20 In him, great modern miracle! we fee vain; Without craft, reverend; holy, without cant; Zealous for truth, without enthufiaft rant. 'Twixt infidel and bigot, marks the mean; His hope, no mitre militant on earth, 25 'Tis that bright crown, which heaven referves for worth. A priest, in charity with all mankind, His love to virtue, not to fect confin'd: Truth his delight; from him it flames abroad, From him, who fears no being, but his God: Where vice erects her head, rebukes the page; Mix'd with rebuke, persuasive charms engage; 35 40 Charms, which th' unthinking muft to thought excite; Him copy, Codex, that the good and wise, May fee thee now, though late, redeem thy name, 45 But But fhould fome churchman, apeing wit severe, The poet's fure turn'd Baptift-say, and sneer; Shame on that narrow mind fo often known, Which in one mode of faith, owns worth alone. Sneer on, rail, wrangle! nought this truth repelsVirtue is virtue, wherefoe'er the dwells; And fure, where learning gives her light to shine, Her's is all praife-if her's, 'tis Foster, thine. Thee boaft diffenters; we with pride may own Our Tillotson; and Rome, her Fenelon*. 50 55 T HE POET'S DEPENDANCE O N A STATESMA N. SOME OME feem to hint, and others proof will bring, That, from neglect, my numerous hardships fpring. * In this Character of the Rev. James Fofter, truth guided the pen of the Mufe. Mr. Pope paid a tribute to the modeft worth of this excellent man: little did he imagine his Rev. Annotator would endeavour. to convert his praise into abufe. The character and writings of Fofter will be admired and read, when the works of the bitter Controverfialist are forgotten. L 3 E. Seek Seek the great man! they cry-'tis then decreed, 30 What friends to fecond? who for me should fue, 5 Be pofts difpos'd at will !—I have, for these, I have no power, election-votes to gain; 20 25 To fhape, as time fhall ferve, my verse, or profe, 30 Where 35 Where lives the statesman, fo in honour clear, To give where he has nought to hope, nor fear? No!-there to fseek, is but to find fresh pain : The promise broke, renew'd, and broke again; To be, as humour deigns, receiv'd, refus'd; By turns affronted, and by turns amus'd; To lose that time, which worthier thoughts require; To lofe the health, which fhould thofe thoughts in fpire; 40 To starve on hope; or, like camelions, fare 50 55 What though I hourly fee the fervile herd, For meanness honour'd, and for guilt prefer'd; See felfish paffion, public virtue feein; And public virtue an enthufiaft dream; See favour'd falsehood, innocence belied, Meeknefs depreis'd, and power-elated pride; A fcene will fhew, all-righteous vision haste; The meek exalted, and the proud debas’d!— Oh, to be there! -to tread that friendly fhore, Where falfehood, pride, and statesmen are no more! 60 A But ere indulg'd-ere fate my breath shall claim, ftill is anxious after fame. poet What future fame would my ambition crave? 65 This were my wifh-could ought my memory fave, 70 EAR Damon, Delia hear, in candid lays, HE Truth without anger, without flattery, praise ! A bookish mind, with pedantry unfraught, Oft a fedate, yet never gloomy thought: Prompt to rejoice, when others pleasure know, And prompt to feel the pang for others woe; 5 To |