Vice is undone, if she forgets her birth, Let greatness own her, and she's mean no more; Hear her black trumpet through the land proclaim In soldier, churchman, patriot, man in pow'r, See, all our nobles begging to be slaves! Yet may this verse (if such a verse remain) DIALOGUE II. 1738. F. 'Tis all a libel-Paxton' (sir) will say. P. Not yet, my friend! to-morrow 'faith it may; 1 Late Solicitor to the Treasury.-Warburton, How should I fret to mangle ev'ry line, Feign what I will, and paint it e'er so strong, 2 F. Yet none but you by name the guilty lash; Even Guthry saves half Newgate by a dash. Spare then the person and expose the vice. P. How, sir? not damn the sharper, but the dice? Come on then, Satire! general, unconfined, Spread thy broad wing, and souse on all the kind. Ye statesmen, priests, of one religion all! Ye tradesmen vile, in army, court, or hall, [Who? Ye reverend Atheists- F. Scandal! name them! I never named; the town's inquiring yet. [You do! P. I fain would please you, if I knew with what; F. A dean, sir? no: his fortune is not made; You hurt a man that's rising in the trade. P. If not a tradesman who set up-to-day, Much less the 'prentice who to-morrow may. Down, down, proud Satire! though a realm be spoiled, Arraign no mightier thief than wretched Wild;1 1 This poem being written in 1738. 2 The Ordinary of Newgate, who publishes the memoirs of the malefactors, and is often prevailed upon to be so tender of their reputation, as to set down no more than the initials of their name.Pope. 3 Alluding to the old game laws. 4 Jonathan Wild, a famous thief, and thief impeacher, who was at last caught in his own train and hanged.-Pope. Or, if a court or country's made a job, Scarce hurts the lawyer, but undoes the scribe. To tax directors, who (thank God) have plums; P. Must Satire, then, nor rise nor fall? F. What? always Peter? Peter thinks you mad; You make men desp'rate if they once are bad: Else might he take to virtue some years hence— P. As Selkirk, if he lives, will love the Prince. F. Strange spleen to Selkirk! P. Do I wrong the man? God knows, I praise a courtier where I can. When I confess, there is who feels for fame, And melts to goodness, need I Scarborough' name? Pleased let me own, in Esher's peaceful grove3 (Where Kent and nature vie for Pelham's love) 1 Peter [Walter] had, the year before this narrowly escaped the pillory for forgery: and got off with a severe rebuke from the bench.-Pope. 2 Earl of, and Knight of the Garter, whose personal attachments to the King appeared from his steady adherence to the royal interest, after his resignation of his great employment of Master of the Horse, and whose known honour and virtue made him esteemed by all parties.-Pope. 3 The house and gardens of Esher in Surrey, 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.-Pope. Kent has been called the creator of English landscape gardening. He was originally a coach painter, but through Lord Burlington obtained employment as an architect and painter. It is however to his landscape gardening Pope alludes, and compliments him by saying "Kent and Nature," as if they were synonymous terms The scene, the master, opening to my view, But does the court a worthy man remove? I studied Shrewsbury," the wise and great How shined the soul, unconquered in the Tower! 1 See notes at pp. 262, 294. 11 2 Secker was Archbishop of Canterbury, Rundel bishop of Derry.See Swift's poem on him. Benson was bishop of Gloucester. 3 Dr. Berkeley was good, gentle, and every way excellent; but had a craze that matter had no existence except in idea. It is of him the story is told that Swift seeing him standing at his hall door in a heavy shower, did not open it, but requested the bishop to come through it, as it did not really exist! 4 John Lord Somers died in 1716. He had been Lord Keeper in the reign of William III. who took from him the seals in 1700. The author had the honour of knowing him in 1706. A faithful, able, and incorrupt minister; who, to the qualities of a consummate statesman, added those of a man of learning and politeness.-Pope. "One of those divine men,' says Lord Orford, "who, like a chapel in a palace, remains unprofaned while all the rest is tyranny, corruption and folly." 5 A peer, no less distinguished by his love of letters than his abilities in parliament. He was disgraced in 1710, on the change of Queen Anne's ministry.-Pope. • Charles Talbot, Duke of Shrewsbury, had been Secretary of State, Ambassador in France, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Lord Chamberlain, and Lord Treasurer. He several times quitted his employHe died in 1718.-Pope. ments, and was often recalled. 7 Henry Boyle, Lord Carleton (nephew of the famous Robert Boyle), who was Secretary of State under William III, and President of the Council under Queen Anne.-Pope. 8 James Earl Stanhope. A nobleman of equal courage, spirit, and learning. General in Spain, and Secretary of State.-Pope. 9 Francis Atterbury, Bishop of Rochester. He had few equals as a preacher, and was a man of great virtue and brilliant talents. In 1722 he was committed to the Tower on a charge of being engaged in a plot to restore the family of James II. to the throne. He was Pope's great friend, and in private life was charming, being a tender father and warm friend. He was banished for life, and died at Paris, 1732, but his remains have a place in Westminster Abbey. 10 William Pulteney afterwards Earl of Bath. 11 Philip Earl of Chesterfield, a great statesman and wit. His "Letters to his Son," are well known. While Roman spirit charms, and Attic wit: Or Wyndham,' just to freedom and the throne, Names, which I long have loved, nor loved in vain, Yet think not, friendship only prompts my lays; I follow virtue; where she shines, I praise: Point she to priest or elder, Whig or Tory, Or round a Quaker's beaver cast a glory. I never (to my sorrow I declare) Dined with the Man of Ross, or my Lord Mayor." Some, in their choice of friends (nay, look not grave) Have still a secret bias to a knave: To find an honest man I beat about, And love him, court him, praise him, in or out. P. Not so fierce; Find you the virtue, and I'll find the verse. But random praise-the task can ne'er be done; 1 Sir William Wyndham, Chancellor of the Exchequer under Queen Anne, made early a considerable figure; but since a much greater both by his ability and eloquence, joined with the utmost judgment and temper.-Pope. 2 He was at this time honoured with the esteem and favour of his Royal Highness Frederick Prince of Wales.- Warburton. 3 Sir John Barnard, Lord Mayor in 1738, eminent for his virtues and public spirit. In 1747, the City of London erected a statue of him, in memory of the benefits conferred by him on London. Cf. ante, BK, I, Ep, ii, ver, 85, |