The Scene, the Mafter, opening to my view,

I fit and dream I fee my CRAGGS anew!

Ev'n in a Bishop I can fpy Defert; Secker is decent, Rundel has a Heart, Manners with Candour are to Benson giv'n, To Berkley, ev'ry Virtue under Heav'n.

But does the Court a worthy Man remove? That inftant, I declare, he has my Love:

NOTES.

70

75

dens of Efher in Surry, belonging to the Honourable Mr. Pelham, Brother of the Duke of Newcastle. The author could not have given a more amiable idea of his Character than in comparing him to Mr. Craggs. P.

nature.

VER. 67. Kent and Nature] Means no more than art and And in this confifts the compliment to the Artist. VER. 71. Secker is decent] These words (like those ✰ 135. of the first Dialogue) are another inftance of the malignity of the public judgment. The Poet thought, and not without reason, that they conveyed a very high idea of the worthy perfon to whom they are applied; to be DECENT (or to become every station of life in which a man is placed) being the nobleft encomium on his wisdom and virtue. It is the very topic he employs in fpeaking of a favourite friend, one he most esteemed and loved,

Noble and young, who firikes the heart,
With ev'ry sprightly, ev'ry DECENT part.

The word in both places implying every endowment of the heart. As in that celebrated verfe of Horace, from whence the expreffion was taken, aud which no one has a better right to apply to himself than this excellent prelate :

Quid verum atque DECENS curo et rogo, et omnis in hoc fum. So that to be decent is to excell in the moral character.

7

I fhun his Zenith, court his mild Decline;

Thus SOMMERS once, and HALIFAX, were mine. Oft, in the clear, ftill Mirrour of Retreat,

I ftudy'd SHREWSBURY, the wife and great : CARLETON's calm Senfe, and STANHOPE's noble

Flame,

Compar'd, and knew their gen'rous End the fame :
How pleafing ATTER BURY's fofter hour!
How fhin'd the Soul, unconquer'd in the Tow'r!

NOTES.

80

VER. 77. Sommers] John Lord Sommers died in 1716. He had been Lord Keeper in the reign of William III. who took from him the feals in 1700. The author had the honour of knowing him in 1706. A faithful, able, and incorrupt minifter; who, to the qualities of a consummate ftatefman, added those of a man of Learning and Politenefs. P.

Ibid Halifax] A peer, no lefs diftinguished by his love of letters than his abilities in Parliament. He was difgraced in 1710, on the Change of Q. Anne's ministry. P.

VER. 79. Shrewsbury,] Charles Talbot, Duke of Shrewsbury, had been Secretary of State, Embaffador in France, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Lord Chamberlain, and Lord Treasurer. He feveral times quitted his employments, and was often recalled. He died in 1718. P.

VER. 80. Carleton] Hen. Boyle, Lord Carleton (nephew of the famous Robert Boyle) who was Secretary of ftate under William III. and Prefident of the Council under Q. Anne, P.

Ibid. Stanhope] James Earl Stanhope, A Nobleman of equal courage, ipirit, and learning. General in Spain, and Secretary of state. P.

85

How can I PULT'ney, ChesterFIELD forget, While Roman Spirit charms, and Attic Wit: ARGYLL, the State's whole Thunder born to wield, And shake alike the Senate and the Field:

Or WYNDHAM, juft to Freedom and the Throne,
The Master of our Paffions, and his own.
89
Names, which I long have lov'd, nor lov'd in vain,
Rank'd with their Friends, not number'd with their
Train;

And if yet higher the proud Lift should end,
Still let me fay! No Follower, but a Friend.
Yet think not, Friendship only prompts my lays ;
I follow Virtue; where the fhines, I praise :
Point fhe to Prieft or Elder, Whig or Tory,
Or round a Quaker's Beaver cast a Glory.

NOTES.

95

VER. 84. Chesterfield] Philip Earl of Chefterfield, commonly given by Writers of all Parties for an EXAMPLE to the Age he lives in, of fuperior talents, and public Virtue.

VER. 88. Wyndham] Sir William Wyndham, Chanceller of the Exchequer under Queen Anne, made early a confiderable figure; but fince a much greater both by his ability and eloquence, joined with the utmost judgment and temper. P.

VER. 92. And if yet higher, etc.] He was at this time honoured with the esteem and favour of his Royal Highnefs the Prince.

VER. 93. Still let me fay! No Follower, but a Friend.] i, e. Unrelated to their parties, and attached only to their perfons.

I never (to my forrow I declare)

Din'd with the MAN of Ross, or my LORD MAY'R.' Some, in their choice of Friends (nay look not grave) Have ftill a secret Byafs to a Knave:

To find an honeft man I beat about,

And love him, court him, praife him, in or out.
F. Then why fo few commended?·

ΙΩΙ

P. Not fo fierce ;

105

Find you the Virtue, and I'll find the Verfe.
But random Praife-the task can ne'er be done;
Each Mother asks it for her booby Son,
Each Widow afks it for the Beft of Men,
For him she weeps, and him she weds agen.
Praife cannot ftoop, like Satire, to the ground;
The Number may be hang'd, but not be crown'd.
Enough for half the Greatest of these days,
To 'scape my Cenfure, not expect my Praise.
Are they not rich? what more can they pretend?
Dare they to hope a Poet for their Friend?

NOTES.

110

115

VER. 99. my Lord May`r] Sir John Barnard, Lord Mayor in the year of the Poem, 1738. A Citizen eminent for his virtue, public Spirit, and great talents in Parliament. An excellent Man, Magiftrate, and Senator. In the year 1747, the City of London, in memory of his many and fignal fervices to his Country, erected a Statue to him. But his image had been placed long before in the heart of every good Man.

What RICHLIEU wanted, Louis fcarce could gain,
And what young AMMON wifh'd, but wifh'd in vain.
No Pow'r the Mufe's Friendship can command;
No Pow'r, when Virtue claims it, can withstand:
To Cato, Virgil pay'd one honeft line;

Olet my Country's Friends illumin mine!

120

What are you thinking? F. Faith the thought's no fin,

I think your Friends are out and would be in.

P. If merely to come in, Sir, they go out,
The way they take is ftrangely round about.

F. They too may be corrupted, you'll allow?
P. I only call those Knaves who are so now.
Is that too little? Come then, I'll comply-
Spirit of Arnall! aid me while I lye.

NOTES.

125

VER. 115. Louis fcarce could gain] By this expreffion finely infinuating, that the great Boileau always falls below himfelf in those paffages where he flatters his Mafter. Of which flattery he gives an inftance in 231. where the topic of adulation is exceeding childish and extravagant. VER. 127. I only call those Knaves who are so now.] He left it to Time to tell them,

1

Cato is as great a Rogue as you.

not the Cato of Virgil, but the Cato of Mr. Pope. See the Ep. on Riches.

VER. 129. Spirit of Arnall!] Look for him in his place. Dunc. B. ii, 315.