And when I die, be sure you let me know, No duty broke, no father disobey'd. The muse but serv'd to ease some friend, not wife, 125 134 A. But why then publish? P. Granville the polite, And knowing Walsh, would tell me I could write; Well-natur'd Garth inflam'd with early praise, And Congreve lov'd, and Swift endur'd my lays : The courtly Talbot, Somers, Sheffield read, Ev'n mitred Rochester would nod the head, After Ver. 124. in the MS. But, Friend, this shape, which you and Curl * admire, * Curl set up his head for a sign. 140 And + His father was crooked. His mother was much afflicted with head-achs. VER. 139. Talbot, &c.] All these were patrons or admirers of Mr. Dryden; though a scandalous libel against him, entitled Dryden's Satire to his Muse, has been printed in the name of the Lord Somers, of which he was wholly ignorant. And St. John's self (great Dryden's friends before) I never answer'd, I was not in debt. 150 If want provok'd, or madness made them print, 155 I wag'd no war with Bedlam or the Mint, Did some more sober critic come abroad; If wrong, I smil'd; if right, I kiss'd the rod. Pains, reading, study, are their just pretence, And all they want is spirit, taste, and sense. 160 Commas VER. 146. Burnets, &c.] Authors who occasionally wrote against Pope. VER. 151. Yet then did Gildon] Gildon was born at the village of Gillingham, near Shaftesbury, in Dorsetshire. He was sent to Doway, to the English college of Secular Priests there, to be made a priest; but came to London, spent his property, and endeavoured to repair his fortune by writing abusive pamphlets. VER. 153. Yet then did Dennis] Dennis the critic, and miscel laneous writer. Commas and points they set exactly right, And 'twere a sin to rob them of their mite. Of hairs, or straws, or dirt, or grubs, or worms! angry: 166 169 Were others I excus'd them too; Well might they rage, I gave them but their due. 175 180 And strains, from hard-bound brains, eight lines a year; And VER. 180. a Persian tale] Amb. Philips translated the Persian Tales. Receiv'd of wits an undistinguish'd race, 240 He paid some bards with port, and some with praise, And others (harder still) he paid in kind. 245 But still the great have kindness in reserve, He help'd to bury whom he help'd to starve. May some choice patron bless each grey goose quill! May ev'ry Bavius have his Bufo still! So when a statesman wants a day's defence, 250 Or envy holds a whole week's war with sense, 255 My verse, and QUEENSB'RY weeping o'er thy urn! Oh let me live my own, and die so too! (To live and die is all I have to do:) VER. 261. Ob let me live] In the first edition; 261 Maintain Maintain a poet's dignity and ease, And see what friends, and read what books I please: Above a patron, tho' I condescend Sometimes to call a minister my friend. 265 I was not born for courts or great affairs; I pay my debts, believe, and say my pray❜rs; Nor know, if Dennis be alive or dead. 270 Why am I ask❜d what next shall see the light? Heav'ns! was I born for nothing but to write? Has life no joys for me? or (to be grave) Have I no friend to serve, no soul to save? 274 "I found him close with Swift-Indeed? no doubt "(Cries prating Balbus) something will come out." 'Tis all in vain, deny it as I will; "No, such a genius never can lie still;" After ver. 270 in the MS. Friendships from youth I sought, and seek them still": VER. 280. Sir Will.] Sir William Young. 280 Curst VER. 280. or Bubo makes.] By Bubo, it is univerfally consi dered Pope meant Bubb Doddington, afterwards Lord Melcombe. After ver. 282 in the MS. P. What if I sing Augustus, great and good? A. You did so lately, was it understood? P. Be |