The Works of Alexander Pope, Esq

F. Yet none but you by name the guilty lash: Ev'n Guthry faves 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 ! gen'ral, unconfin'd, Spread thy broad wing, and fouce on all the kind. Ye Statesmen, Priests, of one Religion all!

Ye Tradefinen vile, in Army, Court, or Hall;
Ye Rev'rend Atheists. F. Scandal! name them, Who?
P. Why that's the thing you bid me not to do.
Who farv'd a Sifter, who forfwore a Debt,
I never nam'd; the Town's enquiring yet.
The pois'ning Dame-F. You mean-P. I don't.
F. You do.

P. See, now I keep the Secret, and not you !
The bribing Statefman-F. Hold, too high you go.
P. The brib'd Elector-F. There you ftoop to
low.

P. I fain would please you, if I knew with what; Tell me, which Knave is lawful Game, which not? Muft great Offenders, once efcap'd the Crown, Like Royal Harts, be never more run down? Admit your Law to fpare the Knight requires, As Beafts of Nature may we hunt the Squires?

VER. 11. Eva Guthry.] The Ordinary of Newgate, who publishes the memoirs of the Malefactors, and is often prevailed upon to be fo tender of their reputation, as to fet down no more than the initials of their name.

VER. 29. Like Royal Harts, &c.] Alluding to the old Game-laws, when our Kings spent all the time they could fpare from human flaughter, in Woods and Forests.

Suppofe l'cenfure-you know what I mean-
To fave a Bishop, may I name a Dean!

F. A Dean, Sir? no: his Fortune is not made, You hurt a man that's rifing in the Trade.

P. If not the Tradesman who set up to day, Much less the Prentice who to morrow inay. Down, down, proud Satire! tho' a Realm be spoil'd, Arraign no mightier Thief than wretched Wild; Or, if a Court or Country's made a job, Go drench a Pick-pocket, and join the Mob. But, Sir, I beg you (for the Love of Vice!) The matter's weighty, pray confider twice; Have you lefs pity for the needy cheat,

The poor and friendless Villain, than the Great; 45
Alas! the fmall Difcredit of a Bribe

Scarce hurts the Lawyer, but undoes the Scribe.
Then better fure it Charity becomes

To tax Directors, who (thank God) have Plums;
Still better, Minifters; or, if the thing

May pinch ev'n there-why lay it on a King.
F. Stop! Stop!

P. Muft Satire, then, nor rife nor fall? Speak out, and bid me blame no Rogues at all. F. Yes, ftrike that Wild, I'll juftify the blow. P. Strike? why the man was hang'd ten years ago:

VER. 39. wretched Wild,] Jonathan Wild, a famous Thief, and Thief Impeacher, who was at last caught in his own train and hanged.

Who now that obfolete Example fears?

Ev'n Peter trembles only for his Ears.

F. What always Peter? Peter thinks you mad, You make men defp'rate, if they once are bad: Elfe might he take to Virtue some years hence- 60 P. As S―k, if he lives, wil love the PRINCE. F. Strange Spleen to S-k!

P. Do I wrong the Man? * God knows, I praise a Courtier where I can. When I confefs, there is who feels for Fame, And melts to Goodness, need I SCARB'ROW name? 65 'Pleas'd let me own, in Efher's peaceful Grove (Where Kent and Nature vye for PELHAMS Love) The Scene, the Mafter, opening to iny view, I fit and dream I fee my CRAGGS anew!

Ev'n' in a Bishop I can spy Defert;

"Secker is decent, Rundel has a Heart,
`Manners with Candour are to Benson giv'n,

To Berkly, ev'ry Virtue under Heav'n.

*༡༠

VER. 57. Ev'n Peter trembles only for his ears.] Peter had, the year before this, narrowly efcaped the Pillory for forgery: and got off with a fevere rebuke only from the bench.

VER. 65. Scarbrow] Earl of, and Knight of the Garter, whofe perfonal attachments to the king appeared from his teady adherence to the royal intereft, after his refignation of his great employment of Mafter of the Horfe; and whofe known honour and virtue made him efteemed by all parties. VER. 65. Efher's peaceful Grove,] The house and gardens of Efber 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 compa ring him to Mr Craggs.

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

I fhun his Zenith, court his mild Decline;
Thus SOMMERS once, and HALIFAX, were mine.
Oft, in the clear, still Mirrour of Retreat,

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

Compar'd, and knew their gen'rous End the fame:
How pleafing ATTERBURY's fofter hour!

How shin'd the Soul, unconquer'd in the Tow'r!
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:

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 confummate Statesman, added thofe of a man of Learning and Politeness.

VER. 77. Halifax] A peer, no lefs diftinguished by his love of letters than his abilities in Parliament. He was dif graced in 1710, on the change of Queen Anne's ministry.

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.

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

Ibid. Stanhope] James Earl Stanhope. A Nobleman of equal courage, fpirit, and learning. General in Spain, and Secretary of State.

Or WYNDHAM, just to Freedom and the Throne,
The Mafter of our Paffions, and his own.

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 (hould 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 she to Frieft or Elder, Whig or Tory,
Or round a Quaker's Beaver, cast a glory.
I never (to my forrow I declare)