The Zeal of Fools offends at any time,
But most of all, the Zeal of Fools in rhyme.
Befides, a fate attends on all I write,
That when I aim at praise, they say " I bite.
A vile Encomium doubly ridicules:

m

n

O

There's nothing blackens like the ink of fools.
If true, a woful likeness; and if lyes,
"Praise undeferv'd is fcandal in disguise:"
Well may he blush, who gives it, or receives;
And when I flatter, let my dirty leaves

૧

410

415

(Like Journals, Odes, and fuch forgotten things
As Eufden, Philips, Settle, writ of Kings)
Cloath fpice, line trunks, or Autt'ring in a row,
Befringe the rails of Bedlam and Soho.

THE

SECOND EPISTLE

OF THE

SECOND BOOK

OF

7 20

HORACE.

Ludentis fpeciem dabit, et torquebitur. Hor.

EPISTOLA

II.

FLO

LORE, bono claroque fidelis amice Neroni, b Si quis forte velit puerum tibi vendere natum Tibure vel Gabiis, et tecum fic agat: "Hic et "Candidus, et talos a vertice pulcher ad imos, "Fiet eritque tuus nummorum millibus octo; "Verna minifteriis ad nutus aptus heriles; "Litterulis Graecis imbutus, idoneus arti "Cuilibet: argilla quidvis imitaberis uda: "Quin etiam canet indoctum, fed dulce bibenti. "Multa fidem promiffa levant, ubi plenius aequo "Laudat venales, qui vult extrudere, merces. "Res urget me nulla meo fum paupere in aere. "Nemo hoc mangonum faceret tibi: non temere a

me

NOTES.

VER. 4. This Lad, Sir, is of Blois :] A Town in Beauce, where the French tongue is fpoken in great purity.

VER. 15. But, Sir, to you, with what would I not part?】

1

DEAR

EPISTLE II.

EAR Col'nel, COBHAM's and your country's
Friend!

You love a Verfe, take fuch as I can fend.

b A Frenchman comes, prefents you with his Boy,
Bows and begins-" This Lad, Sir, is of Blois :
"Obferve his fhape how clean! his locks how curl'd!
"My only fon, I'd have him fee the world: 6
"His French is pure; his Voice too-you shall hear.
"Sir, he's your flave, for twenty pound a year.
"Mere wax as yet, you fashion him with ease,
"Your Barber, Cook, Upholft'rer, what you please:
"A perfect genius at an Opera-fong-

III

"To fay too much, might do my honour wrong.
"Take him with all his virtues, on my word;
"His whole ambition was to ferve a Lord;
"But, Sir, to you, with what would I not part? 15
"Tho' faith, I fear, 'twill break his Mother's heart.
"Once (and but once) I caught him in a lye,
"And then, unwhipp'd, he had the grace to cry:
"The fault he has I fairly fhall reveal,

" (Cou'd you o'erlook but that) it is, to fteal. 20

NOTES.

The numbers well exprefs the unwillingness of parting with what one can ill pare.

* M