Some frolick drunkard, reeling from a feast, 35 In vain, these dangers past, your doors you close, And hope the balmy blessings of repose; Cruel with guilt, and daring with despair, The midnight murd'rer bursts the faithless bar; Invades the sacred hour of silent rest, 'And leaves, unseen, a dagger in your breast. 36 Scarce can our fields, such crowds at Tyburn die, With hemp the gallows and the fleet supply. Propose your schemes, ye senatorian band, Whose ways and means * support the sinking land: Lest ropes be wanting in the tempting spring, To rig another convoy for the king†. 34 Sed, quamvis improbus annis, Atque mero fervens, cavet hunc, quem coccina læna Multum præterea flammarum, atque ænea lampas. 35 Nec tamen hoc tantum metuas: nam qui spoliet te Non deerit; clausis domibus, &c. 36 Maximus in vinclis ferri modus; ut timeas, ne Vomer deficiat, ne marræ & sarcula desint. * A cant term in the House of Commons for methods of raising money. + The nation was discontented at the visits made by the King to Ha nover. f And plants unseen. 37 A single gaol, in ALFRED's golden reign, Could half the nation's criminals contain ; Fair justice, then, without constraint ador'd, Held high the steady scale, but sheath'd the sword; No spies were paid, no special juries known, Blest age! but, ah! how diff'rent from our own! 38 Much could I add,-but see the boat at hand, The tide retiring calls me from the land: [spent, 39 Farewell!-When youth, and health, and fortune Thou fly'st for refuge to the Wilds of Kent; And, tir'd like me with follies and with crimes, In angry numbers warn'st succeeding times Then shall thy friend, nor thou refuse his aid, Still foe to vice, forsake his Cambrian shade; In virtue's cause once more exert his rage, Thy satire point, and animate thy page. 37 Felices proavorum atavos, felicia dicas Secula, quæ quondam sub regibus atque tribunis Viderunt uno contentam carcere Romam. 38 His alias poteram, & pluries subnectere causas : Sed jumenta vocant. 39 Ergo vale nostri memor : & quoties te Me quoque ad Elvinam Cererem, vestramque Dianam Sustain'd the balance, but resign'd the sword. THE VANITY OF HUMAN WISHES, IN IMITATION OF THE TENTH SATIRE OF JUVENAL. LET *Observation with extensive view How rarely reason guides the stubborn choice, *Ver. 1-11. * But, scarce observ'd, the knowing and the bold Fall in the gen'ral massacre of gold; Wide wasting pest! that rages unconfin'd, And crowds with crimes the records of mankind; Let Hist❜ry tell where rival kings command, rage of power, And leaves the wealthy traitor in the Tower, Untouch'd his cottage, and his slumbers sound, Tho' Confiscation's vultures hover round. The needy traveller, serene and gay, Walks the wild heath, and sings his toil away. The rustling brake alarms, and quiv'ring shade, d Yet still one gen'ral cry the skies assails, And gain and grandeur load the tainted gales ; * Ver. 12-22. + Ver. 23-37. a In the first edition "the bonny traitor!" an evident allusion to the Scotch Lords who suffered for the rebellion in 1745. b Clang around. d Yet still the general cry. c New fears. Few know the toiling statesman's fear or care, Toil crush'd conceit, and man was of a piece; * Ver. 28-55. VOL. I. P + Ver. 56-107. |