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When Catiline by rapine fwell'd his ftore;

When Cæfar made a noble dame a whore ;

In this the Luft, in that the Avarice

Were means, not ends; Ambition was the vice. 215
That very Cæfar, born in Scipio's days,
Had aim'd, like him, by Chastity at praise.
Lucullus, when Frugality could charm,
Had roasted turnips in the Sabin farm.
In vain th' obferver eyes the builder's toil,
But quite mistakes the scaffold for the pile.

In this one Paffion man can strength enjoy,
As Fits give vigour, just when they destroy.
Time, that on all things lays his lenient hand,

220

Yet tames not this; it sticks to our last sand. 225
Confiftent in our follies and our fins,

Here honeft Nature ends as she begins.
Old Politicians chew on wisdom past,
And totter on in bus'nefs to the last;

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NOTES.

VER. 213. a noble | mourously called boneft, as Dame a whare,] The fifter of Cato, and mother of Brutus.

VER. 227. Here honeft Nature ends as he begins.] Human nature is here hu

the impulfe of the ruling paffion (which the gives and cherishes) makes her more and more impatient of difguife.

As weak, as earneft; and as gravely out,
As fober Lanefb'row dancing in the gout.

230

Behold a rev'rend fire, whom want of grace Has made the father of a nameless race, Shov'd from the wall perhaps, or rudely prefs'd By his own fon, that paffes by unbless'd: 235 Still to his wench he crawls on knocking knees, And envies ev'ry fparrow that he fees.

A falmon's belly, Helluo, was thy fate;' The doctor call'd, declares all help too late: "Mercy! cries Helluo, mercy on my foul! 240 "Is there no hope?-Alas!-then bring the jowl." The frugal Crone, whom praying priests attend, Still strives to fave the hallow'd taper's end, Collects her breath, as ebbing life retires,

For one puff more, and in that puff expires.

245

"Odious in woollen ! 'twould a Saint provoke,

(Were the laft words that poor Narciffa spoke)

NOTES.

VER, 231. Lanefo'row.] An ancient Nobleman, who continued this practice long after his legs were disabled by the gout. Upon the death of Prince George of Denmark, he demanded an audience of the Queen, to

advise her to preserve her health and difpel her grief by Dancing. P.

VER. 247. the last words that poor Narcia Spoke] This ftory, as well as the others, is founded on fact, though the author

"No, let a charming Chintz, and Bruffels lace "Wrap my cold limbs, and fhade my lifeless face : "One would not, fure, be frightful when one's dead-"And-Betty-give this Cheek a little Red." 251

The Courtier smooth, who forty years had fhin'd An humble fervant to all human kind, Juft brought out this, when scarce his tongue could ftir,

"If where I'am going-I could ferve you, Sir? "I give and I devise (old Euclio faid, 256 And figh'd) "my lands and tenements to Ned. Your money, Sir; "My money, Sir, what all?

Why,—if I must-(then wept) I give it Paul. The Manor, Sir?" The Manor! hold, he cry'd, "Not that, I cannot part with that”—and dy'd.

And you! brave COBHAM, to the latest breath Shall feel your ruling paffion strong in death : Such in those moments as in all the past, "Oh, fave my Country, Heav'n!" fhall be your last.

NOTES.

had the goodnefs not to mention the names. Several attribute this in particular to a very celebrated Actress, who, in deteftation of the

thought of being buried in woollen, gave these her laft orders with her dying breath P.

MORAL ESSAYS.

EPISTLE II.

TO

A LA D Y

Of the Characters of Women.

N

OTHING so true as what you once let fall,

"Moft Women have no Characters at all."

Matter too foft a lafting mark to bear,

And beft diftinguish'd by black, brown, or fair.

NOTES.

Of the Characters of Women.] There is nothing in Mr Pope's works more highly finished than this Epiftle: Yet its fuccefs was in no proportion to the pains he took in compofing it. Something he chanced to drop in a fhort Adverpisement prefixed to it, on

its firft publication, may perhaps account for the fmall attention given to it. He said, that no one cháraƐter in it was drawn from the life. The Public believed him on his word, and expreffed little curiofity about a Satire in which there was nothing perfonal.

Plate XIII.

Vol. III.
facing p.126.

N.Blakey inv. & del

G. Scotin Seulp.

In Men, we various ruling Passions find, In Women, two almost divide the Kind:

Those only fixd, they first or last obey, The Love of Pleasure, and the Love of Sway.

Char: of Women.

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