One grasps a Cecrops in ecstatic dreams. Poor Vadius,1 long with learned spleen devoured, Sighs for an Otho, and neglects his bride.2 Theirs is the vanity, the learning thine: Touched by thy hand, again Rome's glories shine; Oh, when shall Britain, conscious of her claim, A Virgil there, and here an Addison. Then shall thy Craggs (and let me call him mine) With aspect open, shall erect his head, And round the orb in lasting notes be read, 40 50 60 1 See his history, and that of his shield, in the Memoirs of Scriblerus.- Warburton. Aimed at Dr. Woodward, the eminent physician and naturalist, who wrote a dissertation on an ancient shield which he possessed.—Carruthers. 2 Charles Patin was banished from the court because he sold Louis XIV. an Otho that was not genuine.-Warton. In action faithful, and in honour clear; Who broke no promise, served no private end, And praised, unenvied. by the muse he loved." 70 ADVERTISEMENT TO THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS EPISTLE. THIS paper is a sort of bill of complaint, begun many years since, and drawn up by snatches, as the several occasions offered. I had no thoughts of publishing it, till it pleased some persons of rank and fortune (the authors of Verses to the Imitator of Horace, and of an Epistle to a Doctor of Divinity from a Nobleman at Hampton Court) to attack, in a very extraordinary manner, not only my writings (of which, being public, the public is judge) but my person, morals, and family, whereof, to those who know me not, a truer information may be requisite. Being divided between the necessity to say something of myself, and my own laziness to undertake so awkward a task, I thought it the shortest way to put the last hand to this Epistle. If it have anything pleasing, it will be that by which I am most desirous to please, the truth and the sentiment; and if anything offensive, it will be only to those I am least sorry to offend, the vicious or the ungenerous. Many will know their own picture in it, there being not a circumstance but what is true; but I have, for the most part, spared their names, and they may escape being laughed at, if they please. I would have some of them know, it was owing to the request of the learned and candid friend to whom it is inscribed, that I make not as free use of theirs as they have done of mine. However, I shall have this advantage, and honour, on my side, that whereas, by their proceedings, any abuse may be directed at any man, no injury can possibly be done by mine, since a nameless character can never be found out, but by its truth and likeness. EPISTLE TO DR. ARBUTHNOT. BEING THE PROLOGUE TO THE SATIRES. P. SHUT, shut the door, good John! fatigued, I said, Fire in each eye, and papers in each hand, What walls can guard me, or what shades can hide? They pierce my thickets, through my grot they glide; By land, by water, they renew the charge; They stop the chariot, and they board the barge. Then from the Mint1 walks forth the man of rhyme, Is there a parson, much bemused in beer, A maudlin poetess, a rhyming peer, A clerk, foredoomed his father's soul to cross, Who pens a stanza, when he should engross? ΙΟ Is there, who, locked from ink and paper, scrawls Apply to me, to keep them mad or vain. Arthur,2 whose giddy son neglects the laws, Imputes to me and my damned works the cause: 1 A place to which insolvent debtors retired, to enjoy an illegal protection, which they were there suffered to afford one another, from the persecution of their creditors.-Warburton. 2 Arthur Moore, a leading politician of Queen Anne's time. His son, James Moore (afterwards James Moore-Smythe), a small placeman and poetaster. Poor Cornus sees his frantic wife elope, Friend to my life (which did not you prolong, If foes, they write, if friends, they read me dead. With honest anguish, and an aching head; 30 This saving counsel, "Keep your piece nine years." 40 I want a patron; ask him for a place." He'll write a journal,1 or he'll turn divine." 1 50 1 Meaning the London Journal; a paper in favour of Sir R. Walpole's ministry.- Warton. |