You grow correct, that once, with Rapture writ, Decay of Parts, alas! we all must feel -- 5 Why now, this moment, don't I see you fteal? Bubo obferves, he lafh'd no fort of Vice: In rev'rend Bishops note some small Neglects, Who cropt our Ears, and fent them to the King. VARIATIONS. P. Sir, what I write, fhould be correctly writ. NOTES. 15 VER. 12. Bubo obferves,] Some guilty perfon very fond of making fuch an obfervation. P. VER. 14. H-ggins] Formerly Jaylar of the Fleet prifon, enriched himself by many exactions, for which he was tried and expelled. P. VER. 18. Who cropt our Ears,] Said to be executed by the Captain of a Spanish fhip on one Jenkins a Captain of His fly, polite, infinuating style Could pleafe at Court, and make AUGUSTUS smile : An artful Manager, that crept between His Friend and Shame, and was a kind of Screen. But 'faith your very Friends will foon be fore; Patriots there are, who wish you'd jeft no more --And where's the Glory; 'twill be only thought The Great man never offer'd you a groat. Go fee Sir ROBERT P. See Sir ROBERT !--- hum And never laugh for all my life to come? an English one. NOTES. 21 25 30 He cut off his ears, and bid him carry them to the King his master. P. VER. 22. Screen.] Omne vafer vitium ridenti Flaccus amico Tangit, et admiffus circum præcordia ludit. Perf. P. Ibid. Screen.] A metaphor peculiarly appropriated to a certain perfon in power. P. VER. 24. Patriots there are, &c.] This appellation was generally given to thofe in oppofition to the Court. Though fome of them (which our author hints at) had views too mean and interested to deserve that name. P. VER. 26. The Great man] A phrafe, by common use, appropriated to the first minifter. P. VER. 31. Seen him, uncumber'd] These two verses were Would he oblige me? let me only find, He does not think me what he thinks mankind. F. Why yes: with Scripture still you may be free; A Horse-laugh, if you please, at Honesty ; A Joke on JEKYL, or fome odd Old Whig Whom all Lord Chamberlains allow the Stage: 40 45 If any ask you, "Who's the Man, so near "His Prince, that writes in Verfe, and has his ear?" Why, anfwer, LYTTLETON, and I'll engage The worthy Youth shall ne'er be in a rage: originally in the poem, though omitted in all the first edi tions. P. VER. 37. Why yes: with Scripture fill you may be free ;] Thus the Man commonly called Mather Ofborn, who was in the Minister's pay, and wrote Journals; for one Paper in behalf of Sir Robert, had frequently two against J. C. VER. R. 39. A Joke on Jekyl] Sir Jofeph Jekyl, Mafter of the Rolls, a true Whig in his principles, and a man of the utmost probity. He fometimes voted against the Court, which drew upon him the laugh here defcribed of ONE who bestowed it equally upon Religion and Honefty. He died a few months after the publication of this poem. P、 VER. 43. Thefe nothing burts ;] i. e. offends. VER. 47. Why, anfwer, Lyttleton,] George Lyttelton, But were his Verfes vile, his Whisper base, 50 These you but anger, and you mend not those. Laugh at your friends, and, if your Friends are fore, So much the better, you may laugh the more. To Vice and Folly to confine the jeft, Sets half the world, God knows, against the rest; At Senfe and Virtue, balance all agen. P. Dear Sir, forgive the Prejudice of Youth: NOTES. 56 бо Secretary to the Prince of Wales, diftinguished both for his writings and fpeeches in the fpirit of Liberty. P. VER. 51. Sejanus, Wolfey.] The one the wicked minifter of Tiberius; the other, of Henry VIII. The writers against the Court ufually beftowed thefe and other odious names on the Minifter, without diftinction, and in the most injurious manner. See Dial. II. 137. P. Ibid. Fleury,] Cardinal: and Minifter to Louis XV. It was a Patriot fashion, at that time, to cry up his wisdom and honefty. P. Come, harmless Characters that no one hit; 65 And all the well-whipt Cream of Courtly Senfe, 70 So Latin, yet fo English all the while, As, tho' the Pride of Middleton and Bland, 75 All Boys may read, and Girls may understand! Then might I fing, without the leaft offence, NOTES. 80 VER. 66. Henley-Ofborn,] See them in their places in the Dunciad. P. VER. 69. The gracious Dew] Alludes to fome court fermons, and florid panegyrical ipeeches; particularly one very full of puerilities and flatteries; which afterwards got into an addrefs in the fame pretty ftyle; and was laftly ferved up in an Epitaph, between Latin and English, published by its author. P. VER. 76. All Boys may read, and Girls may underftand! ] i. e. full of school-book phrafes and Anglicisms. VER. 78. Nation's Senfe;] The cant of Politics at that time. VER. 80. Carolina] Queen confort to King George II.. |