difference betwixt them, that the ends of the one are directly opposite to the other: one with the Queen's approbation and conjunction, as head of it; the other without either the confent or knowledge of the King, against whofe authority it is manifeftly defigned. Therefore you do well to have recourfe to your laft evafion, that it was contrived by your enemies, and fhuffled into the papers that were feized; which yet you see the nation is not fo eafy to believe as your own jury; but the matter is not difficult, to fad twelve men in Newgate who would acquit a malefactor.

I have one only favour to defire of you at parting, that when you think of anfwering this poem, you would employ the fame pens against it, who have combated with fo much fuccefs against Abfalem and Achitophel: for then you may affure yourfelves of a clear victory, without the leaft reply. Rail at me abundantly; and, not to break a cuflom, do it without wit: by this method you will gain a confiderable point, which is wholly to wave the answer of my arguments. Never own the bottom of your principles, for fear they fhould be treafon. Fall feverely on the mifcarriages of government; for if fcandal be not allowed, you are no freeborn fubjects. If God has not bleffed you with the talent of rhyming, make ufe of my poor ftock and welcome: let your verses run upon my feet: and for the utmost refuge of notorious blockheads, reduced to the laft extremity of feufe, turn my own lines upon me, and in utter despair of your own fatire, make me fatyrize myself. Some of you have been driven to this bay already; but, above all the reft, commend me to the nonconformit parfon, who writ the Whip and Key. I am afraid it is not read fo much as the piece deferves, because the bookfeller is every week crying help at

the

the end of his Gazette, to get it off. You fee I am charitable enough to do him a kindness, that it may be published as well as printed; and that fo much fkill in Hebrew derivations may not lie for waftepaper in the shop. Yet I half fufpe&t he went no farther for his learning, than the index of Hebrew names and etymologies, which is printed at the end of fome English bibles. If Achitophel fignify the brother of a fool, the author of that poem will pafs with his readers for the next of kin. And perhaps it is the relation that makes the kindness. Whatever the verses are, buy them up I beseech you out of pity; for I hear the conventicle is thut up, and the brother of Achitophel out of service 3.

Now footmen you know have the generofity to make a purfe for a member of their fociety, who has had his livery pulled over his ears: and even protestant focks are bought up among you, out of veneration to the name. A diffenter in poetry from fenfe and English will make as good a proteftant rhymer, as a diffenter from the church of England a protestant parfon. Befides, if you encourage a young beginner, who knows but he may elevate his ftile a little above the vulgar epithets of prophane, and fawcy Jack, and atheistic fcribler, with which he treats me, when the fit of enthusiasm is ftrong upon him: by which well-mannered and charitable expreffions I was certain of his fect before I knew his name. What would you have more of a man? He has damned me in your cause from Genefis to the Revelations: and has half the texts of both the Teftaments against me, if you will be fo civil to yourselves as to take him for

3 George Cooper, Efq; brother to the earl of Shaftesbury, was married to a daughter of Alderman Oldfield; and, being fettled in the city, became a great man among the Whigs and fanatics.

your

your interpreter; and not to take them for Irish witneffes. After all, perhaps you will tell me, that you retained him only for the opening of your caufe, and that your main lawyer is yet behind. Now if it fo happen he meet with no more reply than his predeceffors, you may either conclude that I trust to the goodnefs of my caufe, or fear my adverfary, or difdain him, or what you pleafe, for the fhort of it is, it is indifferent to your humble fervant, whatever your party fays or thinks of him,

*

1

THE

1

M

THE

ED A L.

A SATIRE againft SEDITION.

F all our antick fights and pageantry,
Which English ideots run in crouds to fee,
The Polish Medal bears the prize alone:
A monfter, more the favourite of the town
Than either fairs or theatres have fhown.
Never did art fo well with nature strive;
Nor ever idol feem'd fo much alive:
So like the man; fo golden to the fight,
So base within, fo counterfeit and light.
One fide is fill'd with title and with face;
And, left the king fhould want a legal place,
On the reverse, a tower the town furveys;
O'er which our mounting fun his beams difplays.

}

The

The word, pronounc'd aloud by fhrieval voice,
Lætamur, which, in Polifh, is rejoice.

The day, month, year, to the great act are join'd:
And a new canting holiday defign'd.

Five days he fat, for every caft and look;
Four more than God to finish Adam took.
But who can tell what effence angels are,
Or how long heaven was making Lucifer?
Oh, could the stile that copy'd every grace,
And plough'd fuch furrows for an eunuch face,
Could it have form'd his ever-changing will,
The various piece had tir'd the graver's fkill!
A martial hero firft, with carly care,
Blown, like a pigmy by the winds, to war.
A beardlefs chief, a rebel, e'er a man:
So young his hatred to his prince began.
Next this, how wildly will ambition fteer!
A vermin wriggling in the ufurper's ear.
Bartering his venal wit for fums of gold,
He caft himself into the faint-like mould;
Groan'd, figh'd and pray'd, while godlinefs was gain,
The loudest bagpipe of the fqueaking train.

But, as 'tis hard to cheat a juggler's eyes,
His open lewdnefs he cou'd ne'er disguise.
There split the faint: for hypocritick zeal
Allows no fins but thofe it can conceal.
Whoring to fcandal gives too large a scope:
Saints must not trade; but they may interlope..
The ungodly principle was all the fame;
But a grofs cheat betrays his partner's game.
Befides their pace was formal, grave, and flack;
His nimble wit outran the heavy pack.

Yet ftill he found his fortune at a stay;

Whole droves of blockheads choaking up his way
They took, but not rewarded, his advice;
Villain and wit exact a double price.

VOL. I.

Power