To gain Pefcennius one employs his Schemes, Poor Vadius, long with learned spleen devour'd, Their's is the Vanity, the Learning thine: e Oh, when shall Britain, confcious of her claim, 45 50 55 How Plato's, Bacon's, Newton's looks agree; 60 A Virgil there, and here an Addison. Then shall thy Craggs (and let me call him mine) With aspect open shall erect his head, 65 And round the orb in lasting notes be read, "Who "Who broke no promise, served no private end, "Who gain'd no title, and who loft no friend; "Ennobled by himself, by all approv'd, "And prais'd, unenvy'd, by the Muse he lov'd.” 70 EPISTLE TO DR. ARBUTHNOT, BEING THE PROLOGUE TO THЕ SATIRE S. ADVERTISEMENT TO The firft Publication of this Epiftle. THIS paper is a fort of bill of complaint, begun, many years fince, and drawn up by fnatches, as the feveral occafions offered. I had no thoughts of publishing it, till it pleased some perfons of Rank and Fortune [the Authors of Verses to the Imitator of Horace, and of an Epiftle to a Doctor of Divinity from a Nobleman at Hampton-Court] to attack, in a very extraordinary manner, not only my Writings (of which, being public, the Publick is judge) but my y Perfon, Morals, and Family, whereof, to those who know me not, a truer information may be requifite. Being divided between the neceffity to say something of myself, and my own laziness to undertake fo aukward a task, I thought it the shortest way to put the laft hand to this Epiftle. If it have any thing pleasing, it will be that by which I am moft defirous to please, the Truth and the Sentiment; and if any thing offenfive, it will be only to those I am least forry to offend, the vicious or the ungenerous. Many will know their own pictures in it, there being not a circumstance but what is true: but I have, for the most part, fpared their Names; and they may efcape being laughed at, if they please. I would have fome of them know, it was owing to the request of the learned and candid Friend to whom it is inscribed, that I make not as free Ufe of theirs as they have done of mine. However, I fhall have this advantage, and honour, on my fide, that whereas, by their proceeding, any abuse may be directed at any man, no injury can poffibly be done by mine, fince a nameless Character can never be found out, but by its truth and likeness. P. HUT, fhut the door, good John! fatigued I faid, SHUT, Tye up the knocker, fay I'm fick, I'm dead. The Dog-star rages! nay, 'tis past a doubt, All Bedlam, or Parnassus, is let out : Fire in each eye, and papers in each hand, 5 They rave, recite, and madden round the land. What walls can guard me, or what shades can hide ? They pierce my thickets, through my Grot they glide, By land, by water, they renew the charge, They stop the chariot, and they board the barge. No place is facred, not the Church is free, Ev'n Sunday fhines no Sabbath-day to me; 10 Then from the Mint walks forth the man of rhyme, Is there a Parfon, much bemus'd in beer, A Clerk, foredoom'd his father's foul to cross, Is there, who, lock'd from ink and paper, fcrawls Friend to my Life! (which did not you prolong, 15 20 25 30 Το VARIATIONS. After ver. 20. in the MS. Is there a Bard in durance? turn them free, Dear Doctor, tell me, is not this a curse? |