Yet 119 think, great Sir! (fo many Virtues shown) Ah think, what Poet best may make them known? Or chufe at least some Minister of Grace, Fit to beftow the 120 Laureat's weighty place.
121 Charles, to late times to be transmitted fair, 380 Affign'd his figure to Bernini's care;
And great 122 Naffau to Kneller's hand decreed
To fix him graceful on the bounding Steed ;
So well in paint and stone they judg'd of merit :
But Kings in Wit may want difcerning Spirit. 385
The Hero William, and the Martyr Charles,
One knighted Blackmore, and one penfion'd Quarles;
Which made old Ben, and furly Dennis swear,
"No Lord's anointed, but a 123 Ruffian Bear.
Sed tamen eft 119 operæ pretium cognofcere, quales
Edituos habeat belli fpectata domique
Virtus, 120 indigno non committenda poetæ.
121 Gratus Alexandro regi Magno fuit ille
Charilus, incultis qui verfibus & male natis
Rettulit acceptos, regale numifma, Philippos.
Qui tam Ridiculum tam carè prodigus emit,
Edito vetuit, ne quis fe, præter Apellem,
Pingeret, aut alius Lyfippo duceret æra
Fortis 122 Alexandri vultum fimulantia: quod fi
Judicium fubtile videndis artibus illud
Ad libros, & ad hæc Mufarum dona vocares,
123 Baotum in craffo jurares aëre natum.
[At neque dedecorant tua de fe judicia, atque
Munera quæ, multa dantis cum laude, tulerunt
Dilecti tibi Virgilius Variufque poetæ :]
E 4
Not with fuch 124 majefty, fuch bold relief, 390 The Forms auguft, of King, or conqu❜ring Chief, E'er fwell'd on marble; as in verfe have fhin'd
(In polish'd verse) the Manners and the Mind..
Oh! could I mount on the Mæonian wing,
Your 125 Arms, your Actions, your Repofe to fing! 395
What 126 feas you travers'd, and what fields you fought
Your Country's Peace, how oft, how dearly bought!
How 127 barb'rous rage fubfided at your word,
And Nations wonder'd while they dropp'd the fword!
How, when you nodded, o'er the land and deep, 400
128 Peace stole her wing, and wrapt the world in fleep;
Till earth's extremes your mediation own,
And 129 Afia's Tyrants tremble at your Throne
But 130 Verfe alas! your Majesty difdains :
And I'm not us'd to Panegyric ftrains:
Nec magis expreffi 124 vultus per abenea figna, Quam per vatis opus mores, animique virorum Clarorum apparent: Nec fermones ego mallem Repentes per bumum, 125 quam res componere gestas; Terrarumque 126 fitus, & flumina dicere, & arces Montibus impofitas; & 127 barbara regna, tuifque Aufpiciis totum 128 confecta duella per orbem, Clauftraque 128 Cuftodem Pacis cohibentia Fanum, Et 129 formidatam Parthis, te Principe, Ramam. Si quantum cuperem, paffem quoque: fed neque parvum 130 Carmen Majeftas recipit tua, nec meus audet Rem tentare pudor, quem vires ferré recufant.
The Zeal of 131 Fools offends at any time,
But most of all, the Zeal of Fools in ryme.
Befides, a fate attends on all I write,
That when I aim at praise, they fay 132 I bite.
A vile
133 Encomium doubly ridicules:
There's nothing blackens like the ink of fools;
If true, a 134 woful likeness, and if lyes,
"Praise undeferv'd is fcandal in disguise :"
Well may he 135 blush, who gives it, or receives;
And when I flatter, let my dirty leaves
415
(Like 136 Journals, Odes, and fuch forgotten things
As Eufden, Philips, Settle writ of Kings)
Cloath fpice, line trunks, or flutt'ring in a row,
Befringe the rails of Bedlam and Sohoe.
Sedulitas autem 131 ftultè quem diligit, urget,
Præcipuè cum fe numeris commendat & arte.
Difcit enim citius, meminitque libentius illud.
Quod quis 132 deridet, quam quod probat & veneratur,
Nil moror 133 officium quod me gravat; ac neque ficto
In 134 pejus vultu proponi cereus ufquam,
Nec prave factis decorari verfibus, opto:
Ne 135 rubeam pingui donatus munere ; & una]
Cum 136 fcriptore meo, capfa porrectus aperta,
Deferar in vicum vendentem thus & odores,
Et piper, & quicquid chartis amicitur ineptis.
Ludentis fpeciem dabit, & torquebitur. Hor.
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