The wifeft man might blufh, I must agree, 230 w If there be truth in Law, and Use can give 235 y Heathcote him felf, and fuch large-acred men, 240 Lords of fat E'fham, or of Lincoln-fen, Buy ev'ry flick of wood that lends them heat; Viveret in terris, te fi quis avarior uno. W Si proprium eft, quod quis libra mercatus et aere, * das nummos; accipis uvam, y Emtor Aricini quondam, Veientis et arvi, Emtum coenat olus, quamvis aliter putat; emtis NOTE S. VER. 232. delightful Abs-court,] A farm over-against Hampton Court. Yet thefe are Wights, who fondly call their own Half that the Dev'l o'erlooks from Lincoln town. 245 The Laws of God, as well as of the land, Abhor a Perpetuity fhould ftand: Eftates have wings, and hang in Fortune's pow'r z Loose on the point of ev'ry wav'ring hour, Ready, by force, or of your own accord, By fale, at least by death, to change their lord. 250 255 Man? and for ever? wretch! what would'st thou have? 260 And trees, and stones, and farms, and farmer fall. Sub noctem gelidam lignis calefactat ahenum. z Sit proprium cuiquam, puncto quod mobilis horae, Nunc prece, nunc pretio, nunc vi, nunc forte fuprema, Permutet dominos, et cedat in altera jura. Sic, quia perpetuus nulli datur ufus, et haeres Haeredem alterius, velut unda fupervenit undam: Quid vici profunt, aut horrea? quidve Calabris Saltibus adjecti Lucani; fi metit Orcus Grandia cum parvis, non exorabilis auro è NOTE S. VER. 248. bang in Fortune's pow'r-Loofe on the point of ev'ry wav'ring hour,] A modern idea (the magnetic needle) here fupplied the Imitator with expreffion much fuperior to his original. • Gold, Silver, Iv'ry, Vases sculptur'd high, Paint, Marble, Gems, and robes of Perfian dye, 265 There are who have not-and thank heav'n there are, Who, if they have not, think not worth their care. b Talk what you will of Tafte, my friend, you'll find Two of a face, as foon as of a mind. Why, of two brothers, rich and restless one 275 270 Plows, burns, manures, and toils from fun to fun; The other flights, for women, fports, and wines, All Townshend's Turnips, and all Grosvenor's mines: Why one like Bu- with pay and scorn content, Bows and votes on, in Court and Parliament; One, driv'n by strong Benevolence of soul, Shall fly, like Oglethorpe, from pole to pole : Is known alone to that Directing Pow'r, Who forms the Genius in the natal hour; That God of Nature, who, within us till, Inclines our action, not constrains our will; 280 Gemmas, marmor, ebur, Tyrrhena figilla, tabellas, Argentum, veftes Gaetulo murice tinctas, b Cur alter fratrum ceffare, et ludere, et ungi NOTE S VER. 273. All Townshend's Turnips] Lord Townshend, Secre tary of State to George the Firft and Second.-When this great Statefman retired from business, he amused himself in Husbandry; and was particularly fond of that kind of rural improvement which arifes from Turnips; it was the favourite fubject of his converfation. VER. 277. fly, like Oglethorpe,] Employed in fettling the Colony of Georgia. .VER. 280. That God of Nature, etc.] Here our Poet had an opportunity of illuftrating his own Philofophy; and thereby giving Various of temper, as of face or frame, c Yes, Sir, how small foever be my heap, A part I will enjoy, as well as keep. My heir may figh, and think it want of grace 285 A man so poor would live without a place: '290 NATURAE DEUS HUMANAE, mortalis in unum→ 295 Utar, et ex modico, quantum res pofcet, acervo Ac potius, puer ut feftis Quinquatribus olim, f Pauperies immunda domus procul abfit: ego, utrum Nave ferar magna an parva; ferar unus et idem. NOTE S. a much better sense to his original; and correcting both the naturalifm and the fate of Horace, which are covertly conveyed in these words, Scit Genius, natale comes qui temperat astrum, NATURAE DEUS HUMANAE. VER. 288. But fure no ftatute] Alluding to the statutes made in England and Ireland, to regulate the Succeffion of Papists, etc. The ship itself may make a better figure, "But why all this of Av'rice? I have none." I wish you joy, Sir, of a Tyrant gone; But does no other lord it at this hour, 300 305 With terrors round, can Reafon hold her throne, 310 In fpite of witches, devils, dreams, and fire ? Non agimur tumidis velis Aquilone fecundo: NOTES. VER. 312. Survey both worlds,] It is obfervable with what fo briety he has corrected the licentioufnefs of his original, which made the expectation of another world a part of that fuperftition he would explore; whereas his Imitator is only for removing the falfe terrors from the world of spirits, such as the diablerie of witchcraft and purgatory. |