HORACE, BOOK III. ODE II. TO THE EARL OF OXFORD, LATE LORD TREASurer. SENT TO HIM WHEN IN THE TOWER, 1716. THESE spirited verses, although they have not the affecting pathos of those addressed by Pope to the same great person, during his misfortunes, evince the firmness of Swift's political principles and personal attachment.---Scott. How blest is he who for his country dies, Virtue repulsed, yet knows not to repine; Virtue, to crown her favourites, loves to try Next faithful Silence hath a sure reward; 1 The ensign of the lord treasurer's office. For who with traitors would his safety trust, Lest with the wicked, Heaven involve the just? And though the villain 'scape a while, he feels Slow vengeance, like a bloodhound, at his heels. ON THE CHURCH'S DANGER. GOOD Halifax and pious Wharton cry, And were they hang'd, there would no danger be. A POEM ON HIGH CHURCH. HIGH Church is undone, As sure as a gun, For old Peter Patch is departed; And Eyres and Delaune, And the rest of that spawn, Are tacking about broken-hearted. For strong Gill of Sarum, That decoctum amarum, Has prescribed a dose of cant-fail; Their flasks of French wine, And spice up their Nottingham ale. It purges the spleen Of dislike to the queen, And has one effect that is odder; When easement they use, They always will choose The Conformity Bill for bumfodder. А РОЕМ, OCCASIONED BY THE HANGINGS IN THE CASTLE OF DUBLIN, IN WHICH THE STORY OF PHAETON IS EXPRESSED. Nor asking or expecting aught, One day I went to view the court, A piece of tapestry took my eye, Here you might see the youth prevail, There mounts the eager charioteer ; Soon from his seat he's downward hurl'd; anger doth appear, Here Jove in There all, beneath, the flaming world. What does this idle fiction mean? Is truth at court in such disgrace, It may not on the walls be seen, No, no, 'tis not a senseless tale, By sweet-tongued Ovid dress'd so fine; A lesson deep with learning fraught, Well should he weigh, who does aspire If only fond desire of sway, By avarice or ambition fed, Make him affect to guide the day, Alas! what strange confusion's bred! If, either void of princely care, Remiss he holds the slacken'd rein; If rising heats or mad career, Unskill'd, he knows not to restrain: Or if, perhaps, he gives a loose, In wanton pride to show his skill, How easily he can reduce And curb the people's rage at will; In wild uproar they hurry on ; The great, the good, the just, the wise, (Law and religion overthrown,) Are first mark'd out for sacrifice. When, to a height their fury grown, Finding, too late, he can't retire, proves the real Phaeton, He And truly sets the world on fire. A TALE OF A NETTLE.' A MAN with expense and infinite toil, 1 These verses relate to the proposed repeal of the Test-act, and may be compared with the " Fable of the Bitches," p. 74. |