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,
80

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.

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 itate. P.

How can I PULT'NEY, CHESTERFIELD forget, While Roman Spirit charms, and Attic Wit: 85 ARGYLL, the State's whole Thunder born to wield, And shake alike the Senate and the Field:

Or WYNDHAM, juft to Freedom and the Throne, The Master of our Paffions, and his own. 89.

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.

VER. 84. Chesterfield] Philip Earl of Chesterfield, 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.

95

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

I never (to my forrow I declare)

Din'd with the MAN of Ross, or my LORD MAY'R. Some, in their choice of Friends (nay look not grave) Have ftill a fecret Byass to a Knave:

101

To find an honest man I beat about,

And love him, court him, praise him, in or out.
F. Then why fo few commended?

(

105

P. Not fo fierce ;
Find you the Virtue, and I'll find the Verfe.
But random Praise-the task can ne'er be done;
Each Mother afks it for her booby Son,
Each Widow afks it for the Beft of Men,
For him fhe weeps, and him she weds agen.
Praise cannot stoop, like Satire, to the ground;
The Number may be hang'd, but not be crown'd.
Enough for half the Greatest of these days,
To 'scape my Cenfure, not expect my Praise.
Are they not rich? what more can they pretend?
Dare they to hope a Poet for their Friend?

110

115*

NOTES.

VER. 99. my Lord May'r] Sir John Barnard, Lord Mayor in the year of the Poem, 1738. A Citizen eminent for his virtue, public Spirit, and great talents in Parliament. An excellent Man, Magiftrate, and Senator. In the year 1747, the City of London, in memory of his many and fignal fervices to his Country, erected a Statue to him. But his image had been placed long before in the heart of every good Man.

What RICHLIEU wanted, Louis scarce could gain,
And what young AMMON wish'd, but wish'd in vain.
No Pow'r the Mufe's Friendship can command;
No Pow'r, when Virtue claims it, can withstand:
To Cato, Virgil pay'd one honeft line;
Olet my Country's Friends illumin mine!
-What are you thinking? F. Faith the thought's no
fin,

120

I think your Friends are out and would be in.
P. If merely to come in, Sir, they go out,
The
way they take is ftrangely round about.
F. They too may be corrupted, you'll allow?
P. I only call those Knaves who are so now.
Is that too little? Come then, I'll comply-
Spirit of Arnall! aid me while I lye.

NOTES.

VER. 116. Louis fcarce could gain.] By this expreffion finely infinuating, that the great Boileau always falls below himself in those paffages where he flatters his Mafter. Of which flattery he gives an instance in 231. where the topic of adulation is exceeding childish and extravagant.

125

VER. 127. I only call thofe Knaves who are so now.] He left it to Time to tell them,

Cato is as great a Rogue as you.

not the Cato of Virgil, but the Cate of Mr. Pope. See the Ep. on Riches.

VER. 129. Spirit of Arnall!] Look for him in his place. Dunc. B. ii. 315.

135

COBHAM'S a Coward, POLWARTH is a Slave, 130
And LYTTLETON a dark, defigning Knave,
ST. JOHN has ever been a wealthy Fool---
But let me add, Sir ROBERT's mighty dull,
Has never made a Friend in private life,
And was, befides, a Tyrant to his Wife.
But pray, when others praise him, do I blame?
Call Verres, Wolfey, any odious name?
Why rail they then, if but a Wreath of mine,
Oh AH-accomplish'd ST. JOHN! deck thy fhrine?
What? fhall each spurgall'd Hackney of the day,
When Paxton gives him double Pots and Pay,
Or each new-penfion'd Sycophant, pretend
To break my Windows if I treat a Friend?
Then wifely plead, to me they meant no hurt,
But 'twas my Gueft at whom they threw the dirt?

141

NOTES.

VER. 130. Polwarth.] The Hon. Hugh Hume, Son of Alexander Eail of Marchmont, Grandfon of Patric Earl of Marchmont, and distinguished, like them, in the caufe of Liberty. P.

VBR. 136. do I blame? Call Verres, Wolfey, any odious name?] The Leaders of Parties, be they as florid as they will, generally do their bufinefs by compendium: A fingle rule of Rhetoric, which they may have learnt of Quintilian, or perhaps of a much older Sophift, does their bufinefs, Si nihil, quod nos adjuvet, erit, quæramus quid Adverfarium lædat. SCRIB.

VER 141. When Paxton gives him double pots and pay,] If this band of Penfioners were lo offenfive while embodied