140

With eyes that pry not, tongue that ne'er repeats,
Fond to spread friendships, but to cover heats; 136
To help who want, to forward who excel;
This, all who know me, know; who love me, tell;
And who unknown defame me, let them be
Scriblers or Peers, alike are Mcb to me.
This is my plea, on this I rest my caufe
* What faith my Council, learned in the laws?
F. 'Your Plea is good; but still I fay, beware!
Laws are explain'd by Men --- fo have a care.
It stands on record, that in Richard's times 145
A man was hang'd for very
honest rhymes;

Confult the Statute, quart. I think, it is,
Edwardi fext. or prim. et quint. Eliz.

See Libels, Satires --- here you have it--- read. 149 P." Libels and Satires! lawless things indeed!

NOTES.

"Decemvirs, qui formoient une Ariftocratie, punirent-ils de mort "les Ecrits Satiriques." De L'Efprit des Loix, L. xii. c. 13.

VER. 150. Libels and Satires! lawless things indeed! But grave Epiftles, etc.] The legal objection is here more juftly and decently taken off than in the Original. Horace evades the force of it with a quibble,

Efto, fiquis mala ; fed bona fi quis.

But the Imitator's grave Epistles fhew the fatire to be a ferious reproof, and therefore juftifiable; which the integer ipfe of the Original does not for however this might plead in mitigation of the offence, nothing but their being grave Epiftles justify the attack.

Judice condiderit laudatus CAESARE? fi quis
Opprobriis dignum laceraverit, integer ipfe?

T. Solventur rifu tabulae: tu miffus abibis.

NOETS.

VER. 152. F. Indeed?] Hor.

Solventur rifu tabulae.

Some Critics tell us, it is want of taste to put this line in the mouth of Trebatius. But our Poet confutes this cenfure, by fhewing how well the sense of it agrees to his Friend's character. The Lawyer is cautious and fearful; but as foon as SIR ROBERT, the Patron both of Law and Gofpel, is named

But

grave Epistles, bringing Vice to light,

151

Such as a King might read, a Bishop write,

Such as Sir ROBERT would approve —

F. Indeed?

The Cafe is alter'd --- you may then proceed;
In fuch a cause the Plaintiff will be hifs'd, 155
My Lords the Judges laugh, and you're dismiss'd.

NOTES.

as approving them, he changes his note, and, in the language of old Plouden, owns, the Cafe is altered. Now was it not as natural, when Horace had given a hint that Augustus himself fupported him, for Trebatius, a Court Advocate, who had been long a Client to him and his Uncle, to confefs the Cafe was altered?