While innocent, he fcorns ignoble flight; His watchful friends preferve him by a fleight. By Harley's favour, once again he shines; Is now carefs'd by candidate divines, Who change opinions with the changing fcene: Lord! how were they mistaken in the dean; Now Delaware again * familiar grows; And in Swift's ear thrufts half his powder'd nose. The Scottish nation, whom he durft offend, Again apply that Swift would be their friend t. By faction tir'd, with grief he waits a while. His great contending friends to reconcile, Performs what friendship, juftice, truth require : What could he more, but decently retire‡? * Delaware, then lord treafurer of the houfhold, always careffed the author at court: but during the trial of the printers before the house of lords, and while the proclamation hung over the author, his lordship would not feem to know him. + The Scotch lords treated and vifited the author more after the proclamation than before, except the duke of Argyle, who would never be reconciled. About ten weeks before the queen's death, I left the town, upon occafion of that incurable breach among the great men at court, and went down to Berkshire. Mr. Pope's Profe Works, Vol. II. Let. V. In SICKNESS. Written foon after the author's coming to live in Ireland upon the queen's death, Oct. 1714. T IS true, then why should I repine, To fee my life fo faft decline? But why obfcurely here alone, Where I am neither lov'd nor known? Before his credit, or his fee. Some formal vifits, looks, and words, I meet perhaps from three or four, Ye formal weepers for the fick, In your last offices be quick : And spare my abfent friends the grief To hear, yet give me no relief; Expir'd to day, entomb'd to morrow, When known, will fave a double forrow. To the Earl of OXFORD, late lord treasurer. Sent to him when he was in the Tower, before his trial. Out of HORACE. Written in the Year 1716. W bleft is he, who for his country How dies, Since death pursues the coward as he flies! The youth in vain would fly from fate's attack, With trembling knees and terror at his back; Though fear should lend him pinions like the wind, Yet fwifter fate will feize him from behind. Virtue repuls'd, yet knows not to repine; But fhall with unattainted honour shine; * Nor stoops to take the staff, nor lays it down, Juft as the rabble please to fmile or frown. Virtue, to crown her fav'rites, loves to try Some new unbeaten paffage to the Sky; Where Jove a feat among the gods will give To thofe who die for meriting to live. Next, faithful filence hath a fure reward; Within our breaft be ev'ry secret barr'd : He who betrays his friend, fhall never be Under one roof, or in one fhip with me. For who with traitors would his fafety truft, Left with the wicked, heaven involve the just? And, tho' the villain 'fcape a while, he feels Slow vengeance like a blood-hound, at his heels. Ad AMICU M eruditum THOMA M DE SHERIDAN. Scripfit Oct. Ann. Dom. 1717. ELICIE Sheridan mufarum, dulcis amice, Sic tibi propitius Permeffi ad flumen Apollo * A white ftaff is the enfign of the lord treasurer's office. Occurrat, Occurrat, feu te mimum convivia rident, Equivocofque fales fpargis, feu ludere verfu Malles; dic, Sheridan, quisnam fuit ille deorum, Quæ melior natura orto tibi tradidit artem Rimandi genium puerorum, atque ima ce rebri Scrutandi? Tibi nafcenti ad cunabula Pallas Aftitit; & dixit, mentis præfaga futuræ, Heu, puer infelix! noftro fub fidere natus ; Nam tu pectus eris fine corpore, corporis umbra; Şed levitate umbram fuperabis, voce cicadam: Mufca femur, palmas tibi mus dedit, ardea crura. Corpore fed tenui tibi quod natura negavit, Hoc animi dotes fupplebunt; teque docente, Nec longum tempus, furget tibi docta ju ventus, Artibus egregiis animas inftructa novellas. Grex hinc Poonius venit, ecce, falutifer orbi. Aft, illi caufas orant; his infula vifa eft Divinam capiti nodo conftringere mitram. Natalis te horæ non fallunt figna, fed ufque Confcius, expedias puero feu lætus Apollo C 3 Nafcenti |