Part 36 (2/2)
If foil'd at first, resume thy If foil'd at first, resume thy course, course, Rise strengthen'd with ANTaeAN Whilst I, though writing worse and force, worse, So shall thy toil in conquest Thy glorious efforts will end. record; Let others court the tinsel things Let others seek by other ways, That hang upon the smile of kings, The public's unavailing praise, Be thine the muse's wreath; be thou Be mine the b.u.t.t OF SACK--be thou the _the people's friend_.” TREASURY'S LORD!
[1] This expression is taken from Milton's song on May Morning, to which this stanza in general alludes, and the 4th verse in the next.
[2] Improved from Milton.
[3] The poem of Curactacus was read in Ms. by the late Earl of Chatham, who honoured it with an approbation which the author is here proud to record.
[4] See Ode to the Naval Officers of Great Britain, written 1779.
[5] See the motto from Pindar.
[6] in allusion to a fine and well-known pa.s.sage in MILTON's Lycidas.
[7] Messrs. JENKINSON, ROBINSON, DUNDAS, &c. &c.
THE STATESMEN:
AN ECLOGUE.
LANSDOWNE.
While on the Treasury-Bench you, PITT, recline, And make men wonder at each vast design; I, hapless man, my harsher fate deplore, Ordain'd to view the regal face no more; That face which erst on me with rapture glow'd, 5 And smiles responsive to my smiles bestow'd: But now the Court I leave, my native home, ”A banish'd man, condemn'd in woods to roam;”
While you to senates, BRUNSWICK's mandates give, And teach white-wands to chaunt his high prerogative. 10
PITT.
Oh! LANSDOWNE, 'twas a more than mortal pow'r My fate controul'd, in that auspicious hour, When TEMPLE deign'd the dread decree to bring, And stammer'd out the _Firmaun_ of the King: That power I'll wors.h.i.+p as my houshold G.o.d, 15 Shrink at his frown, and bow beneath his nod; At every feast his presence I'll invoke, For him my kitchen fires shall ever smoke; Not mighty HASTINGS, whose ill.u.s.trious breath Can bid a RAJAH live, or give him death, 20 Though back'd by SCOTT, by BARWELL, PALK, and all The sable squadron scowling from BENGAL; Not the bold Chieftain of the tribe of PHIPPS, Whose head is scarce less handsome than his s.h.i.+p's; Not bare-breech'd GRAHAM, nor bare-witted ROSE, 25 Nor the GREAT LAWYER with the LITTLE NOSE; Not even VILLIERS' self shall welcome be, To dine so oft, or dine so well as he.
LANSDOWNE.
Think not these sighs denote one thought unkind, Wonder, not Envy, occupies my mind; 30 For well I wot on that unhappy day, When BRITAIN mourn'd an empire giv'n away; When rude impeachments menaced from afar, And what gave peace to FRANCE--to us was war; For awful vengeance Heav'n appeared to call, 35 And agonizing Nature mark'd our fall.
Dire change! DUNDAS's cheek with blushes glow'd, GRENVILLE was dumb, MAHON no phrenzy show'd; Though DRAKE harrangu'd, no slumber GILBERT fear'd, And MULGRAVE's mouth like other mouths appear'd; 40 In vain had BELLAMY prepar'd the meat; In vain the porter; BAMBER could not eat; When BURKE arose no yell the curs began, And ROLLE, for once, half seem'd a gentleman: Then name this G.o.d, for to St. JAMES's Court, 45 Nor G.o.ds nor angels often make resort.
PITT.
In early youth misled by Honour's rules, That fancied Deity of dreaming fools; I simply thought, forgive the rash mistake, That Kings should govern tor their People's sake: 50 But Reverend JENKY soon these thoughts supprest, And drove the glittering phantom from my breast; JENKY! that sage, whom mighty George declares, Next SCHWELLENBURGEN, great on the back stairs: 'Twas JENKINSON--ye Deacons, catch the sound! 55 Ye Treasury scribes, the sacred name rebound!
Ye pages, sing it--echo it, ye Peers!
And ye who best repeat, Right Reverend Seers!
Whose pious tongues no wavering fancies sway, But like the needle ever point one way. 60
LANSDOWNE.
Thrice happy youth! secure from every change, Thy beasts unnumber'd, 'mid the Commons range; Whilst thou, by JOVE's aetherial spirit fired, Or by sweet BRUNSWICK's sweeter breath inspired, Another ORPHEUS every bosom chear, 65 And sticks, and stocks, and stones, roar _hear! hear! hear!_ Raised by thy pipe the savage tribes advance, And Bulls and Bears in mystic mazes dance: For me no cattle now my steps attend, Ev'n PRICE and PRIESTLY, wearied, scorn their friend; 70 And these twin sharers of my festive board, Hope of my flock, now seek some richer Lord.
PITT.
Sooner shall EFFINGHAM clean linen wear, Or MORNINGTON without his star appear; Sooner each prisoner BULLER's law escape; 75 Sooner shall QUEENSBURY commit a rape; Sooner shall POWNEY, HOWARD's noddle reach; Sooner shall THURLOW hear his brother preach; Sooner with VESTRIS, Bootle shall contend; Sooner shall EDEN not betray his friend; 80 Sooner DUNDAS an Indian bribe decline; Sooner shall I my chast.i.ty resign; Sooner shall Rose than PRETTYMAN lie faster, Than PITT forget that JENKINSON's his maker.
LANSDOWNE.
Yet oft in times of yore I've seen thee stand 85 Like a tall May-pole 'mid the patriot band; While with reforms you tried each baneful art, To wring fresh sorrows from your Sovereign's heart; That heart, where every virtuous thought is known, But modestly locks up and keeps them all his own. 90
PITT.
'Twas then that PITT, for youth such warmth allows, To wanton Freedom paid his amorous vows; Lull'd by her smiles, each offer I withstood, And thought the greatest bliss my country's good.
'Twas pride, not pa.s.sion, madden'd in my brain, 95 I wish'd to rival FOX, but wish'd in vain; Fox, the dear object of bright Freedom's care, Fox still the favourite of the BRITISH fair; But while with wanton arts the syren strove To fix my heart, and wile me to her love; 100 Too soon I found my hasty choice to blame, --Freedom and Poverty are still the same-- While piles of ma.s.sy gold his coffers fill, Who votes subservient to his Sovereign's will.
LANSDOWNE.
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