AN EPISTLE то HIS EXCELLENCY JOHN LORD CARTERET, BY DR. DELANY, 1729. Credis ob hoc, me, Paftor, opes fortaffe rogare, MART. Epig. lib. ix. HOU wife and learned ruler of our isle, THO Whofe guardian care can all her griefs beguile; When next your generous foul fhall condefcend T' inftruct or entertain your humble friend; Whether, retiring from your weighty charge, On fome high theme you learnedly enlarge ; Of all the ways of wisdom reason well, How Richlicu rofe, and how Sejanus fell: Or, when your brow lefs thoughtfully unbends, Circled with Swift and fome delighted friends; When, mixing mirth and wisdom with your wine, Like that your wit fhall flow, your genius fhine; Nor with lefs praise the converfation guide, Than in the public councils you decide: Or when the Dean, long privileg'd to rail, Afferts his friend with more impetuous zeal; You hear (whilft I fit by abash'd and mute) With foft conceffions fhortening the difpute; Then close with kind enquiries of my state, "How are your tithes, and have they rofe of late? "Why, "Why, Chrift-Church is a pretty fituation, "There are not many better in the nation! "This, with your other things, muft yield you clear "Some fix-at leaft five hundred pounds a year." Suppofe, at fuch a time, I took the freedom. To speak these truths as plainly as you read 'em ; You shall rejoin, my lord, when I've replied, And, if you please, my lady fhall decide: My lord, I'm fatisfied you meant me well : "And that I'm thankful, all the world can tell : "But you'll forgive me, if I own th' event "Is fhort, is very short, of your intent ; "At least, I feel fome ills unfelt before, "My income lefs, and my expences more. How, doctor! double vicar! double rector! "A dignitary! with a city lecture! "What glebes-what dues-what tithes-what "fines-what rent! "Why, doctor!-will you never be content?" "Would my good lord but caft up the account, "And fee to what my revenues amount; "My titles ample; but my gain so small, "That one good vicarage is worth them all: "And very wretched fure is he, that's double "In nothing but his titles and his trouble. "Add to this crying grievance, if you please, My horfes founder'd on Fermanah ways; Ways of well-polifh'd and well-pointed ftone, "Where every step endangers every bone; "And, more. to raise your pity and your wonder, "Two churches-twelve Hibernian miles afunder! "With complicated cures, I labour hard in, "Befide whole fummers abfent from my garden!— "But "But that the world would think I play'd the fool, "I'd change with Charley Grattan for his school *— "What fine cascades, what viftos, might I make, "Fixt in the centre of th' Iernian lake! "There might I fail delighted, smooth and safe, "Beneath the conduct of my good Sir Ralph † : "There's not a better steerer in the realm; "I hope, my lord, you'll call him to the helm.". "Doctor-a glorious scheme to ease your grief! "When cures are crofs, a fchool's a fure relief. "You cannot fail of being happy there, "The lake will be the Lethe of your care: "The scheme is for your honour and your eafe; And, doctor, I'll promote it when you please. "Meanwhile, allowing things below your merit, "Yet, doctor, you've a philofophic fpirit; "Your wants are few, and, like your income, small, "And you've enough to gratify them all: "You've trees, and fruits, and roots, enough in "ftore: "And what would a philosopher have more? "You cannot wifh for coaches, kitchens, cooks-" My lord, I've not enough to buy me books"Or pray, suppose my wants were all supplied, "Are there no wants I fhould regard befide? “Whose breast is fo unmann'd, as not to grieve, Compafs'd with miferies he can't relieve? "Who can be happy-who should wish to live, "And want the godlike happiness to give? "That I'm a judge of this, you must allow : "I had it once-and I'm debarr'd it now. A free-fchool at Inniskillen. Sir Ralph Gore, who had a villa in the lake of Erin. "Afk "Ask your own heart, my lord; if this be true, "Then how unblest am I! how bleft are you!" " 'Tis true-but, doctor, let us wave all that— દરે Say, if you had your wifh, what you'd be at." "Excufe me, good my lord-I won't be founded, "Nor fhall your favour by my wants be bounded, My lord, I challenge nothing as my due, "Nor is it fit I fhould prescribe to you. "Yet this might Symmachus himself avow, (Whofe rigid rules are antiquated now)"My lord! I'd wish to pay the debts I owe"I'd wifh befides-to build, and to beftow." AN EPISTLE UPON AN EPISTLE, FROM A CERTAIN DOCTOR то A CERTAIN GREAT LORD. Being a CHRISTMAS-BOX for Dr. DELANY. AS Jove will not attend on lefs, When things of more importance prefs As Falstaff acted old king Harry ; I'd I'd tell of yours in rhyme and print; It fhines moft in the marble cover. How could fo fine a taste dispense The wife and learned of our ifle; You've cause to say he meant you well : That you are thankful, who can tell? For ftill you're short (which grieves your spirit) Of his intent; you mean, your merit, Ah! quanto rectius, tu adepte, Qui nil moliris tam inepte ? Smedley, thou Jonathan of Clogher, "When thou thy humble lay doft offer "To Grafton's grace, with grateful heart, "Thy thanks and verfe devoid of art: "Content with what his bounty gave, "No larger income doft thou crave." But you must have cascades, and all Ierne's lake, for your canal, Your vistos, barges, and (a pox on All pride!) our Speaker for your coxon : It's pity that he can't bestow you Twelve commoners in caps to row you. Thus |