Part 5 (1/2)

What are my puffs, and what my gains to him?

If poor and proud, can he of right complain That wealthier men and wittier are as vain?

Why must he hint that I am past my prime, To blast my fading laurels ere their time?

Death to my fame, and what, alas, is worse, 'Tis death, d.a.m.nation, to my craving purse; Capacious purse! by PLUTUS form'd to hold, (The G.o.d of Wealth) the devil and all of gold.

Insatiate purse, that never yet ran o'er, But swallows all, and gapes, like h.e.l.l, for more.

And yet, alas! how much the world will lye!

They call me miser; but no miser I; He, brooding o'er his bags, delighted sits, And laughs to scorn the jests of envious wits; If fast his doors, he sets his heart at rest, And dotes with rapture on his iron chest; No galling paper-squibs his spirits teize, But ev'n the boys may hoot him if they please.

He scorns the whistling of an empty name, While I am torn 'twixt avarice and fame;

IMITATIONS.

Sordidus ac dives, populi contemnere voces Si solitus: populus me sibilat: at mihi plaudo Ipse domi, simul ac nummos contemplor in arca.

While I, so tremblingly alive all o'er, Still bleed and agonize at every pore; At ev'ry hiss am harrow'd up with fear, And burst with choler at a critic's sneer.

Rack'd by the gout and stone, and struck with age, Prudence and Ease advise to quit the stage; But Fame still prompts, and Pride can feel no pain; And Avarice bids me sell my soul for gain.

Bring NYKY back, O Muse! by verse divine, The Trojan-Greeks were once transformed to swine.

By verse divine B----TTI 'scap'd the rope: Now love is known, what may not lovers hope!

Ev'n as with _Griffins_[33] stallions late have join'd With blood-hounds goats may litter, as in kind;

IMITATIONS.

Ducite ab urbe domum, mea carmina ducite Daphnim: Carminibus Circe socios mutavit Ulyssei: Carmina vel coelo possunt deducere lunam.

Nunc scio quid sit amor---- ---- ---- quid non speremus amantes?

Jungentur jam _Gryphes_ equis, aevoque sequenti c.u.m canibus timidi venient ad pocula damae.

Torva leaena lupum sequitur, lupus ipse capellam, Te Corydon, O Alexis: trahit sua quemque voluptas.

NOTES.

[33] Unnatural monsters, familiar only with the poets.

Nay wanton kids devouring wolves may greet, And wolves with loving lyonesses meet.

By different means is different love made known.

And each fond lover will prefer his own.

Strange lot of love! two friends, my soul's delight, Men call that M----r, this a Catamite!

Yet bring him back; for who chaste roundelay Shall sing, now B--ST--FF is driv'n away?

Who now correct, for modest Drury-lane, Loose Wycherly's or Congreve's looser vein?

With nice decorum shunning naughty jokes, Exhibit none but decent, dainty folks?[34]