SATIRE II. To Mr. BE THE L. HAT, and how great, the Virtue and WHAT the Art To live on little with a chearful heart; (A doctrine fage, but truly none of mine) с 5 Let's talk, my friends, but talk before we dine. Hear BETHEL's Sermon, one not vers'd in fchools, But strong in sense, and wife without the rules. I Go work, hunt, exercife! (he thus began) Then scorn a homely dinner, if you cân. 'Your wine lock'd up, your Butler stroll'd abroad, Or fifh deny'd (the river yet unthaw'd) NOTES. VER. 9. BETHEL. The fame to whom feveral of Mr. Pope's Letters are addreffed. Defendens pisces hiemat mare: cum fale panis * Vix tamen eripiam, pofito pavone, velis quin Hoc potius quam gallina tergere palatum ; Corruptus vanis rerum: quia veneat auro Rara avis, et picta pandat spectacula cauda : Tamquam ad rem attineat quidquam. Num vefceris ifta, Quam laudas, pluma? coctove num adeft honor idem ? Carne tamen quamvis distat nihil hac, magis illa; Ducit te fpecies, video. quo pertinet ergo Proceros odiffe lupos? quia fcilicet illis Majorem natura modum dedit, his breve pondus. Jejunus raro ftomachus vulgaria temnit. "Porrectum magno magnum fpectare catino Vellem, ait Harpyiis gula digna rapacibus. At vos, If then plain bread and milk will do the feat, 15 The pleasure lies in you, and not the meat. k * Preach as I please, I doubt our curious men Will chufe a pheasant still before a hen; Yet hens of Guinea full as good I hold, Except you eat the feathers green and gold. 20 'Of carps and mullets why prefer the great, (Tho' cut in pieces ere my Lord can eat) Yet for small Turbots fuch esteem profess? Because God made these large, the other less. "Oldfield with more than Harpy throat endu'd, 25 Cries "Send me, Gods! a whole Hog barbecu'd!" NOTES. VER. 25. Oldfield.] This eminent Glutton ran through a fortune of fifteen hundred pounds a year in the fimple luxury of good eating. VER. 26. Hog barbecu'd, &c.] A Weft Indian term of Gluttony; a hog roafted whole, ftuffed with fpice, and basted with Madera wine. P. Praefentes, Auftri, coquite horum opfonia; quamquam Putet aper rhombufque recens, mala copia quando Tutus erat rhombus, tutoque ciconia nido, 'Sordidus a tenui victus diftabit, Ofello NOTES. VER. 27. Ob blast it, South-winds!] This has not the force, nor gives us the pleasant allufion of the original, foquite. VER. 42. Bedford-head ;] A famous Eating-house. P. VER. 43. Or ev'n to crack live Crawfish] There is force and humour in dixerit and parebit, which the imitation does not reach. Oh blaft it," South-winds! till a stench exhale By what Criterion do ye eat, d'ye think, P The Robin-red-breaft till of late had reft, 30 36 To one that was, or would have been, a Peer. 40 NOTES. 45 VER. 50. For him you'll call a dog, and her a bitch, &c.] Our Poet had the art of giving wit and dignity to his Billingsgate, which Horace feems not to have learnt. |