EPISTLE VI.

TO

JAMES CRAGGS, Esq.,

SECRETARY OF STATE.

EPISTLE VI.

ΤΟ

JAMES CRAGGS, Esq.,

SECRETARY OF STATE.'

A SOUL as full of worth, as void of Pride,
Which nothing seeks to show, or needs to hide,
Which nor to guilt nor fear its caution owes,
And boasts a warmth that from no passion flows.
A face untaught to feign; a judging eye,

That darts severe upon a rising lie,

And strikes a blush through frontless flattery.

All this thou wert, and being this before,

Know, Kings and Fortune cannot make thee more.
Then scorn to gain a friend by servile ways,

Nor wish to lose a foe these Virtues raise;
But candid, free, sincere, as you began,
Proceed,-a Minister, but still a Man.

1 James Craggs the younger was made Secretary of State for War in 1717. According to Lady M. W. Montagu, he owed his success chiefly to the favour of the Countess of Platen, through whose influence he was named for Cofferer by George I. on his accession. He was afterwards employed on diplomatic missions. He was

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deeply mixed up in the South Sea Scheme, having accepted £30,000 of the fictitious stock, given away by the Company to facilitate the progress of the Bill through the House of Commons; but he was spared the disgrace of a public exposure by dying of small pox in 1720, being then in the thirty-sixth year of his age.

Be not (exalted to whate'er degree)
Ashamed of any friend, not ev'n of Me:
The Patriot's plain, but untrod, path pursue;
If not, 'tis I must be ashamed of you.'

1 Warton gives a dialogue by Pope which he says is genuine :

РОРЕ.

Since my old friend is grown so great
As to be Minister of State,
I'm told, but 'tis not true I hope,
That Craggs will be ashamed of Pope.

CRAGGS.

Alas! if I am such a creature

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Το grow the worse for growing greater,
Why faith, in spite of all my brags,
'Tis Pope that must be ashamed of Craggs.

This should be compared with Swift's verses on "The Dean and the Duke."