. F. Yes, ftrike that Wild, I'll juftify the blow. P. Strike? why the man was hang'd ten years ago: Who now that obfolete Example fears?

Ev'n Peter trembles only for his Ears.

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F. What always Peter? Peter thinks you mad, You make men defp'rate if they once are bad : Elfe might he take to Virtue some years hence --- 60 P. As S---k, if he lives, will love the PRINCE.

F. Strange spleen to S---k!

P. Do I wrong the Man? God knows, I praise a Courtier where I can.

When I confefs, there is who feels for Fame,

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And melts to Goodness, need I SCARB'ROW name? Pleas'd let me own, in Efher's peaceful Grove (Whent Kent and Nature vye for PELHAM'S Love)

NOTES.

VER. 57. Ev'n Peter trembles only for his ears.] Peter had, the year before this, narrowly escaped the Pillory for forgery and got off with a fevere rebuke only from the bench. P.

VER. 65. Scarb'row] Earl of; and Knight of the Garter, whofe perfonal attachments to the King appeared from his fteddy adherence to the royal interest, after his refignation of his great employment of Mafter of the Horfe and whofe known honour and virtue made him esteemed by all parties. P.

VER. 66. Efher's peaceful grove,] The house and gar

The Scene, the Master, opening to my view,
I fit and dream I fee my CRAGGS anew!

Ev'n in a Bishop I can fpy Defert;
Secker is decent, Rundel has a Heart,
Manners with Candour are to Benfon giv'n,
To Berkley, ev'ry Virtue under Heav'n.

But does the Court a worthy Man remove?
That inftant, I declare, he has my Love:

NOTES.

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dens of Efher in Surry, belonging to the Honourable Mr. Pelham, Brother of the Duke of Newcastle. The author could not have given a more amiable idea of his Character than in comparing him to Mr. Craggs. P.

VER. 67. Kent and Nature] Means no more than art and natare. And in this confifts the compliment to the Artist.

VER. 71. Secker is decent] Thefe words (like those 135. of the firft Dialogue) are another inftance of the mafignity of the public judgment. The Poet thought, and not without reafon, that they conveyed a very high idea of the worthy perfon to whom they are applied; to be DECENT (or to become every ilation of life in which a man is placed) being the noblest encomium on his wisdom and virtue. It is the very topic he employs in speaking of a favourite friend, one he most efteemed and loved,

Noble and young, who firikes the heart,

With ev'ry Sprightly, ev'ry DECENT part.

The word in both places implying every endowment of the heart. As in that celebrated verse of Horace, from whence the expreffion was taken, aud which no one has a better right to apply to himself than this excellent prelate :

Quid verum atque DECENS curo et rogo, et omnis in hoc fum. So that to be decent is to excell in the moral character.

I fhun his Zenith, court his mild Decline;

Thus SOMMERS once, and HALIFAX, were mine. Oft, in the clear, ftill Mirrour of Retreat,

I ftudy'd SHREWSBURY, the wife and great : CARLETON'S calm Senfe, and STANHOPE'S noble

Flame,

Compar'd, and knew their gen'rous End the fame :
How pleafing ATTER BURY's fofter hour!
How fhin'd the Soul, unconquer'd in the Tow'r!

NOTES.

80

VER. 77. Sommers] John Lord Sommers died in 1716. He had been Lord Keeper in the reign of William III. who took from him the feals in 1700. The author had the honour of knowing him in 1706. A faithful, able, and incorrupt minifter; who, to the qualities of a confummate statesman, added those of a man of Learning and Politeness.

P.

Ibid Halifax] A peer, no lefs diftinguished by his love of letters than his abilities in Parliament. He was difgraced in 1710, on the Change of Q. Anne's ministry. P.

VER. 79. Shrewsbury,] Charles Talbot, Duke of Shrewsbury, had been Secretary of ftate, Embassador in France, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Lord Chamberlain, and Lord Treasurer. He feveral times quitted his employments, and was often recalled. He died in 1718. P.

VER. 80. Carleton] Hen. Boyle, Lord Carleton (nephew of the famous Robert Boyle) who was Secretary of ftate under William III. and Prefident of the Council under Q. Anne, P.

Ibid. Stanhope] James Earl Stanhope. A Nobleman of equal courage, fpirit, and learning. General in Spain, and Secretary of state. P.

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How can I PULT'NEY, CHESTERFIELD forget, While Roman Spirit charms, and Attic Wit: ARGYLL, the State's whole Thunder born to wield, And shake alike the Senate and the Field:

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Or WYNDHAM, juft to Freedom and the Throne,
The Master of our Paffions, and his own.
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Names, which I long have lov'd, nor lov'd in vain,
Rank'd with their Friends, not number'd with their
Train;

And if yet higher the proud Lift should end,
Still let me fay! No Follower, but a Friend.
Yet think not, Friendship only prompts my lays ;
I follow Virtue; where the fhines, I praise :
Point fhe to Prieft or Elder, Whig or Tory,
Or round a Quaker's Beaver caft a Glory.

NOTES.

95

VER. 84. Chefterfield] Philip Earl of Chefterfield, commonly given by Writers of all Parties for an EXAMPLE to the Age he lives in, of fuperior talents, and public Virtue.

VER. 88. Wyndham] Sir William Wyndham, Chancellor of the Exchequer under Queen Anne, made early a confiderable figure; but fince a much greater both by his ability and eloquence, joined with the utmoft judgment and temper. P.

VER. 92. And if yet higher, etc.] He was at this time honoured with the esteem and favour of his Royal Highnefs the Prince.

VER. 93. Still let me fay! No Follower, but a Friend.] i. e. Unrelated to their parties, and attached only to their perfons.

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