Ye gods! shall Cibber's son, without rebuke, Swear like a lord; or Rich5 outwhore a duke? A favourite's porter with his master vie, Be brib'd as often, and as often lie? Shall Ward draw contracts with a statesman's skill? Το pay their debts, or keep their faith, like kings? Learn from their books to hang himself and wife? 4 Theophilus Cibber. 5 Manager of Covent Garden Theatre. 6 See note 1, vol. ii. p. 120. 7 See note 2, vol. ii. p. 121. 8 Charles Blount, author of The Oracles of Reason, &c. 9 A nobleman of Piedmont, author of A Philosophical Discourse on Death, who was banished from his country for his impieties. 1 Richard Smith: see Gentleman's Magazine for April, 1732. 2 An eloquent preacher and author of a Defence of Christianity against Tindal. 8 Mrs. Drummond, famous in her day. Outdo Landaff in doctrine-yea, in life; 4 See Memoir prefixed to these volumes, p. cxi. See all our nobles begging to be slaves! At crimes that 'scape, or triumph o'er the law: While truth, worth, wisdom, daily they decry'Nothing is sacred now but villany.' Yet may this verse (if such a verse remain) Show there was one who held it in disdain. DIALOGUE II. Fr. 'Tis all a libel-Paxton,1 sir, will say. Feign what I will, and paint it e'er so strong, 2 F. Yet none but you by name the guilty lash; E'en Guthry saves half Newgate by a dash. Spare then the person, and expose the vice. P. How, sir! not damn the sharper, but the dice? 1 Solicitor to the Treasury. 2 Ordinary of Newgate, who published memoirs of the malefactors, and often, out of regard to their reputation, set down only the initial letters of their names. Come on then, satire! general, unconfin'd, Ye tradesmen, vile, in army, court, or hall! who? F. Scandal! name them, P. Why that's the thing you bid me not to do. Who starv'd a sister, who forswore a debt, I never nam'd; the town's inquiring yet. The poisoning dame-F. You mean—P. I don't. F. You do. P. See, now I keep the secret, and not you! The bribing statesman-F. Hold, too high you go. P. The brib'd elector-F. There you stoop too low. P. I fain would please you, if I knew with what. Tell me, which knave is lawful game, which not? Must great offenders, once escap'd the crown, Like royal harts, be never more run down? Admit your law to spare the knight requires, As beasts of nature may we hunt the squires? Suppose I censure—you know what I meanTo save a bishop, may I name a dean? F. A dean, sir? no: his fortune is not made; You hurt a man that's rising in the trade. P. If not the tradesman who set up to-day, Much less the 'prentice who to-morrow may. Down, down, proud satire! tho' a realm be spoil'd, Arraign no mightier thief than wretched Wild;" 8 Jonathan Wild. Or, if a court or country's made a job, The poor and friendless villain, than the great? Alas! the small discredit of a bribe Scarce hurts the lawyer, but undoes the scribe. Then better sure it charity becomes To tax directors, who (thank God!) have plums; May pinch e'en there-why, lay it on a king. P. Must satire then nor rise nor fall? Speak out, and bid me blame no rogues at all. ago: Who now that obsolete example fears? mad; F. What, always Peter? Peter thinks you You make men desperate, if they once are bad; Else might he take to virtue some years henceP. As S**k, if he lives, will love the prince. F. Strange spleen to S** *k! P. Do I wrong the man? God knows I praise a courtier where I can. 4 The year before this was written, Peter had narrowly escaped the pillory for forgery. See note 2, vol. ii. p. 121. |