EPISTLE то ROBERT Earl of OXFORD, and Earl MORTIMER. UCH were the notes thy once-lov'd Poet fung, SUCH 5 'Till Death untimely ftop'd his tuneful tongue. Oh just beheld! and loft! admir'd and mourn'd! With fofteft manners, gentleft arts adorn'd! Bleft in each science, bleft in ev'ry strain! Dear to the Mufe! to HARLEY dear---in vain! For him, thou oft haft bid the World attend, Fond to forget the statesman in the friend; For SWIFT and him, defpis'd the farce of state, The fober follies of the wife and great; Dextrous, the craving, fawning croud to quit, And pleas'd to 'fcape from Flattery to Wit. NOTES. Epift. to Robert Earl of Oxford.] This Epiftle was fent to the Earl of Oxford with Dr. Parnelle's Poems published by our Author, after the faid Earl's Imprisonment in the Tower, and Retreat into the Country, in the Year 1721. P. Abfent or dead, ftill let a friend be dear, (A figh the abfent claims, the dead a tear) Who, careless now of Int'rest, Fame, or Fate, And fure, if aught below the feats divine 16 20 A Soul fupreme, in each hard inftance try'd, The Muse attends thee to thy filent fhade: When Int'reft calls off all her fneaking train, 30 m Ev'n now, she shades thy Ev'ning-walk with bays, (No hireling the, no proftitute to praise) 36 Ev'n now, obfervant of the parting ray, Eyes the calm Sun-fet of thy various Day, 40 EPISTLE To JAMES CRAGGS, Efq. SECRETARY of STATE. A Soul as full of Worth, as void of Pride, Which nothing feeks to fhew, or needs to hide, Which nor to Guilt nor Fear, its Caution owes, And boafts a Warmth that from no Paffion flows. 10 A Face untaught to feign; a judging Eye, Secretary of State] In the Year 1720. P. 15 EPISTLE To Mr. JERVAS, With Mr. DRYDEN'S Translation to FRESNOY'S Art of Painting. HIS Verfe be thine, my friend, nor thou TH refuse This, from no venal or ungrateful Muse. NOTES. Epift. to Mr. Jervas.] This Epiftle, and the two following, were written fome years before the reft, and originally printed in 1717. P. |