Then from the Mint walks forth the Man of rhyme, Happy! to catch me, juft at Dinner-time. Is there a Parfon, much be-mus'd in beer, A Clerk, foredoom'd his father's foul to cross, 15 20 25. Friend to my Life! (which did not you prolong, The world had wanted many an idle fong) VARIATIONS. After zo. in the MS. Is there a bard in durance ? turn them free, NOTES. VER. 13. Mint] A place to which infolvent debtors retired, to enjoy an illegal protection they were there fuffered to afford one another, from the perfecution of their creditors. VER. 23. Arthur,] Arthur Moore, Efq; What Drop or Noftrum can this plague remove? If foes, they write, if friends, they read me dead. To laugh, were want of goodness and of grace, 35 And to be grave, exceeds all Pow'r of face. I fit with fad civility, I read With honest anguish, and an aching head; 39 This faving counsel, "Keep your piece nine years.' Nine years! cries he, who high in Drury-lane, Lull'd by foft Zephyrs thro' the broken pane, Rhymes ere he wakes, and prints before Term ends, Oblig'd by hunger, and requeft of friends: VARIATIONS. VER. 29. in the 1st Ed. Dear Doctor, tell me, is not this a curfe? Say, is their anger, or their friendship worse? NOTES. VER. 33. Seiz'd and ty'd down to judge,] Alluding to the fcene in the Plain-Dealer, where Oldfox gags, and ties down the Widow, to hear his well-pen'd fianzas. VER. 38 boneft anguish,] i. e. undiffembled. Ibid. an aching head;] Alluding to the disorder he was then fo conftantly afflicted with. VER. 43. Rhymes ere be wakes,] A pleafant allufion to those words of Milton, Dictates to me flumb'ring, or inspires 50 "The piece, you think, is incorrect? why take it, 45 "I'm all fubmiffion, what you'd have it, make it." Three things another's modeft wishes bound, My Friendship, and a Prologue, and ten pound. Pitholeon fends to me: "You know his Grace, I want a Patron; ask him for a Place.” Pitholeon libell'd me- " but here's a letter "Informs you, Sir, 'twas when he knew no better. "Dare you refuse him? Curl invites to dine, "He'll write a Journal, or he'll turn Divine." Blefs me! a packet." "Tis a ftranger fues, "A Virgin Tragedy, an Orphan Muse." If I diflike it, "Furies, death and rage!" If I approve, There (thank my stars) my whole commiffion ends, The Play'rs and I are, luckily, no friends. "Commend it to the Stage." VARIATIONS. VER. 53. in the MS. If you refufe, he goes, as fates incline, To plague Sir Robert, or to turn Divine. VER. 60. in the former Edd. Cibber and I are luckily no friends. NOTES. 55 60 VER. 49. Pitholeon] The name taken from a foolish Poet of Rhodes, who pretended much to Greek. Schol. in Horat. 1. i. Dr. Bentley pretends, that this Pitholeon libelled Cæfar alfo. See notes on Hor. Sat. 10. 1. i. P. Fir'd that the house reject him, "'Sdeath I'll print it, "And fhame the fools-Your int'reft, Sir, with Lintot." Lintot, dull rogue! will think your price too much : At laft he whispers, "Do; and we go fnacks." Sir, let me fee your works and you no more. His very Minister who spy'd them first, 65 70 (Some fay his Queen) was forc'd to speak, or burft. And is not mine, my friend, a forer cafe, When ev'ry coxcomb perks them in my face? Keep close to Ears, and those let afses prick, 76 'Tis nothing-P. Nothing? if they bite and kick? Out with it, DUNCIAD! let the secret pass, That fecret to each fool, that he's an Ass: NOTES. 80 VER. 72. Queen] The ftory is told, by fome, of his Barber, but by Chaucer of his Queen. See Wife of Bath's Tale in Dryden's Fables. VER. 80. That fecret to each fool, that he's an Afs:] i. e. that his ears (his marks of folly) are visible. The truth once told (and wherefore fhould we lie ?) The Queen of Midas flept, and fo may I. You think this cruel? take it for a rule, No creature fmarts fo little as a fool. 90 Let peals of laughter, Codrus! round thee break, 85 NOTES. VER. 88. Alluding to Horace, Si fractus illabatur orbis, Impavidum ferient ruine. 95 100 P. VER. 96. arch'd eye-brow,] The eye-brow is raised in the expreffion of infolent contempt. VER. 98. free-mafons Moor ?] He was of this fociety, and frequently headed their proceffions. |