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SATIRA VI.

Hoc erat in votis: modus agri non ita magnus,
Hortus ubi, et tecto vicinus jugis aquae fons,
Et paulum filvæ fuper his foret auctius, atque
Dî melius fecere. bene eft, nil amplius oro,
Maia nate, nifi ut propria haec mihi munera faxis.
Si neque majorem feci ratione mala rem,
Nec fum facturus vitio culpave minorem:
Si veneror ftultus nihil horum, O fi angulus ille
Proximus accedat, qui nunc denormat agellum!
O fi urnam argenti fors quae mihi monftret! ut illi,
Thefauro invento qui mercenarius agrum
Illum ipfum mercatus aravit, dives amico
Hercule fi, quod adeft, gratum juvat: hac prece

te oro,

SATIRE VI.

The firft Part imitated in the Year 1714, by Dr. SWIFT; the latter Part added afterwards.

I've often wifh'd that I had clear

For life, fix hundred pounds a year,
A handsome Houfe to lodge a Friend,
A River at my Garden's end,
A Terras-walk, and half a Rood
Of Land, fet out to plant a Wood.

Well, now I have all this and more,

I ask not to increase my store;

But here a Grievance feems to lie,

All this is mine but till I die;

I can't but think 'twould found more clever,

To me and to my Heirs for ever.

If I ne'er got or loft a groat,

By any Trick, or any Fault;

And if I pray by Reafon's rules,

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• As thus, "Vouchfafe, oh Gracious Maker!

To grant me this and t'other Acre:

Or, if it be thy Will and Pleasure,

.. Direct my

Plow to find a Treasure:"

But only what my Station fits,

And to be kept in my right Wits,

Preferve, Almighty Providence!

Juft what you gave me, Competence:

Pingue pecus domino facias, et caetera praeter
Ingenium; utque foles, cuftos mihi maximus adfis.
Ergo ubi me in montes et in arcem ex Urbe removi,
Quid prius illuftrem Satiris Mufaque pedeftri?
Nec mala me ambitio perdit, nec plumbeus Auster,
Autumnufque gravis, Libitinae quaeftus acerbae.
Matutine pater, feu Jane libentius audis,
Unde homines operum primos vitaque labores
Inftituunt (fic Dîs placitum) tu carminis efto
Principium: Romae fponforem me rapis: Eia
Ne prior officio quifquam refpondeat, urgue:
Sive Aquilo radit terras, feu bruma nivalem

And let me in thefe Shades compofe

Something in Verfe as true as Profe;

• Remov'd from all th' Ambitious Scene,

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Nor puff'd by Pride, nor funk by Spleen."
In fhort, I'm perfectly content,

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Let me but live on this fide Trent;

Nor cross the Channel twice a year,
To spend fix Months with Statesmen here.
I must by all means come to Town,
'Tis for the Service of the Crown.
"Lewis, the Dean will be of use,
"Send for him up, take no excufe."
The toil, the danger of the Seas;
Great Minifters ne'er think of these;
Or let it coft five hundred pound,
No matter where the money's found.
It is but fo much more in debt,
And that they ne'er confider'd yet.

"Good Mr. Dean, go change your gown, "Let my Lord know you're come to Town."

I hurry me in hafte away,

Not thinking it is Levee-day;

NOTE S.

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VER. 30. On this fide Trent;] He was perpetually expreffing his deep discontent at his Irish preferment, and forming schemes for exchanging it for a fmaller in England; and courted Queen Caroline and Sir Robert Walpole to effect fuch a change. A negotiation had nearly taken place between the Dean and a Mr. Talbot for the living of Burfield, in Berkshire. Mr. Talbot himself informed me of this negotiation. Burfield is in the neighbourhood of Bucklebery, Lord Bolingbroke's feat.

Interiore diem gyro trahit, ire neceffe eft. Poftmodo, quod mî obfit, clare certumque locuto, Lucandum in turba, et facienda injuria tardis.

Quid tibi vis, infane? et quam rem agis? improbus

urget.

Iratis precibus, tu pulfes omne quod obftat,
Ad Maecenatem memori fi mente recurras.

Hoc juvat, et melli eft; ne mentiar. at fimul atras
Ventum eft Efquilias; aliena negotia centum
Per caput, et circa faliunt latus. Ante fecundam
Rofcius orabat fibi adeffes ad Puteal cras.
De re communi fcribae magna atque nova te