115

Poor Swift, with all his loffes vext, Not knowing where to turn him next, Above a thousand pounds in debt, Takes horfe, and in a mighty fret Rides day and night at such a rate, He foon arrives at Harley's gate; But was fo dirty, pale, and thin, Old Read * would hardly let him in. 120 Said Harley, welcome, rev'rend dean; What makes your worship look fo lean? Why, fure you won't appear in town. In that old wig and rufty gown? I doubt your heart is fet on pelf So much, that you neglect yourself. What! I fuppofe now ftocks are high, You've fome good purchase in your eye; Or is your money out at ufe ?--

125

Truce, good my lord, I beg a truce, 130

115. Offenfus damnis, mediâ de nocte caballum Arripit, iratufque Philippi tendit ad ades.

121. Quem fimul afpexit fcabrum intonfumque Philippus, Durus, ait, Voltei, nimis attentufque videris Effe mibi.

(The doctor in a paffion cry'd,)
Your raillery is misapply'd;
Experience I have dearly bought;
You know I am not worth a groat:
But 'tis a folly to contest

When refolve to have your jest;

you

135

Then, fince you now have done your worst, Pray leave me where

you found me first *.

136. Quod te per genium, dextramque, deofque penates Obfecro, et obteftor, vite me redde priori

HORACE, LI B. II. SAT. VI, Part of it imitated †.

I OFTEN wifh'd, that I had clear
For life fix hundred pounds a year,
A handfome houfe to lodge a friend,
A river at my garden's end,
A terras walk, and half a rood
Of land fet out to plant a wood..

1. Hoc erat in votis: modus agri non ita magnus,,
Hortus ubi, et telto vicinus jugis aquæ fons,
Et paulum filvæ fuper his foret.

*In England, where he feems by this poem to folicit a fettlement in the manner peculiar to himfelf.

5

+ This poem was written about the fame time with, the preceding, and apparently with the fame view.

15

Well, now I have all this, and more, I ask not to increase my store, But fhou'd be perfectly content, Cou'd I but live on this fide Trent, Nor cross the channel twice a year To spend fix months with statesmen here. I muft by all means come to town, "Tis for the fervice of the crown. "Lewis, the dean will be of use; "Send for him up, take no excuse.” The toil, the danger of the seas, Great minifters ne'er think of these; Or, let it cost five hundred pound, No matter where the money's found; 20 It is but fo much more in debt, And that they ne'er confider'd yet. "Good mr. dean, go change your gown, "Let my lord know you're come to town.' I hurry me in hafte away,

25

Not thinking it is levee-day;
And find his honour in a pound,
Hemm'd by a triple circle round
Chequer'd with ribbons blue and green;
How fhould I thruft myself between? 30

7.

Auctius atque

Dii melius fecere.

17. Sive Aquilo radit terras, feu bruma nivalem Interiore diem gyro trabit, ire neceffe eft.

Some wag obferves me thus perplext, And smiling whispers to the next, "I thought the dean had been too proud "To juftle here among a croud.” Another in a furly fit

I have more zeal than wit;

35

Tells me, "So eager to express your love, "You ne'er confider whom you shove, "But rudely prefs before a duke." I own, I'm pleas'd with this rebuke, 40 And take it kindly meant to show What I defire the world fhould know. I get a whisper, and withdraw, When twenty fools I never faw Come with petitions fairly penn'd, Defiring I wou'd ftand their friend. This humbly offers me his case That begs my int'reft for a place An hundred other men's affairs Like bees are humming in my ears. "To-morrow my appeal comes on, "Without your help the cause is gone".

45

50

35. Quid vis, infane, et quas res agis? improbus urget, Iratis precibus, tu pulfes omne quod obftat,

Ad Mecanatem memori fi mente recurras. Hoc juvat, et melli eft, non mentiar. —— 44. -Aliena negotia centum

Per caput et circa faliunt latus.

The

The duke expects my lord and you
About fome great affair at two---
"Put my lord Bolingbroke in mind
"To get my warrant quickly fign'd:
"Confider, 'tis first request."
Be fatisfy'd, I'll do my best : ---
Then presently he falls to teize,

my

55

"You may for certain, if you please; 60 "I doubt not, if his lordfhip knew "And, mr. dean, one word from you” 'Tis (let me fee) three (October next it will be four) Since Harley bid me first attend,

years

and more

65

And chofe me for an humble friend;
Wou'd take me in his coach to chat,
And question me of this and that;
As, "What's o'clock?" and, "how's
the wind?

"Whose chariot's that we left behind?" 70
Or gravely try to read the lines
Writ underneath the country figns;
Or," have you nothing new to-day
"From Pope, from Parnel, or from Gay?”

60. -Si vis, potes, addit et inftat.,
63. Septimus octavo propior jam fugerit annus,
Ex quo Mecenas me cæpit habere fuorum
In numero; duntaxat ad hoc, quem tollere rheda
Vellet iter faciens, et cui concredere nugas.

Such