EPISTLE VI.

TO MR. MURRAY".

NOT

OT to admire, is all the Art I know,

"To make men happy, and to keep them fo." (Plain Truth, dear MURRAY, needs no flow'rs of

speech,

So take it in the very Words of Creech.)

с

b This Vault of Air, this congregated Ball, Self-center'd Sun, and Stars that rise and fall, There are, my Friend! whofe philofophic eyes Look through, and trust the Ruler with his Skies, To him commit the Hour, the Day, the Year, And view this dreadful All without a fear. Admire we then what Earth's low Entrails hold, Arabian fhores, or Indian feas infold;

10

·

All the mad trade of Fools and Slaves for Gold? Or 'Popularity? or Stars and Strings?

15

The Mob's applaufes, or the gifts of Kings?
Say with what eyes we ought at Courts to gaze,
pay the Great our homage of Amaze ?

g

And

If

NOTES.

* Afterwards the celebrated Lord Mansfield. This was writ. ten 1737.

VER. 8. truft the Ruler] This last line is quaint and even obfcure; the two firft vigorously expreffed. Horace thought of a ftriking and exalted paffage in Lucretius, Book v. 1. 1185.

WARTON.

h

Qui timet his adversa, fere miratur eodem Quo cupiens pacto: pavor eft utrobique moleftus: Improvifa fimul fpecies exterret utrumque : i Gaudeat, an doleat; cupiat, metuatne; quid ad rem, Si, quidquid vidit melius pejusve sua spe, Defixis oculis, animoque et corpore torpet?

* Infani fapiens nomen ferat, æquus iniqui; Ultra quam fatis eft, virtutem fi petat ipfam.

'I nunc, argentum et marmor" vetus, æraque et artes Suspice: cum gemmis " Tyrios mirare colores: Gaude, quod fpectant oculi te ° mille loquentem: Gnavus mane forum, et vefpertinus pete tectum; "Ne plus frumenti dotalibus emetat agris

P

Mutus, et (indignum; quod fit pejoribus ortus) ' Hic tibi fit potius, quam tu mirabilis illi.

S

• Quicquid fub terra eft, in apricum proferet ætas ;

Defodiet,

NOTES.

VER. 44. Tel Time ennobles, or degrades each Line;
It brighten'd Craggs's, and may darken thine:]
One of the nobleft houfes in Europe.-The original is,

"Quicquid fub terra eft, in apricum proferet ætas ;
"Defodiet, condetque nitentia."

This wants neither force nor elegance; yet is vaftly inferior to the Imitation, where a very fine panegyric on two great characters, in the fecond line, gives dignity and cafe to the mafterly concifenefs of the firft. WARBURTON.

VER. 45. It brighten'd CRAGGS's,] His father had been in a low fituation; but, by induftry and ability, got to be Poft Master General and Agent to the Duke of Marlborough. WARTON.

From a Picture by Zincke. in the Marquis of Buckingham's Collection at Stowe.

UNIV

OF

MICH

If weak the pleasure that from these can spring, The fear to want them is as weak a thing: Whether we dread, or whether we desire, In either cafe, believe me, we admire ; Whether we joy or grieve, the fame the curse, Surpriz'd at better, or furpriz'd at worse.

Thus good or bad, to one extreme betray

Th' unbalanc'd lind, and snatch the Man away; 25
For * Virtue's fe'f may too much zeal be had;
The worst of Madmen is a Saint run mad.

k

'Go then, and if you can, admire the state
Of beaming diamonds, and reflected plate;
Procure a TASTE to double the furprize,
And gaze on "Parian Charms with learned eyes:
Be ftruck with bright " Brocade, or Tyrian Dye,
Our Birth-day Nobles' fplendid Livery.

30

35

If not fo pleas'd, at ⚫ Council-board rejoice,
To fee their Judgments hang upon thy Voice;
From morn to night, at Senate, Rolls, and Hall,
Plead much, read more, dine late, or not at all.
But wherefore all this labour, all this strife?

For Fame, for Riches, for a noble Wife?

9

Shall One whom Nature, Learning, Birth, confpir'd

To form, not to admire, but be admir'd,

41

r

20

Sigh, while his Chloe blind to Wit and Worth
Weds the rich Dulness of fome Son of earth?
Yet Time ennobles, or degrades each Line;
It brighten❜d CRAGGS's, and may darken thine: 45
And what is Fame? the Meanest have their day,
The Greatest can but blaze, and pass away.

VOL. IV,

L

Grac'd