The Captain's honest, Sirs, and that's enough,
Tho' his foul's bullet, and his body buff.
He fpits fore'right; his haughty chest before,
Like batt'ring rams, beats open ev'ry door:
And with a face as red, and as awry,
As Herod's hang-dogs in old Tapestry,
Scarecrow to boys, the breeding woman's curfe,
Has yet a strange ambition to look worfe;
Confounds the civil, keeps the rude in awe,
Jefts like a licens'd fool, commands like law.
Frighted, I quit the room, but leave it fo
As men from Jails to execution go;
For, hung with deadly fins, I fee the wall,

265

270

And lin'd with Giants deadlier than 'em all:

275

Each man an Afkapart, of strength to tofs

For Quoits, both Temple-bar and Charing-crofs.
Scar'd at the grizly forms, I fweat, I fly,

And shake all o'er, like a discover'd spy.

Courts are too much for wits fo weak as mine:

279

Charge them with Heav'n's Artill❜ry, bold Divine!
From fuch alone the Great rebukes endure,
Whofe Satire's facred, and whofe rage fecure:
'Tis mine to wafh a few light ftains, but theirs.
To deluge fin, and drown a Court in tears.

NOTES.

285

Howe'er

Life of Drummond is inferted in the fifth volume of the new Edition of the Biographia Britannica, with many curious particulars imparted by Mr. Park.

VER. 274. For, hung with deadly fins,] The room hung with old Tapestry, reprefenting the feven deadly fins.

P.

Of my work leffen, yet fome wife men shall,

I hope, efteem my Writs Canonical.

Howe'er what's now Apocrypha, my Wit,

In time to come, may pass for Holy Writ.

NOTES.

VER. 286. My Wit,] The private character of Donne was very amiable and interesting; particularly fo, on account of his fecret marriage with the daughter of Sir George More; of the difficul ties he underwent on this marriage; of his conftant affection to his wife, his affliction at her death, and the fenfibility he displayed towards all his friends and relations.

1

EPILOGU E

то THE

SATIRES.

IN TWO DIALOGUES,

WRITTEN IN MDCCXXXVIIL

The following words of Quintilian might not be an improper motto for thefe Dialogues:

Ingenii plurimum eft in eo, et acerbitas mira, et urbanitas, et vis fumma; fed plus ftomacho, quam confilio dedit. Præterea ut amari fales, ita frequenter amaritudo ipfa ridicula eft."