See the fame man, in vigor, in the gout; Thinks who endures a knave, is next a knave, 75 80 Who would not praife Patricio's high defert, His hand unftain'd, his uncorrupted heart, His comprehenfive head! all Int'refts weigh'd, All Europe fav'd, yet Britain not betray'd. He thanks you not, his Pride is in Picquette, Newmarket-fame, and judgment at a Bett. What made (fay Montagne, or more fage Charron!) Otho a warrior, Cromwell a buffoon? A perjur'd Prince a leaden faint revere, A godlefs Regent tremble at a Star? VER. 81. Patritio] Lord G-n. 85 go VER. 89. A perjur'd Prince] Louis XI. of France, wore VARIATIONS. After ver. 86. in the former Editions, Triumphant leaders, at an army's head, The throne a Bigot keep, a Genius quit, Know, GoD and NATURE Only are the fame: 95 In Man, the judgment fhoots at flying game; A bird of paffage! gone as foon as found, Now in the Moon perhaps, now under ground. in his Hat a leaden image of the Virgin Mary, which when he fwore by, he feared to break his oath. VER. 90. A godless Regent tremble at a Star ? ] Philip Duke of Orleans, Regent of France in the minority of Louis XV. fuperftitious in judicial aftrology, though an unbeliever in all religion. VER. 9 .91. The throne a Bigot keep, a Genius quit,] Philip V. of Spain, who, after renouncing the throne for Religion, refumed it to gratify his Queen; and Victor Amadeus II. King of Sardinia, who refigned the crown, and trying to reaffume it, was imprifoned 'till his death. VER. 93. Europe a Woman, Child, or Dotard rule, — And just her wisest monarch made a fool?] The Czarina, the King of France, the Pope, and the abovementioned King of Sardinia. VER. 95. Know, God and Nature, etc.] By Nature is not here meant any imaginary substitute of God, called a Plaftic nature; but his moral taws: And this obfervation was inferted with great propriety and difcretion, in the conclufion of a long detail of the various characters of men: For, from this circumftance, Montagne and others have been bold enough to infinuate, that morality is founded more in custom and fashion than in the nature of things. The fpeaking therefore of a moral law of God as having all the conftancy and durability of his Essence, had an high expediency in this place. In vain the fage, with retrospective eye, Would from th' apparent What conclude the Why, That what we chanc'd was what we meant to do. 105 Some plunge in bus'ness, others fhave their crowns : He dreads a death-bed like the meanest slave : 110 115 Charles VER. 107. The fame aduft complexion bas impell'd to the Convent, Philip to the Field.] The attrabilaire complexion of Philip II. is well known, but not so well that he derived it from his father Charles V. whose health, the hiftorians of his life tell us, was frequently difordered by bilious fevers. But what the author meant principally to obferve here was, that this humour made both these princes act contrary to their Character; Charles, who was an active man, when he retired into a Convent; Philip, who was a Man of the Clofet, when he gave the battle of St. Quintin. Who reafons wifely is not therefore wise, His pride in Reas'ning, not in Acting, lies. Take the most strong, and fort them as you can. 120 125 130 VER. 117. Who reasons wifely, etc.] By reafoning is not here meant fpeculating; but deliberating and refolving in public counfels; for this instance is given as one, of a variety of ac tions. VER. 139. Cæfar himself might whisper be was beat.] Cæfar wrote his Commentaries, in imitation of the Greek Generals, for VARIATIONS. VER. 129. In the former Editions ; Afk why from Britain Cæfar made retreat? Altered as above, because Cæfar wrote his Commentaries of this war, and does not tell you he was beat. As Cæfar too afforded an instance of both cafes, it was thought better to make him the fingle Example, Why risk the world's great empire for a Punk? One action Conduct; one, heroic Love. 136 "Tis from high Life high Characters are drawn; More wife, more learn'd, more juft, more every thing. They pleafe as beauties, here as wonders ftrike. rays 145 the entertainment of the world: But had his friends asked him, in his ear, the reason of his fudden retreat from Britain, after fo many pretended victories, we have cause to suspect, even from his own public relation of that matter, that he would have whisper'd be was beat. VER. 131. Why rifk the world's great empire for a Punk ? ] After the battle of Pharfalia, Cæfar purfued his enemy to Alexandria, where he became infatuated with the charms of Cleopatra, and inftead of pufhing his advantages, and difperfing the relicks of the Pharfalian quarrel, (after narrowly efcaping the violence of an enraged populace) brought upon himself an unneceifary war, at a time his arms were most wanted elsewhere. VER. 141. Court-virtues bear, like Gems, etc.] This whole reflection, and the fimilitude brought to fupport it, have a great delicacy of ridicule. 7 |