Who to the dean and silver bell can swear, 370 Yet soft by nature, more a dupe than wit, 300 Sappho can tell you how this man was bit: This dreaded sat rist Dennis will confess Foe to his pride but friend to his distress: So humble, he has knock'd at Tibbald's door, Has drunk with Cibber, nay has rhym'd for Moor. Full ten years slander'd, did he once reply? Three thousand suns went down on Welsted's lie. To please his mistress one aspers'd his life; He lash'd him not, but let her be his wife: Let Budgell charge low Grub-street on his quill, And write whate'er he pleas'd, except his will; Let the two Curlls of town and court, abuse 380 His father, mother, body, soul, and Muse. Yet why? that father held it for a rule, It was a sin to call our neighbour fool: That harmless mother thought no wife a whore: Hear this and spare his family, James Moore; Unspotted names, and memorable long; If there be force in virtue, or in song. 311 P. Yet let me flap this bug with gilded wings, In mumbling of the game they dare not bite. As shallow streams run dimpling all the way. And as the prompter breathes, the puppet squeaks; Or spite, or smut, or rhymes, or blasphemies. 330 340 Wit that can creep, and pride that licks the dust. 350 A. But why insult the poor, affront the great? P. A knave's a knave, to me, in every state: [360 Alike my scorn, if he succeed or fail, Sporus at court, or Japhet in a jail; A hireling scribbler, or a hireling peer, Knight of the post corrupt, or of the shire; If on a pillory or near a throne, He gain his prince's ear, or lose his own. Of gentle blood (part shed in Honour's cause, While yet in Britain Honour had applause) Each parent sprung-A. What fortune, pray?P. Their own, 390 400 And better got, than Bestia's from the throne. Ver. 368, in the MS. VARIATIONS. 410 Once, and but once, his heedless youth was bit, Great odds in amorous or poetic game, After ver. 405, in the MS. And of myself, too, something must I say? SATIRES AND EPISTLES OF HORACE IMITATED. ADVERTISEMENT. An THE Occasion of publishing these imitations was the clamour raised on some of my epistles. answer from Horace was both more full, and of more dignity, than any I could have made in my own person; and the example of much greater freedom in so eminent a divine as Dr. Donne, seemed a proof with what indignation and contempt a Christian may treat vice or folly, in ever so low, or ever so high a station. Both these authors were acceptable to the princes and ministers under whom they lived. The satires of Dr. Donne I versified, at the desire of the earl of Oxford while he was lord treasurer, and of the duke of Shrewsbury, who had been secretary of state: neither of whom looked upon a satire on vicious courts as any reflection on those they served in. And indeed there is not in the world a greater errour, than that which fools are so apt to fall into, and knaves with good reason to encourage, the mistaking a satirist for a libeller; whereas to a true satirist nothing is so odious as a libeller, for the same reason as to a man truly virtuous nothing is so hateful as a hypocrite. Uni æquus virtuti atque ejus amicis, WHOEVER expects a paraphrase of Horace, or a faithful copy of his genius, or manner of writing, in these imitations, will be much disappointed. Our author uses the Roman poet for little more than his canvas: and if the old design or colouring chance to suit his purpose, it is well; if not, he employs his own, without scruple or ceremony. Hence it is, he is so frequently serious where Horace is in jest, and at ease where Horace is disturbed. In a word, he regulates his movements no further on his original, than was necessary for his concurrence in promoting their common plan of reformation of manners. Had it been his purpose merely to paraphrase an ancient satirist, he had hardly made choice of Horace; with whom, as a poet, he held little in common, besides a comprehensive knowledge of life and manners, and a certain curious felicity of expression, which consists in using the simplest language with dignity, and the most ornamented with ease. For the rest, his harmony and strength of numbers, his forec and splendour of colouring, his gravity and sublimity of sentiment, would have rather led him to another model. Nor was his temper less unlike that of Horace, than his talents. What Horace would only smile at, Mr. Pope would treat with the grave severity of Persius; and what Mr. Pope would strike with the caustic lightning of Juvenal, Horace would content himself in turning into ridicule. If it be asked then, why he took any body at all to imitate, he has informed us in his adverti ement: To which we may add, that this sort of imitations, which are of the nature of parodies. adds reflected grace and splendour on original wit. Besides, he deemed it more modest to give the name of imitations to his satire, than, like Despréaux, to give the name of satires to imitations. BOOK II. SATIRE I. TO MR. FORTESCUE. P. THERE are (I scarce can think it, but am told 4 P. Not write? but then I think, F. You could not do a worse thing for your life. 7 Lull with Amelia's liquid name the Nine, P. Alas! few verses touch their nicer ear; F. Better be Cibber, I'll maintain it still, P. What should ail 'em? F. A hundred smart in Timon and in Balaam : P. Each mortal has his pleasure: none deny I love to pour out all myself, as plain As downright Shippen, or as old Montagne : In them, as certain to be lov'd as seen, The soul stood forth, nor kept a thought within; In me what spots (for spots I have) appear, Will prove at least the medium must be clear. In this impartial glass, my Muse intends Fair to expose myself, my foes, my friends; Publish the present age; but where my text Is vice too high, reserve it for the next: My foes shall wish my life a longer date, And every friend the less lament my fate. My head and heart thus flowing through my quill, "Verseman or proseman, term me what you will, Papist or Protestant, or both between, Like good Erasmus in an honest mean, In moderation placing all my glory, While Tories call me Whig, and Whigs a Tory. Satire's my weapon, but I'm too discreet To run a-muck, and tilt at all I meet; Cum res ipsa feret: nisi dextro tempore, Flacci H. Quid faciam? saltat Milonius, ut semel icto 6 'I only wear it in a land of Hectors, Slander or poison dread from Delia's rage; Its proper power to hurt, each creature feels; Bulls aim their horns, and asses lift their heels; 'Tis a bear's talent not to kick, but hug; And no man wonders he's not stung by pug. 7 So drink with Walters, or with Chartres eat, They'll never poison you, they'll only cheat. Then, learned sir! (to cut the matter short) Whate'er my fate, or well or ill at court; Whether old-age, with faint but cheerful ray, Attends to gild the evening of my day, Or Death's black wing already be display'd, To wrap me in the universal shade; Whether the darken'd room to muse invite, Or whiten'd wall provoke the skewer to write: In durance, exile, Bedlam, or the Mint, Like Lee or Budgell, I will rhyme and print. F. 10 Alas, young man! your days can ne'er be long, In flower of age you perish for a song! Plums and directors, Shylock and his wife, Will club their testers, now, to take your life! P. "What? arm'd for Virtue when I point the pen, Brand the bold front of shameless guilty men; Dash the proud gamester in his gilded car; Bare the mean heart that lurks beneath a star; Can there be wanting, to defend her cause, Lights of the church, or guardians of the laws? Could pension'd Boileau lash in honest strain Flatterers and bigots ev'n in Louis' reign? Could laureate Dryden pimp and friar engage, Yet neither Charles nor James be in a rage? 1 Tutus ab infestis latronibus? O pater et rex Jupiter, ut percat positum rubigine telum, Nec quisquam noceat cupido mihi pacis! at ille, Qui me commôrit, (melius non tangere, clamo) 4 Fiebit, et insignis tota cantabitur urbe. 6 5 Cervius iratus leges minitatur et urnam ; Canidia Albutî, quibus est inimica, venenum; Grande malum Turius, si quid se judice certes: I't, quo quisque valet, suspectos terreat, utque Imperitet hoc natura potens, sic collige mecum. Dente lupus, cornu taurus petit; unde nisi intus Monstratum? Scævæ vivacem crede nepoti Matrem; nil faciet sceleris pia dextra (mirum ? Ut neque calce lupus quemquam, neque dente petit Sed mala tollet anum vitiato melle cicuta. 7 [bos) Ne longum faciam: seu me tranquilla senectus Expectat, seu Mors atris circumvolat alis; Dives, inops; Romæ, seu fors ita jusserit, exsul; Quisquis erit vitæ, scribam, color. T. 10 O puer, ut sis Vitalis metuo; et majorum ue quis amicus Frigore te feriat. H. Quid? cum est Lucilius ausus Primus in hunc operis componere carmina morem. And I not strip the gilding off a knave, And he, whose lightning pierc'd th' Iberian lines, * Envy must own, I live among the great, 6 P. Libels and satires! lawless things indeed! But grave epistles, bringing vice to light, Such as a king might read, a bishop write, Such as sir Robert would approve— F. Indeed! The case is alter'd-you may then proceed; In such a case the plaintiff will be hiss'd, My lords the judges laugh, and you're dismiss'd. 1 Detrahere et pellem, nitidus qua quisque per ora Cederet, introrsum turpis; num Lælius, aut qui Duxit ab oppressa meritum Carthagine nomen, Ingenio offensi? aut læso doluere Metello, Famosisque lupo cooperto versibus? atqui Primores populi arripuit, populumque tributim; Scilicet uni æquus virtuti atque ejus amicis. 3 Quin ubi se a vulgo et scena in secreta remorant Virtus Scipiadæ et mitis sapientia Læli, Nugari cum illo, et discincti ludere, donec Decoqueretur olus, soliti. 2 Quidquid sum ego, quamvis Infra Lucili censum, ingeniumque; tamen me * Cum magnis vixisse invita fatebitur usque Invidia; et fragili quærens illidere dentem, Offendet solido: BOOK II. SATIRE II. TO MR. BETHEL. WHAT, and how great, the virtue and the art To live on little with a cheerful heart; 2 (A doctrine sage, but truly none of mine) Let's talk, my friends, but talk 'before we dine. 4 Not when a gilt buffet's reflected pride Turns you from sound philosophy aside; Not when from plate to plate your eye-balls roll, And the brain dances to the mantling bowl. Hear Bethel's sermon, one not vers'd in schools, But strong in sense, and wise without the rules. Then scorn a homely dinner, if you can. Go work, hunt, exercise! (he thus began) 'Your wine lock'd up, your butler stroll'd abroad, Or fish deny'd (the river yet unthaw'd), If then plain bread and milk will do the feat, The pleasure lies in you, and not the meat. Preach as I please, I doubt our curious men Will chuse a pheasant still before a hen; Yet hens of Guinea full as good I hold, Except you eat the feathers green and gold. 9 Of carps and mullets why prefer the great, (Though cut in pieces ere my lord can eat) Yet for small turbots such esteem profess? Because God made these large, the other less. 3 SATIRA II. 1 QUÆ virtus et quanta, boni, sit vivere parvo, 2 (Nec meus hic sermo: sed qua præcepit Ofellus, Rusticus, abnormis sapiens, crassaque Minerva) Discite, non inter lances mensasque nitentes; Cum stupet insanis acies fulgoribus, et cum Acclinis falsis animus meliora recusat: 4 6 "Verum hic impransi mecum disquirite. Cur hoe? a Vix tamen eripiam, posito pavone, velis quin Hoc potius quam gallina tergere palatum ? Corruptus vanis rerum: quia veneat auro Rara avis, et picta pandat spectacula cauda: [ista, Tamquam ad rem attineat quidquain. Num vesceris Quam laudas, pluma? coctove num adest honor idem? jus [est 'Oldfield with more than harpy throat endued, The robin-red-breast till of late had rest, 6 "Tis yet in vain, I own, to keep a pother About one vice, and fall into the other: Between excess and famine lies a mean, Plain, but not sordid; though not splendid, clean. 7 Avidien, or his wife, (no matter which, For him you'll call a dog, and her a bitch) Sell their presented partridges and fruits, And humbly live on rabbits, and on roots: "One half-pint bottle serves them both to dine, And is at once their vinegar and wine. 8 But on some 10 lucky day (as when they found 1 Porrectum magno magnum spectare catino Vellem, ait Harpyiis gula digna rapacibus. At vos, 2 Præsentes Austri, coquite horum opsonia; quamquam 3 Putet aper rhombusque recens, mala copia quando "Sordidus a tenui victus distabit, Ofello Judice: nam frustra vitium vitaveris istud, Si te alio pravus detorseris. 7 Avidienus, Cui Canis ex vero ductum cognomen adhæret, Quinquennes oleas est, et sylvestria corna; Ac, nisi mutatum, parcit defundere vinum; et Cujus odorem olei nequeas perferre (licebit Ille repotia, natales, aliosque dierum 10 Festos albatus celebret) cornu ipse bilibri Caulibus instillat, " veteris non parcus aceti. Quali igitur vietu sapiens utetur. et horum Utrum imitabitur? hac urget lupus, hac canis, aiunt, 12 Mundus erit, qua non offen fat sordibus, atque In neutram partem cultus miser. Hic neque servis Albutí senis exemplo, dum munia didit, 1 Nor lets, like Nævius, every errour pass, The musty wine, foul cloth, or greasy glass. 2 Now hear what blessings Temperance can bring : (Thus said our friend, and what he said I sing) 3 First Health: The stomach (cramm'd from every A tomb of boil'd and roast, and flesh and fish, [dish, Where bile, and wind, and phlegm, and acid jar, And all the man is one intestine war) Remembers oft the schoolboy's simple fare, The temperate sleeps, and spirits light as air. How pale, each worshipful and reverend guest Rise from a clergy, or a city feast! What life in all that ample body, say? What heavenly particle inspires the clay? The soul subsides, and wickedly inclines To seem but mortal, ev'n in sound divines. 6 On morning wings how active springs the mind 7 Not but we may exceed, some holy time, Our fathers prais'd rank ven'son. You suppose, Unworthy he, the voice of Fame to hear, 11 That sweetest music to an honest ear; (For 'faith lord Fanny! you are in the wrong, The world's good word is better than a song) Who has not learn'd,12 fresh sturgeon and hamn-pye Are no rewards for want and infamy! Sævus erit: nec sic ut simplex' Nævius, unetam Convivis præbebit aquam: vitium hoc quoque magnum. 2 Accipe nunc, victus tenuis quæ quantaque secum Afferat. In primis valeas bene; nam variæ res Ut noceant homini, credas, memor illius escæ, Quæ simplex olim, tibi sederit. at simul assis Miscueris elixa, simul conchylia turdis; Dulcia se in bilem vertent, stomachoque tumultum Lenta feret pituita. Vides, ut pallidus omnis Cœna desurgat dubia? quin corpus onustum Hesternis vitiis animum quoque prægravat una, Atque affigit humo divinæ particulam auræ. Alter, ubi dicto citius curata sopori Membra dedit, vegetus præscripta ad munia surgit. *Hic tamen ad melius poterit transcurrere quondam; Sive diem festum rediens advexerit annus, Seu recreare volet tenuatum corpus: ubique Accedent anni, et tractari mollius ætas Imbecilla volet. Tibi quidnam accedet ad istam, Quam puer et validus præsumis, mollitiem; seu Dura valetudo inciderit, seu tarda senectus? [nasus Rancidum aprum antiqui laudabant: non quia Illis nullus erat; sed, credo, hac mente, quod hospes Tardius adveniens vitiatum commodius, quam Integram edax dominus consumeret, 10 hos utinam Heroas natum tellus me prima tulisset. [inter "Das aliquid famæ, quæ carmine gratior aurem Occupet humanam ? grandes rhombi, patinæque Grande ferunt una 12 cum damno dedecus. adde |