In those curs'd walls, devote to vice and gain, Since hope but soothes to double my distress, Some secret cell, ye Powr's, indulgent give, • Let 7 Let such raise palaces, and manors buy, Collect a tax, or farm a lottery; With warbling eunuchs fill our † silenc'd stage, And lull to servitude a thoughtless age. et pedibus me Porto meis, nullo dextram subeunte bacillo. 6 Cedamus patriâ: vivant Arturius istic Et Catullus: maneant qui nigra in candida vertunt. * The invasions of the Spaniards were defended in the houses of parliament. The licensing act was then lately made, Heroes, proceed! what bounds your pride shall hold? What check restrain your thirst of pow'r and gold? Behold rebellious virtue quite o'erthrown, Behold our fame, our wealth, our lives, your own. When public crimes inflame the wrath of Heav'n: Well may they rise, while I, whose rustick tongne 10 For what but social guilt the friend endears? Who shares Orgilio's crimes, his fortune shares. Quid Romæ faciam ? mentiri nescio: librum, Si malus est, nequeo laudare & poscere. 9 Ferre ad nuptam quæ mittit adulter, Quæ mandat norint alii; me nemo ministro Fur erit, atque ideo nulli comes exeo. 10 Quis nunc diligitur nisi conscius?. Carus erit Verri, qui Verrem tempore, quo vult, * The paper which at that time contained apologies for the court. "But thou, should tempting villainy present All Marlb'rough hoarded, or all Villiers spent, Turn from the glitt'ring bribe the scornful eye, Nor sell for gold, what gold could never buy, The peaceful slumber, self-approving day, Unsullied fame, and conscience ever gay. 12 The cheated nation's happy fav'rites, see! Mark whom the great caress, who frown on me! LONDON! the needy villain's gen❜ral home, The common-sewer of Paris and of Rome; With eager thirst, by folly or by fate, Sucks in the dregs of each corrupted state. Forgive my transports on a theme like this, 13 I cannot bear a French metropolis. 14 Illustrious EDWARD! from the realms of day, The land of heroes and of saints survey; Nor hope the British lineaments to trace, The rustick grandeur, or the surly grace; But, lost in thoughtless ease and empty show, Behold the warrior dwindled to a beau; Sense, freedom, piety, refin'd away, Of France the mimick, and of Spain the prey. All that at home no more can beg or steal, Or like a gibbet better than a wheel; Tanti tibi non sit opaci Omnis arena Tagi, quodque in mare volvitur aurum, 12 Quæ nunc divitibus gens acceptissima nostris, Et quos præcipue fugiam, properabo fateri. 13 Non possum ferre, Quirites, Græcam urbem. 14 Rusticus ille tuus sumit trechedipna, Quirine, Et ceromatico fert niceteria collo. Hiss'd from the stage, or hooted from the court, Their air, their dress, their politicks, import; "Obsequious, artful, voluble, and gay, On Britain's fond credulity they prey. No gainful trade their industry can 'scape, 16 They sing, they dance, clean shoes, or cure aclap: All sciences a fasting Monsieur knows, And, bid him go to hell, to hell he goes. "Ah! what avails it, that, from slavery far, I drew the breath of life in English air; Was early taught a Briton's right to prize, And lisp the tale of HENRY's victories; If the gull'd conqueror receives the chain, And flattery prevails when arms are vain ? 18 Studious to please, and ready to submit, The supple Gaul was born a parasite : Still to his int'rest true, where'er he goes, Wit, brav'ry, worth, his lavish tongue bestows; In ev'ry face a thousand graces shine, From ev'ry tongue flows harmony divine. 19 These arts in vain our rugged natives try, Strain out with fault'ring diffidence a lie, And get a kick for aukward flattery. 15 Ingenium velox, audacia perdita, sermo Promptus. } 16 Augur, schoenobates, medicus, magus: omnia novit, Græculus esuriens, in cœlum, jusseris, ibit. 17 Usque adeo nihil est, quod nostra infantia cœlum Hausit Aventini? 48 Quid? quod adulandi gens prudentissima, laudat Sermonem indocti faciem deformis amici? 19 Hæc eadem licet & nobis laudare: sed illis Creditur. Besides, with justice, this discerning age Admires their wond'rous talents for the stage: 10 Well may they venture on the mimick's art, Who play from morn to night a borrow'd part; Practis'd their master's notions to embrace, Repeat his maxims, and reflect his face ; With ev'ry wild absurdity comply, And view each object with another's eye; To shake with laughter ere the jest they hear, To pour at will the counterfeited tear; And, as their patron hints the cold or heat, To shake in dog-days, in December sweat. 21 How, when competitors like these contend, Can surly virtue hope to fix a friend? Slaves that with serious impudence beguile, And lie without a blush, without a smile ; Exalt each trifle, ev'ry vice adore, Your taste in snuff, your judgment in a whore; Can Balbo's eloquence applaud, and swear He gropes his breeches with a monarch's air. For arts like these preferr'd, admir'd, caress'd, They first invade your table, then your breast; Explore your secrets with insidious art, 22 Watch the weak hour, and ransack all the heart; Then soon your ill-plac'd confidence repay, Commence your lords, and govern or betray. 20 Natio comoda est. Rides? majore cachinno Concutitur, &c. 2: Non sumus ergo pares: melior, qui semper & omni Nocte dieque potest alienum sumere vultum. A facie jactare manus: laudare paratus, Si bene ructavit, si rectum minxit amicus. 22 Scire volunt secreta domus, atque inde timeri. |