The wisest man might blush, I must agree,
If D*** loved sixpence more than he.

"If there be truth in law, and use can give 230 A property, that's yours on which you live. Delightful Abs-court, if its fields afford

Their fruits to you, confesses you its lord:

235

All Worldly's hens, nay partridge, sold to town,
His venison too, a guinea makes your own:
He bought at thousands, what with better wit
You purchase as you want, and bit by bit;
Now, or long since, what difference will be found?
You pay a penny, and he paid a pound.

'Heathcote himself, and such large-acred men,
Lords of fat E'sham, or of Lincoln fen,
Buy every stick of wood, that lends them heat,
Buy every pullet they afford to eat,

Yet these are wights, who fondly call their own
Half that the devil o'erlooks from Lincoln town.
The laws of God, as well as of the land,
Abhor, a perpetuity should stand:

Estates have wings, and hang in fortune's power
"Loose on the point of every wavering hour,
Ready, by force, or of your own accord,
By sale, at least by death, to change their lord.

NOTES.

250

Ver. 232. Delightful Abs-court,] A farm over against Hampton Court. Warburton.

Ver. 248. hang in fortune's power-Loose on the point of every wavering hour.] A modern idea (the magnetic needle) here supplied the imitator with expression much superior to his original.

Warburton.

Nunc prece, nunc pretio, nunc vi, nunc sorte su

premâ,

Permutet dominos, et cedat in altera jura.

Sic, quia perpetuus nulli datur usus, et hæres Hæredem alterius, velut unda supervenit undam: Quid vici prosunt, aut horrea? quidve Calabris Saltibus adjecti Lucani; si metit Orcus Grandia cum parvis, non exorabilis auro?

a

Gemmas, marmor, ebur, Tyrrhena sigilla, tabellas,

Argentum, vestes Gætulo murice tinctas,

Sunt qui non habeant; est qui non curat habere. Cur alter fratrum cessare, et ludere, et ungui Præferat Herodis palmetis pinguibus; alter Dives et importunus, ad umbram lucis ab ortu Silvestrem flammis et ferro mitiget agrum:

NOTES.

Ver. 254. All vast possessions,] The next ten lines are far superior to the original, both for their poetry and philosophy; and for the artful introduction of the name of his excellent and amiable friend, Lord Bathurst. Warton.

Ver. 257. Join Cotswood hills to Saperton's fair dale,] Saperton. His seat is near the Cotswold hills: and his favourite passion is well alluded to in ver. 260.

Link towns to towns with avenues of oak:

for the avenues of oaks at Saperton are very magnificent. Bennet. Wakefield.

Ver. 264. Gold, silver,] These four lines are fine examples of the close, energetic, comprehensive style, of which he was so perfect a master. Warton.

Ver. 273. All Townshend's turnips,] Lord Townshend, Secretary of State to George the First and Second. When this great statesman retired from business, he amused himself in husbandry; and was particularly fond of that kind of rural improvement which

arises

Man? and for ever? wretch! what would'st thou

have?

Heir urges heir, like wave impelling wave.
All vast possessions, (just the same the case
Whether
you call them villa, park, or chase,) 255
Alas, my BATHURST! what will they avail?
Join Cotswood hills to Saperton's fair dale,
Let rising granaries and temples here,
There mingled farms and pyramids appear,
Link towns to towns with avenues of oak,
Enclose whole downs in walls, 'tis all a joke!
Inexorable Death shall level all,

260

And trees, and stones, and farms, and farmer fall.
'Gold, silver, ivory, vases sculptured high,
Paint, marble, gems, and robes of Persian dye, 265
There are who have not,—and, thank Heaven, there

are,

Who, if they have not, think not worth their care. "Talk what you will of taste, my friend, you'll

find

Two of a face, as soon as of a mind.

Why, of two brothers, rich and restless one 270 Ploughs, burns, manures, and toils from sun to sun; The other slights, for women, sports, and wines, All Townshend's turnips, and all Grosvenor's mines;

NOTES.

arises from turnips; it was the favourite subject of his conversation. Warburton.

He is said to have been slow in his parts, rough in his manners, and impatient of contradiction, but generous and humane at bottom; and of strong, good judgment.

Warton.

Scit Genius, natale comes qui temperat astrum:
NATURE DEUS HUMANÆ, mortalis in unum-
Quodque caput, vultu mutabilis, albus, et ater.

с

Utar, et ex modico, quantum res poscet, acervo Tollam nec metuam, quid de me judicet hæres, Quòd non plura datis invenerit. Et tamen idem Scire volam, quantùm simplex hilarisque nepoti Discrepet, et quantùm discordet parcus avaro. "Distat enim, spargas tua prodigus, an neque sumptum

Invitus facias, nec plura parare labores :

Ac potiùs, puer ut festis Quinquatribus olim,
Exiguo gratoque fruaris tempore raptim.

NOTES.

Ver. 274. like Bu-] Bubb Doddington, afterward Lord Melcombe, whose curious Diary has discovered many despicable Court secrets and mean intrigues.

Warton.

Ver. 277. fly, like Oglethorpe,] Employed in settling the colony of Georgia.

Pope.

Here are lines that will justly confer immortality on a man who well deserved so magnificent an eulogium. He was at once a great hero and a great legislator. The vigor of his mind and body have seldom been equalled. The vivacity of his genius continued to a great old age. The variety of his adventures, and the very different scenes in which he had been engaged, makes one regret that his life has never been written. Dr. Johnson once offered to do it, if the General would furnish the materials. Johnson had a great regard for him, for he was one of the first persons that highly, in all companies, praised his London. His first campaign was made under Prince Eugene, against the Turks; and this great General always spoke of Oglethorpe in the highest terms. Neither he nor Eugene loved Marlborough. He once told me (for I had the pleasure of knowing him well,) that Eugene, speaking of Marlborough, said: "There is a great difference in making war en maître, or en avocat." But his settlement of the colony in Georgia

280

Why one like Bu- with pay and scorn content,
Bows and votes on, in Court and Parliament; 275
One driven by strong benevolence of soul,
Shall fly, like Oglethorpe, from pole to pole:
Is known alone to that Directing Power,
Who forms the genius in the natal hour;
That God of Nature, who, within us still,
Inclines our action, not constrains our will;
Various of temper, as of face or frame,
Each individual: His great end the same.
"Yes, Sir, how small soever be my heap,
A part I will enjoy, as well as keep.
My heir may sigh, and think it want of grace
A man so poor would live without a place :
But sure no statute in his favour says,
How free, or frugal, I shall pass my days:

285

I, who at some times spend, at others spare, 290 Divided between carelessness and care.

d

'Tis one thing madly to disperse my store;

Another, not to heed to treasure more ;

Glad, like a 'boy, to snatch the first good day,
And pleased, if sordid want be far away.

NOTES.

295

Georgia gave a greater lustre to his character than even his military exploits.

Warton.

Ver. 280. That God of Nature, &c.] Here our Poet had an opportunity of illustrating his own philosophy; and so giving a much better sense to his original; and correcting both the naturalism and the fate of Horace, which are covertly conveyed in these words:

"Scit Genius, natale comes qui temperat astrum,

NATURE DEUS HUMANE."

Warburton.