P. Some War, some Plague, or Famine they foresee, Some Revelation hid from you and me. Why Shylock wants a meal, the cause is found, 115 Why she and Sappho raise that monstrous sum? Wise Peter sees the World's respect for Gold, Much injur'd Blunt 10! why bears he Britain's hate? A wizard told him in these words our fate: [South-sea year: 1720; in August the stock of the South Sea Company had risen to 1000; by the end of September it had fallen to 300; and the news of the failure of Law's Mississippi scheme in Paris completed the crash which reduced thousands of families to beggary. Pope himself told Atterbury that after the bursting of the bubble he remained with 'half what he imagined he had,' probably meaning half his gains, as there is every reason to believe that he sold out in time.] 2 To live on Ven'son] In the extravagance and luxury of the South-sea year, the price of a haunch of Venison, was from three to five pounds. P. 3 [Sir Robert Walpole's scheme of the year 1733 for bringing the tobacco- and wine-duties under the laws of excise, was magnified by report into the design of a general excise upon all articles of consumption. The popular ferment which the proposal aroused led to its abandonment. See Lord Stanhope's History of England, Chap. xvi.] 4-general Excise] Many people about the year 1733, had a conceit that such a thing was intended, of which it is not improbable this lady might have some intimation. P. [In 1733 Walpole contemplated a comprehensive measure for adding to the excise-duties, and reforming the whole administration of the revenue: a cry was set up against the measure by the Opposition, and the country, terrified by the bugbear of a general excise. Pulteney headed the opposition in Parliament, while the prejudices of the public were worked upon in the Craftsman. Walpole was forced to withdraw his excellent proposal.] 5 [Pope himself advised Lady M. W. Montagu to purchase South-sea stock in August 1720.] 120 125 130 6 Wise Peter] Peter Walter, a person not only eminent in the wisdom of his profession, as a dextrous attorney, but allowed to be a good, if not a safe conveyancer; extremely respected by the Nobility of this land, tho' free from all manner of luxury and ostentation: his Wealth was never seen, and his bounty never heard of, except to his own son, for whom he procured an employment of considerable profit, of which he gave him as much as was necessary. Therefore the taxing this gentleman with any Ambition, is certainly a great wrong to him. P. [The 'Waters' of v. 20.] 7 Rome's great Didius] A Roman Lawyer, so rich as to purchase the Empire when it was set to sale upon the death of Pertinax. P. [Didius Julianus A. D. 193. The vendors were the Prætorian Guards.] 8 The Crown of Poland, &c.] The two persons here mentioned were of Quality, each of whom in the Mississippi despis'd to realize above three hundred thousand pounds; the Gentleman with a view to the purchase of the Crown of Poland, the Lady on a vision of the like royal nature. They since retired into Spain, where they are still in search of gold in the mines of the Asturies. P. 9 A Mr Gage, of the ancient Suffolk Catholic family of that name; and Lady Mary Herbert, daughter of the Marquess of Powis and of a natural daughter of James II.; whence the phrase hereditary realms.' Bowles. 10 Much injur'd Blunt!] Sir John Blunt, originally a scrivener, was one of the first projectors of the South-sea Company, and afterwards one of the directors and chief managers of the famous scheme in 1720. He was also one of those who suffer'd most severely by the bill of pains and penalties on the said directors. He was a Dis "At length Corruption, like a gen'ral flood, 66 (So long by watchful Ministers withstood) 135 140 "And Judges job, and Bishops bite the town, "And mighty Dukes pack Cards for half a crown. "See Britain sunk in lucre's sordid charms, "And France reveng'd of ANNE'S and EDWARD'S arms?' 'Twas no Court-badge, great Scriv'ner! fir'd thy brain, 545 And, nobly wishing Party-rage to cease, To buy both sides, and give thy Country peace. 150 But who, my friend, has reason in his rage? 155 Hear then the truth: "'Tis Heav'n each Passion sends, "And diff'rent men directs to diff'rent ends. 160 "Extremes in Nature equal good produce, senter of a most religious deportment, and professed to be a greater believer. Whether he did really credit the prophecy here mentioned is not certain, but it was constantly in this very style he declaimed against the corruption and luxury of the age, the partiality of Parliaments, and the misery of party-spirit. He was particularly eloquent a gainst Avarice in great and noble persons, of which he had indeed lived to see many miserable 165 170 175 examples. He died in the year 1732. P. 3 [Supposed to be the Duke of Newcastle, who died in 1711; and his son, the well-known peer of that name, who afterwards became prime minister. Carruthers. [See Macaulay's portrait of the son in his Essay on Chatham.] What tho' (the use of barb'rous spits forgot) 180 With soups unbought and salads bless'd his board? Than Brahmins, Saints, and Sages did before; To cram the Rich was prodigal expense, 185 And who would take the Poor from Providence? Like some lone Chartreux stands the good old Hall, Not so his Son; he mark'd this oversight, 190 195 ; 200 What slaughter'd hecatombs, what floods of wine, Fill the capacious Squire, and deep Divine! 205 And Zeal for that great House which eats him up. 210 And heads the bold Train-bands 5, and burns a Pope. His thankless Country 1['Cool was his kitchen, though his brains were hot.' Dryden, Absalom and Achitophel. I.] 2 With soups unbought] -dapibus mensas onerabat inemptis. Virg. P. [Georg. IV. 133.] 3 [Carthusian monastery.] 4 [Of Hanover.] 5 [The demonstrative Protestantism of the Metropolis is the subject of Dryden's Medal.] 215 220 6 After v. 218 in the MS. [H-y may stand for Harley.] To balance Fortune by a just expense, With Splendour, Charity; with Plenty, Health; 225 O teach us, BATHURST! yet unspoil'd by wealth1! Of mad Good-nature, and of mean Self-love. B. To Worth or Want well-weigh'd, be Bounty giv'n, And ease, or emulate, the care of Heav'n; 230 (Whose measure full o'erflows on human race) 235 But well-dispers'd, is Incense to the Skies. P. Who starves by Nobles, or with Nobles eats? The Wretch that trusts them, and the Rogue that cheats. Is there a Lord, who knows a cheerful noon Without a Fiddler, Flatt'rer, or Buffoon? 240 Whose table, Wit, or modest Merit share, Unelbow'd by a Gamester, Pimp, or Play'r? Who copies Your's or OXFORD's better part, To ease th' oppress'd, and raise the sinking heart? Where-e'er he shines, oh Fortune, gild the scene, 245 And Honour linger ere it leaves the land. But all our praises why should Lords engross? 250 Who hung with woods yon mountain's sultry brow? 255 Or in proud falls magnificently lost, But clear and artless, pouring thro' the plain 1 After v. 226 in the MS. 'That secret rare, with affluence hardly join'd, 2 OXFORD'S better part,] Edward Harley, Earl of Oxford. The son of Robert, created Earl of Oxford and Earl Mortimer by Queen Anne. This Nobleman died regretted by all men of letters, great numbers of whom had experienced his benefits. He left behind him one of the most noble Libraries in Europe. P. 3 The MAN of Ross:] The person here celebrated, who with a small Estate actually performed all these good works, and whose true name was almost lost (partly by the title of the Man of Ross given him by way of eminence, and partly by being buried without so much as an inscription) Whose Cause-way parts the vale with shady rows? Balk'd are the Courts, and contest is no more. B. Thrice happy man! enabled to pursue 260 265 270 275 P. Of Debts, and Taxes, Wife and Children clear, This man possest-five hundred pounds a year. 280 Blush, Grandeur, blush! proud Courts, withdraw your blaze! Ye little Stars! hide your diminish'd rays. B. And what? no monument, inscription, stone1? P. Who builds a Church to God, and not to Fame, 285 Go, search it there 2, where to be born and die3, 290 That live-long wig which Gorgon's self might own, 295 In the worst inn's worst room, with mat half-hung, 300 The floors of plaister, and the walls of dung, |