EPISTLE

To Mr. MURRAY.

"Nor to admire, is all the Art I know,

VI.

To make men happy, and to keep them fo." (PlainTruth, dear MURRAY, needs no flow'rs of speech, So take it in the very words of Creech.)

This Vault of Air, this congregated Ball, Self-center'd Sun, and Stars that run and fall,

N

EPISTOLA VI.

IL admirari, prope res est una, Numici,
Solaque quae poffit facere et fervare beatum.
Hunc folem, et stellas, et decedentia certis

NOTES.

VER. 3. dear MURRAY,] This Piece is the most finished of all his imitations, and executed in the high manner the Italian Painters call con amore. By which they mean, the exertion of that principle, which puts the faculties on the stretch, and produces the fupreme degree of excellence. For the Poet had all the warmth of affection for the great Lawyer to whom it is addressed : and, indeed, no man ever more deserved to have a Poet for bis friend. In the obtaining of which, as neither Vanity, Party, nor Fear, had any share: so he supported his title to it by all the offices of true Friendship.

VER. 4. Creech.] From whose tranflation of Horace the two first es are taken.

VER. 6. Stars that rise and fall,] The Original is,

decedentia certis

Tempora momentis,

which words fimply and literally fignify the change of seasons. But this change being confidered as an object of admiration, his imitator has judiciously expressed it in the more fublime figurative terms of

Stars that rife and fall;

by whose courses the seasons are marked and diftinguished,

There are, my Friend! whose philosophic eyes
Look thro' and trust the Ruler with his skies,
To him commit the hour, the day, the year,
And view this dreadful All without a fear.

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Admire we then what d Earth's low entrails hold,
Arabian shores, or Indian seas infold;
All the mad trade of Fools and Slaves for Gold?
Orf Popularity? or Stars and Strings ?
The Mob's applauses, or the gifts of Kings?
Say with what & eyes we ought at Courts to gaze,
And pay the Great our homage of Amaze?

}

15

If weak the pleasure that from these can spring, The fear to want them is as weak a thing: Whether we dread, or whether we defire,

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In either case, believe me, we admire;
Whether we i joy or grieve, the same the curse,
Surpriz'd at better, or surpriz'd at worse.

Tempora momentis, funt quic formidine nulla
Imbuti spectent. d quid censes, munera terrae?
Quid, maris extremos Arabas e ditantis et Indos?
Ludicra, quid, f plaufus, et amici dona Quiritis?
Quo spectanda modo, & quo fenfu credis et ore ?

Qui timet his adversa, fere miratur eodem
Quo cupiens pacto: pavor est utrobique molestus:
Improvisa simul species exterret utrumque :
Gaudeat, an doleat; cupiat, metuatne; quid ad rem,

VER. 8. trust the Ruler with bis skies-To him commit the bour, Our Author, in these imitations, has been all along careful to correct the loose morals, and absurd divinity of his Original.

VER. 22. Whether we joy or grieve, the same the curse,-Surpriz'd at better, or furpriz'd at worse.] The elegance of this is fuperior to the Original. The curse is the fame (says he) whether we joy or grieve. Why so? Because, in either cafe, the man is furprized, hurried off, and led away captive.

Thus good or bad, to one extreme betray
Th' unbalanc'd Mind, and snatch the Man away; 25
For Virtue's self may too much zeal be had;
The worst of Madmen is a Saint run mad.

Go then, and if you can, admire the state
Of beaming diamonds, and reflected plate;
Procure a TASTE to double the furprize,
And gaze on m Parian Charms with learned eyes:
Be ftruck with bright Brocade, or Tyrian Dye,
Our Birthday Nobles' splendid Livery.
If not so pleas'd, at Council-board rejoice,
To fee their Judgments hang upon thy Voice;

Si, quidquid vidit melius pejusve sua spe,
Defixis oculis, animoque et corpore torpet?

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35

* Infani fapiens nomen ferat, aequus iniqui; Ultra quam fatis est, virtutem fi petat ipfam. 1 I nunc, argentum et marmor m vetus, aeraque et artes Suspice; cum gemmis Tyrios mirare colores: Gaude, quod spectant oculi te mille loquentem:

From morn to night, at Senate, Rolls, and Hall, Plead much, read more, dine late, or not at all.

But wherefore all this labour, all this ftrife?

For Fame, for Riches, for a noble Wife?
Shall One whom Nature, Learning, Birth conspir'd
To form, not to admire but be admir'd,
Sigh, while his Chloe, blind to Wit and Worth,
Weds the rich Dulness of some Son of earth?

41

Yet Time ennobles, or degrades each Line;
It brighten'd CRAGGS's, and may darken thine: 45
And what is Fame? the Meanest have their day,
The Greatest can but blaze, and pass away.
Grac'd as thou art, with all the Pow'r of Words,
So known, so honour'd, at the House of Lords:
Confpicuous Scene! another yet is nigh,
(More filent far) where Kings and Poets lie;
Where MURRAY (long enough his Country's pride)

Shall be no more than TULLY or than HYDE!

50

Gnavus mane forum, et vefpertinus pete tectum;
Ne plus frumenti dotalibus emetat agris
Mutus, et (indignum; quod fit pejoribus ortus)
t Hic tibi fit potius, quam tu mirabilis illi.
• Quicquid fub terra est, in apricum proferet aetas ;
Defodiet, condetque nitentia. t cum bene notum
Porticus Agrippae, et via te confpexerit Appî;
Ire tamen restat, Numa quo devenit et Ancus.