ATLAS; OR, THE MINISTER OF STATE. TO THE LORD TREASURER OXFOrd. 1710. [In these free, and yet complimentary verses, Swift cautions Oxford against his greatest political error, that affectation of mystery, and wish of ingrossing the whole management of public affairs, which first disgusted, and then alienated Harcourt and Bolingbroke. On this point our author has spoken very fully in the Free Thoughts upon the present State of Affairs. Vol. v. p. 389.] ATLAS, we read in ancient song, Yet Hercules was not so strong, 1 Great statesmen are in this condition; A primer minister of state; Suppose then Atlas ne'er so wise; LINES WRITTEN EXTEMPORE ON MR HARLEY'S BEING STABBED, AND ADDRESSED TO HIS PHYSICIAN, 1710-11. ON Britain Europe's safety lies, Harley depends upon your skill: Think what you save, or what you kill. * * "I told lord-treasurer of four lines I writ extempore, with a pencil, on a bit of paper, in his house, while he lay wounded. Some of the servants, I suppose, made waste paper of them; and he never heard of them."Journal to Stella, Feb. 19, 1711-12. AN EXCELLENT NEW SONG, BEING THE INTENDED SPEECH OF A FAMOUS ORATOR AGAINST PEACE. 1711. AN orator dismal of Nottinghamshire, Who has forty years let out his conscience to hire, Shall hear him harangue against Prior to-morrow. THE SPEECH. WHEREAS, notwithstanding I am in great pain, To hear we are making a peace without Spain; But, most noble senators, 'tis a great shame, There should be a peace, while I'm Not-in-game. * Lord Nottingham's family name. + Hoppy is supposed by Dr Barrett to be a person, elsewhere called old Hooper, in another part of the "Whimsical Medley." The duke show'd me all his fine house; and the duchess From her closet brought out a full purse in her clutches: I talk'd of a peace, and they both gave a start, His grace swore by G-d, and her grace let a f-t: My long old-fashion'd pocket was presently cramm'd; And sooner than vote for a peace I'll be damn’d. But some will cry turn-coat, and rip up old stories, How I always pretended to be for the tories : And will quit my best friends, while I'm Not-ingame. When I and some others subscribed our names To a plot for expelling my master king James, I withdrew my subscription by help of a blot, And so might discover or gain by the plot : I had my advantage, and stood at defiance, For Daniel was got from the den of the lions: I came in without danger, and was I to blame? For, rather than hang, I would be Not-in-game. * I swore to the queen, that the prince of Ha nover During her sacred life would never come over: * This was the earl's christian name. That her majesty stood in great need of a tutor, And I'll vote against peace, with Spain or with out: Though the court gives my nephews, and brothers, and cousins, And all my whole family, places by dozens; And hardly pay eighteen-pence tax in the pound : THE WINDSOR PROPHECY.† "About three months ago, at Windsor, a poor knight's widow was buried in the cloisters. In "There was printed a Grub-street speech of lord Nottingham; and he was such an owl to complain of it in the house of lords, who have taken up the printer for it. I heard at court, that Walpole (a great whig member) said, that I and my whimsical club writ it at one of our meetings, and that I should pay for it. He will find he lies; and I shall let him know by a third hand my thoughts of him."-Journal to Stella, Dec. 18, 1711. "I have written a prophecy, which I design to print. I did |