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SATIRE VI.

The first Part imitated in the Year 1714, by Dr.
SWIFT; the latter Part added afterwards.

'VE often wifh'd that I had clear

I'VE

For life, fix hundred pounds a year,
A handfome Houfe to lodge a Friend,
A River at my garden's end,
A Terras-walk, and half a Rood
Of Land, fet out to plant a Wood.

Well, now I have all this and more,

I ask not to encrease my store;
• But here a Grievance seems to lie,

All this is mine but till I die ;

*. Lcan't but think 'twould found more clever,

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To me and to my Heirs for ever.

• If I ne'er got or loft a groat,

By any Trick, or any Fault;

And if I pray by Reafon's rules,

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And not like forty other Fools:

As thus, "Vouchfafe, oh gracious Maker!

"To grant me this and t'other Acre: "Or, if it be thy Will and Pleasure, "Direct my Plow to find a Treafure:"

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But only what my Station fits,

And to be kept in my right Wits.
Preferve, Almighty Providence!

Juft what you gave me, Competence :
And let me in these fhades compose
6 Something in Verfe as true as Profe;
VOL. VI.

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Ingenium; utque foles, cuftos mihi maximus adfis.
E-go ubi me in montes et in arcem ex Urbe removi,
Quid prius illuftrem Satiris Mufaque pedestri?
Nec mala me ambitio perdit, nec plumbeus Auster,
Autumnufque gravis, Libitinae quaestus acerbae.
Matutine pater, feu Jane libentius audis,

Unde homines operum primos vitaeque labores
Inftituunt, (fic Dîs placitum) tu carminis efto
Principium: Romae fponforem me rapis: Eia,
Ne prior officio quifquam refpondeat, urge:
Sive Aquilo radit terras, feu bruma nivalem
Interiore diem gyro trahit, ire necesse est.
Poftmodo, quod mî obfit, clare certumque locuto,
Lucandum in turba, et facienda injuria tardis.
Quid tibi vis, insane? et quam rem agis? improbus
urget.

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Remov'd from all th' Ambitious Scene,

Nor puff'd by Pride, nor funk by Spleen.'
In fhort, I'm perfectly content,

Let me but live on this fide Trent;

Nor, cross the Channel twice a year,

To spend fix months with Statesmen here.
I must by all means come to town,
'Tis for the service of the Crown.
"Lewis, the Dean will be of use,
"Send for him up, take no excuse."
The toil, the danger of the Seas;
Great Ministers near think of these;
Or let it cost five hundred pound,
No matter where the money's found,

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It is but fo much more in debt,

And that they ne'er confider'd yet.

"Good Mr. Dean go change your gown,

"Let my Lord know you're come tọ town.” I hurry me in hafte away,

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Not thinking it is Levee-day;

And find his Honour in a Pound,

Hemm'd by a triple Circle round,

Chequer'd with Ribbons blue and green:

How should I thruft myself between ?

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Some Wag obferves me thus perplext,
And smiling, whispers to the next,

"I thought the Dean had been too proud, "To juftle here among the croud."

Another in a furly fit,

Tells me I have more Zeal than Wit,
"So eager to exprefs your love,
"You ne'er confider whom you shove,

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" But

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Iratis precibus. tu pulfes omne quod obftat,.
Ad Maecenatem memori fi mente recurras.

Hoc juvat, et melli eft; ne mentiar. at fimul atras
Ventum eft Efquilias; aliena negotia centum

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Per caput, et circa faliunt latus. Ante fecundam:
Rofcius orabat fibi adeffes ad Puteal cras.

De re communi fcribae magna atque nova te
Orabant hodie meminiffes, Quinte, reverti.
Imprimat his cura Maecenas figna tabellis.
Dixeris, Experiar: Si vis, potes, addit; et inftat.
Septimus octavo propior jam fugerit annus,
Ex quo Maecenas me coepit habere fuorum
In numéro: duntaxat ad hoc, quem tollere rheda
Vellet, iter faciens, et cui concredere nugas

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"But rudely prefs before a Duke.”
I own, I'm pleas'd with this rebuke,
And take it kindly meant to fhow
What I defire the World fhould know,

I get a whisper, and withdraw,.;
When twenty Fools I never faw,
Come with Petitions fairly penn'd,
Defiring. I would stand their friend.

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This humbly offers me his Cafe-
That, begs my int'reft for a Place-
A hundred other Men's affairs,
Like bees, are humming in my ears.

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To-morrow my Appeal.comes, on, "Without your help the Caufe is gone The Duke expects my Lord and you, About fome great Affair, at Two "Put my Lord Bolingbroke in mind, "To get my Warrant quickly fign'd: "Confider 'tis my firft requeft.Be fatisfy'd, I'll do my beft :-Then presently he falls to teize, "You may for certain, if you please; "I doubt not, if his Lordfhip knew"And, Mr. Dean, one word from you-'Tis (let me fee) three

years and

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more,

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(October next it will be four)
Since HARLEY bid me firft attend,
And chofe me for an humble friend;

Would take me in his Coach to chat,

And question me of this and that;

As, "What's o'clock ?" And, "How's the Wind?': "Who's Chariot's that we left behind?

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