:^^r-'-^ 
 
DUKE 
 
 UNIVERSITY 
 
 LIBRARY 
 
 Treasure "R^om 
 
O cuius Britannice: 
 
 A N 
 
 Heroi - Panegyrical 
 
 P o 
 
 O N T H E 
 
 Univerfity of 0?fo r d. 
 
 Illuftrated with divers beautiful Similes, 
 
 and ufeful Digrefllons. 
 
 'Juval iintiquos exqtiirere f antes* 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 Printed for R. Frakcklin, under Ti/z^VColTec- 
 Houfe, Covent-Garden. 1734. tPfice One-Shilling.] 
 
 s:v 
 
^ii» vi-' s& ^ =&' nS)^ s&' ^4' ';&*<&' 'iSf' "^ '^b* vli* "^ 
 
 TO 2^\.5'\ 
 
 THOMAS P--i?----7f Efq; 
 
 Do£tor of civil Law and Fellow of St. J- 
 C e in O d. 
 
 's 
 
 SIR, 
 
 believe you are a gentleman, who is not 
 umviUing that his aBions jloould he faith fuU 
 ly tranfmitted to pofterity *, and as nobody 
 can have a more feniible regard for your 
 great virtues and abilities than my lelf^ 
 I beg leave to make the world acquaint- 
 ed v^ith tnem in the following dedication. 
 
 You came into the world, fir, under the influence of a 
 lucky planet, being born of an ancienc and worthy family, 
 to a plentiful fortune, as well as great natural endowments 
 and hereditary virtues^ all which j^ou have fince im- 
 proved by a liberal education, under the care of one of* 
 the ableft pillars of our church, and (as his ingenious 
 friend Mr. Mist emphatically itiles him) th^hrighteft 
 ornament of the bright eft body in the world ^ by his pre- 
 cepts and example you have finifhed in your felf one of 
 the '^a^^^^ gentlemen and greateft Icliolars of our age. 
 
 Tranfilantingj one by one^ into your life 
 His bright perfeclionSy till you Jloine like him. 
 
 It is impoflible that one thus richly endowed by na- 
 ture and improved by art, ihould not make a very extra- 
 ordinary figure. You dilcovered the earlieft marks of 
 a great genius, and at an age when we fay of others that 
 they are promiling youths, you were arrived at the high- 
 
 h 2 efl? 
 
 395911 
 
Dedication. 
 
 ceived half fo many honours from her hands ^ yet I 
 ihall never forget the obligations which I lie under to 
 her, for that imall portion of learning which I pol^ 
 lels, and that little figure which I make in the- 
 world. A due fenfe of thefe obligations join'd with a 
 violent india;nation to fee her traduced and vilified 
 by iome perfbns, who ought to knew and practice bet- 
 ter, has occafioned the fbliowing fheets^ in which I 
 have endeavoured to perpetuate her name, and to raife 
 np a column of my own gratitude, that it may not be 
 lliid of me in future ages (as I fear it will be of 
 too many) that I v/ould not look to the rock from 
 whence I was hewn^ nor to the pit from whence I was 
 digged, 
 
 I cannot, in this place, forbear afTuring you, that 
 v;hen I firit refolved upon this undertaking, you jump'd 
 immediately into my head, as the fitteft perfon to pa- 
 tronize it ^ and I have not been able, with all m.y deli- 
 beration, to alter my opinion ever fince: fo that, you 
 lee, it was by a fort of infpiraticn that I defire your 
 prote£Hon of this Work. 
 
 I know the conclusion of my P O E M, where I 
 prefage my own future glory, vv4il be partlculary cavil'd 
 at, and 1 iliall be calf d a vain conceited coxcomb for 
 my pains ^ bui: in anfvver to this, without infilling on 
 the examples of Horace and Ov/V/ in the fame cafe, 
 I lay that it is an intolerable grievance upon modern 
 authors to be reftrained from commending their own 
 works. No body expels that the good wives of Bil- 
 Jingfgate iLould cry flinking fiih, or that any vintner in 
 town dhould tell you that his wine is four : nay, e- 
 very furly rafcal of a ilioemaker fhall take the liberty 
 to look you faucily in the face, when he puts you to 
 execrable torture w'th a pair of new ihoes, and fwear 
 that they fit as eafy as your miflrels's gloves •, whereas 
 it is expected ot an author that he ihould cry down 
 his own ware, and though he publifhes a better poem 
 
 than 
 
Dedication. 
 
 than ever Homer or Virgil did, fhould make a thoii- 
 iand excufes for troubling the V\^orld with fuch indiffer- 
 ent ftulf, as he is obhged to call it, to the manifeft 
 hinderance of his market, and againft the fuUeft con- 
 vidion of his own mind. I think therefore every ma- 
 nufidurcr of the brain ought to rife up againft this 
 growing evil, and ailert the fame right, with all other 
 tradelhien and artihcers, to warrant his goods, and 
 thereby promote the fde of them as much as he can. 
 
 For my part (though I do not think my lelf vain- 
 er than other men) I v\^ill venture to affirm (in defi- 
 ance of all the cririck<=: and ignorant carping rafcals in 
 England^ that the following poem is a perfed finiih'd peice, 
 according to the ftricteft rules o^ Jriftotle and Longiniis^ 
 v/hom (I will be again bold to fiy) no body has fludied 
 more, or underftands better than my leh ^ I maintain, 
 that the model is juft and regular, the diftion truely 
 fublime, and the panegyrick well hit ofi': if it be ob- 
 jefted, that I have now and then introduced little far- 
 cafms and ftrokes of fatire, I have Virgil^ Horace^ and 
 all the beft audiors, both antient and modern, to jufli- 
 fy me in fuch occalionai deviations. 
 
 I have alfo their authority (as I could eafily prove 
 from a multitude of inftances) to apologize for the many 
 heaiitlful fimiles and ufefiil digrejfioris^ with which I hav^e 
 thought lit to illuftrate and divcrlify the whole : they 
 are ail on my fide, and lb I have no apprehenfions from 
 them ^ but I am terribly afraid of a certain merry 
 gentleman in this town, who frequently lays, that there 
 is nothing in the world fo unlike as ftmiles : he might 
 with the liime realon add, and I hope he will do it, 
 that yiothing is fo pertinent as digrejjlons ^ this will make 
 us fome amends, and give us with one hand, what he 
 takes away with the other. 
 
 As for my Iclf I have laboured to make my ftmiles 
 as like^ and my digreffons as pertinent as poflibiy I 
 could j I am furc it has coft me a great deal of pains 
 
 (as 
 
D 
 
 EDICATION. 
 
 \ 
 
 (aSj I doubt not, it has mod authors) to bring them 
 in and make them look pat to the purpole \ nay, I 
 could not with all my pains, lug in fome, which I was 
 not a little fond or, and particularly the tbllowing diftich. 
 
 So barren chalk, which no produ^ion yields j 
 Burnt into lime, manures the neighbouring fields* 
 
 You muft allow, fir,' that this is a very pretty 
 fimile, and if it could but be handfbmely applied, 
 would make a good figure in my poem *, but after the 
 flrideffc examination, I could not hedge it in any where 
 in the following pages, and being loth that ib uncom- 
 mon a thought ihould be loft, I have inlerted it in 
 this place, making it my requeft, that if you, or any 
 of my candid readers can think of any method to in- 
 troduce it properly into the body of my work, you will 
 oblige me with the hint, and the favour ihall be grate- 
 fully acknowledged in the fecond edition. 
 
 I had alio a mind to foift in a digreflion againft the 
 late bills for infpe5iing drugs ^ medicines^ (^c, and for ex- 
 cifmg of tea^ coffee^ and chocolate ^ but not being able 
 to difcover any relation which they have to the univer- 
 fity of Oxford^ I was obliged to relerve it tor a more 
 proper occalion. 
 
 Sir, I was going on to acquaint you with Ibme more 
 oi my projefts:^ but my bookieller is juft come in, and tells 
 me, that I muft break off immediately, and that he cannot 
 afford a line more for a iliilling, which is the price w^e 
 have agreed to fix upon this iiimmer-piece of entertain- 
 ment for gentlemen and ladies : what therefore I have 
 farther to fay to you, upon this and all other occalions, 
 muft be defer'd till another opportunity, which, you 
 may depend upon, iliall not be negleded by 
 
 Oxford, July Learned fir ^ your unknown ad" 
 
 22. 1724. inirer and devoted Servant^ 
 
 P H 1 L O - II U S U S. 
 
OCULUS BRITANNIA; &C. 
 
 tr^^^E-^m A T R O N of arts, and to the ^n* 
 
 tijb youth 
 Thou fliining pillar of religious 
 
 truth, 
 
 Sprung from primaeval kings and faints divine^ 
 Thy facred ear, illuftrious dame ! incline, 
 Whilft filial duty wings my youthful lays, 
 And prompts me forward, ftudious of thy praile. 
 
 B :i^uT 
 
[2] 
 
 But how Ihall I the mighty theme fuftain 
 Of Alma's glories in an equal ftrain ? 
 Unskiird in verfe, and to the mufes young, 
 What God, what angel, will inform my tongue? 
 Aid me, Delaune ; inllruft me, reverend fire, 
 With thy own facred heat my breaft inlpire : 
 O ! touch my lips with thy cc^leftial art. 
 And with the fame devotion fire my heart. 
 
 Enough, enough! — through every kindling 
 vein 
 Thy god-like fury flioots and fires my brain ; 
 The fame ftrong impulfe and religious flame, 
 Which in the pulpit fliakcs thy goodly frame : 
 
 And 
 
[3] 
 
 And which fometimes provokes thy righteous heel 
 To kick obdurate whigs, in rampant zeal : 
 Like yours, methinks, my eyes in lightning roll, 
 Like yours, tumultuous raptures lift my foul ; 
 Infpir'd I foar beyond my common flight, 
 And I am either fit to rhime or fight. 
 
 :. In this divine delirium, to my eyes 
 Abftrafted forms, and fancied objects rife ; 
 Whilfl: the pleasM mufe in thoughtful filence 
 
 roves 
 Through the cool fhades, and academick groves, 
 In the clear fountains, and the filvan fprings 
 Sees the young cygnets dip their fnowy wings ; 
 Obferves the ftreams of fcience roll along, 
 Here floats a fyllogifm, there a fong ; 
 
 B 2 Here 
 
L + ] 
 
 Here unborn poems tune the warbling tide, 
 And problems there, inftead of gudgeons, glide. 
 
 Through thefe religious vallies as I ftray, 
 What crouds of ancient worthies throng the way ? 
 The ghofts of old philofophers appear, 
 That once adorn M the place and flourifh'd here : 
 Mufe, tune thy voice^ in homage bend thy head, 
 And payjuft honours to the learned dead. 
 
 See I that lean fpedre ! horrible and wan, 
 Whofe meagre looks declare the quondam man. 
 Hail mighty ScoTus! hail unrivard fage ! 
 The pride and glory of the monkifli age ! 
 Reverfe of bookworm 1 which on books is fed. 
 For books devourM thee up^ and wore tlicc dead : 
 
 How 
 
[5] 
 
 How didft thou toil and, I|ab9ur for mankind^ 
 Who twenty folio tomes halj kft behind ! 
 Unlike the modern writers of our land, 
 Whom every fliallpw wit can underftand^ 
 So deep your logick flows and fo profound^ 
 No common plummet can the bottom found. 
 Thy pride it was to fift the darkeft themes, 
 To hood-wink truth and reconcile extremes^ 
 Self-contradi£ting tenets to maintain^ 
 And prove by reafpn^ that ail reafon's vain. 
 
 Him Bacon follows, whofe illuftrious name 
 Lives in the annals of recording fame, 
 That antient monk, renownM in every part, 
 For his wife Brazen-Head and magick art ; 
 
 Of 
 
C<5] 
 
 Of late indeed more famous and renown'd, 
 Since conjurers here are now fo rarely found. 
 
 But fee ! another rev'rend form appears, 
 Whofe headlefs trunk provokes my flowing tears ; 
 The facred lawn his gufhing blood diftains ; 
 And with religious horror chills my veins : 
 Much-injurMLAuD, religion's boldeft chief, 
 A while, great Ihade, indulge the mufe's grief; 
 O prelate, greatly for the church diftreft. 
 What zeal, what fury could inflame thy breafi:, 
 The rage of britifh fenates to withfl:and, 
 And ftem the torrent of a faftious land ? 
 Yet (halt thou not repent the pious deed, 
 Though defl:inM by the traytor's ax to bleed : 
 
 With 
 
With Becket in religious mifchief bold, 
 A rubrick martyr flialt thou ftand inroUM ; 
 His annual debt thy ^ fucceffor fliall pay, 
 And crown with folemn w^oe the woeful day. 
 
 Here the fam'd King and confelTor was born^ 
 Whofe godly reign coeleftial gifts adorn, 
 That royal faint, whofe falutiferous hand, 
 F irfl: from the noifome Evil purg'd the land. 
 Stupendous art ! to pious kings reveal'd, 
 And witnefsM by the crouds that have been heal'd ; 
 Such Edward was, by gracious heaven defign'd 
 From fcabs and ulcers to relieve mankind^ 
 
 * The reverend and learned Dr. Delaune^ Prefident of St. John's 
 college, who has initituted a publick oration to the memory of 
 arch-bifliop Laud^ who was formerly prefident of the fame college, 
 on the loth ot January^ being the anniverfary of his martyrdom. 
 
 Of 
 
[8] 
 
 Of fo abftemious, continent a life, 
 He fiaun'd the enjoytiieht of his lawful wife 
 From age to age this wbndroiis art prevaird, 
 (When the whole boafted ftferigth of medicine 
 
 failM) 
 Through a long race of monarchs^ all divine^ 
 'Till but of late it ceasM with Stuart's line, 
 Unlefs^ adhering to fome good old wives, 
 In Stuart's lineal race it flill furvives. 
 
 Here then, O James ! let the long conteft end> 
 And on this iffue let thy birth depend; 
 In the wide forum of imperial Rome, 
 Build a large ftage and bid the lazars come> 
 By this grand fecret prove the Stuart line^ 
 And let thy cures confirm thy right divine: 
 
 If 
 
[9] 
 
 If at thy touch the ulcers dye away, 
 
 The fores heal up, and all the fcabs decay, 
 
 In fpight of Burnetts tales, and Br it am"* s fcorn^ 
 
 Will own thee moft miraculoufly born. 
 
 Hail facred art ! the priefthood's darling theme^ 
 Unlike our late inoculating fcheme, 
 That ftrange inverted Science, rafh and blindj 
 Which plants dileafes, and infefls mankind, 
 Of cruel Turks and infidels the boaftj 
 And firft devis'd on helFs infernal coaft 5 
 For fo the ^ prieft aver'd, in holy fatire, 
 And provM old Nick the firft inoculator; 
 
 * See Massey's fermon againft inoculation; 
 
 G gut 
 
[ >o] 
 
 But who is that in robes of purple dreft, 
 Who drops with fuUen pride his mitred creft I 
 Mark ! how he bears refentment in his eye, 
 And damns his fovereign, as he paffes by I 
 Some minion of the court, from favour thrown 1 
 And lo ! his form befpeaks the butcher\ fon ! 
 In every look great Wolsey ftands confefs'd; 
 See how the rifmg paflion heaves his breaft ! 
 See ! how his eyes with reddening vengeance glow, 
 And how Math hafty ftrides he fpurns the fand 
 below I 
 
 Fall down, ye fons of Qhrift-chtirch^ at bis 
 feet. 
 
 And gratefully your benefa£tor greet ; 
 
 For 
 
For o ! remember to his bounteous hand 
 How much indebted, and oblig'd you ftand. 
 He firft with large endowments did intail 
 Your loins of mutton, and your butts of ale ; 
 To him you owe the foft engaging art 
 Of pretty fongs and epigrams fofmart: 
 'Twas he that took you from the rural plains, 
 And made you fcbolards, who had elfe been 
 
 fwains ; 
 Initead of jolly canotis, you had now 
 Perhaps fome livery worn, or followed plow, 
 Perhaps fome painful fervile Hfe have led. 
 Or in the fliambles, like himfelf, been bred. 
 
 Malicious tongues indeed with cenfuresloud 
 Stile him imperious, turbulent and proud, 
 
 ^ - Revenge- 
 
[ 12] 
 
 Revengeful^ cruel^ of a ruthlefs mind, 
 
 To perfecution, and to rage inclinM; 
 
 In whoredom and pollution uncontrouPd, 
 
 And to a proverb arrogantly bold ; 
 
 A publick drunkard, and a college thief, 
 
 In a£t a brute, an atheift in belief : 
 
 To luft, they fay, he facrificM his breath. 
 
 And perilhM of the foul, venereal death. 
 
 Such heavy loads of infamy and fliame 
 Our bold reformers charge on Wolsey's Name; 
 Proud of their northern herefies deride 
 His prieftly grandeur and religious pride, 
 Hand down his vices to fucceeding times, 
 And make his fundion aggravate his Crimes, 
 
 But 
 
C 13] 
 
 But Fi DDES, by fublimer views infpir'd, 
 And with a church-man's indignation fir'd, 
 Lifts in tliis great, unhappy prelate's caufe, 
 And by more candid rules his picture draws ; 
 Solves all objeftions which hiftorians make, 
 And fcreens his failings for his fun£lion's fake. 
 
 Behold him now, by Fiddes varnifli'd o'er. 
 Unlike the monflrous fiend you fliunn'd before, 
 His magick pages wipe off every taint. 
 The atheiji and the brute becomes a faint ; 
 His drunkermefs is only nature's flip, 
 (For who alas ! can from temptation keep?) 
 His mpidence^ in courtly language dreft, 
 The ^ great afcendant happily exprefs'd ; 
 
 5 See his life of }Nol$ey. p. u, 12, 
 
 His 
 
His rage is only zeal for romifli laws, 
 
 A.ndii^erfecution is the church's caufe ; 
 
 Revenge is taking God almighty^s part, 
 
 KnAj^ridexh^ token of a noble heart. 
 
 His whoredom and pollution who can blame, 
 
 Since Solomon was guilty of the fame ? 
 
 His college-frauds^ it muft be underftood^ 
 
 Were well defign'd, and for the publick goodj 
 
 To finifli towers, old fteeples to repair, 
 
 And build religious caftles in the air : 
 
 Nor is he laft of all that godly croud, 
 
 To whom this candid plea has been allow'd. 
 
 That of the px he dyM, and fuch like fluff, 
 
 Great Fiddes fays 'tis falfe, and that's enough, 
 
 So 
 
[ «5 ] 
 
 So Laud by Heylin fird and polilliM bright, 
 Shines forth an angel of unfpotted light ; 
 Shakes off the ruft of threefcore gloomy Years^ 
 And in his volume like a god appears. 
 
 One pious work^ o ! Fiddes, ftill remains, 
 A theme well worthy your immortal pains j 
 And fince in vindicatmts you abound^ 
 As WoLSEY and his Grace "^ have lately found. 
 To one great church-man more your aid afford^ 
 And let unhappy Judas be the third>^ 
 In his defence at leaft it may be laid^ 
 That what he did alas ! he did for breads 
 
 ;^ See his vindication of a late epitaph. 
 
 And 
 
And err'd poor man ! as modern fuvearers cant^ 
 To fave a numerous family from want : 
 DoQior^ 'twill do ; the pious task begin^ 
 Clear up his cafe, and prove the kifs no fin ; 
 This will for ever all our foes defeat^ 
 And thy divine Apologies compleat^ 
 
 To thele a various gowned tribe fucceeds, 
 FamM for their learning, or illuftrious deeds ; 
 Phyficians, lawyers^ and a medly throng 
 Of preaching clerks and poets that have fung, 
 Logicians that have foil'd the ftates-man's 
 
 fchemes, 
 And prophets that favM nations by their dreams ; 
 Cafuifts and fchool-divines^ whofe myftick skill 
 Could alter vice and virtue at their will, 
 
 Of 
 
[ 17] 
 
 Of right divine prove perfecuiing ragCj, 
 And tyranny the blefling of an age, 
 Turn pure religion into mortal fin, 
 And make the devil to the faints a-kin. 
 
 But fhall the dead alone engrofs my lays? 
 O, no ; the living fhall partake my praife ; 
 Mufe prune thy pinions for a fecond flight. 
 For living heroes claim an equal height. 
 
 But where, encompafsM with a mingled blaze 
 Of doughty fculls, fliall I begin to praife ? 
 Where'er around I call my wondring eyes, 
 Heroic bards and fliining beaux arife ; 
 In the fame jovial common room I fee 
 The prim canonic bob and fmart tu^ee ; 
 
 D Grave 
 
[ i8] 
 
 Grave criticks here on modern authors prey, 
 And deep logicians puzzle lenfe away ; 
 Pert crambo-wags with fubtil fchool-men joke, 
 And punfters and divines in confort fmoke. 
 
 In this illuftrious croud, fo learnM and wife, 
 Brazen, the college tyrant, charms my eyes ; 
 Great mull: his merits be, his virtues choice, 
 Which five fucceffive years gainM Arran's voice: 
 In him at leaf!: fome excellence is ihown, 
 FamM for his brother's parts, if not his own ; 
 His brother's virtues, all divinely bright, 
 Refle£t on him a pale inferiour light: 
 What for the caufe his patriot-brother bears. 
 The learned Head in ^ ordinance declares ; 
 
 "^ A meeting of the heads of colleges fo called. 
 
 His 
 
[ Ip] 
 
 His fhrewd harangues in fenate he repeats, 
 With the fame zealous pangs his bofom beats ; 
 Oft in his veins he boafts trtie-brittjh blood, 
 And raves devoutly for his country's good ; 
 Of naughty ftatefmen ecchoes difmal tales, 
 And againft Walpole, o'er his bottle, rails. 
 
 So the pale moon is not without her praife,- 
 Though from the fun flie borrows all her rays. 
 
 Next, to Delaune, as next to i?r^2;^;/^s hearty 
 Mufe touch the ftring, and prove thy utmoft art : 
 O ! for a pinion from the manttian fwan^ 
 To reach the mighty theme, and fing the man 
 Who more than forty years^ a fliining fpace, 
 Has graced tliefe walls, and ftill vouchfafes to grace : 
 
 D 2 With 
 
r 20] 
 
 With various honours crown'd for various arts, 
 (All far unequal to his great deferts) 
 Who w^ants no virtue, by no vice defaced, 
 Wife^ learned, pious, fober, humble, chaft, 
 So ftriftly honeft, fo feverely juft, 
 And rigidly tenacious of his truft. 
 That his integrity furmounts my fong. 
 And ev'n to name it^ is to do him wrong. 
 
 From fuch proud heights, o! mufe prefump- 
 tous bend. 
 And to his private qualities defcend ; 
 Say how his foul in converfation fhines, 
 OeV the third bottle how his wit refines, 
 How in fmart jefts his facred lips excel. 
 What mirth they ftart^ and jocund fables tell, 
 
 How 
 
[ 21 ] 
 
 How grave his looks, how orthodox his drefs, 
 Ev'n ftubborn Amhurst will thefe truths 
 confefs. 
 
 So Lucifer^ when fain, was forc'd to own 
 The bright fuperior pow'r, thathurl'd him down- 
 How for his college he employs his care^ 
 How helplefs orphans his protedion fliare, 
 H-DW-TH and W-^s^ fhall folemnly declare^ 
 And if fuperior evidence we need, 
 
 H Es on the goffel Hiall atteft the deed ; 
 
 Sm-th fhall confirm his oath, if that avail, 
 And O— N ftand his facramental bail. 
 
 Beneath 
 
[ 22 ] 
 
 Beneath his caregreatCLARENDoN appeared, 
 From all furmifes of corruption clear'd ; 
 He to the prefs the deathlefs work convey'^d, 
 By no bafe bribes, nor partial motives fvvayM ; 
 •He fcornM to vary from the written tale, 
 Nor could the hopes of bifliopricks prevail : 
 Tet if the foe will ftill infult thy name, 
 And with black fcandal ftrive to taint thy fame, 
 Sooh'rtiall heblufli; for Hide's impartial ghoft* 
 Shall vifit earth, to this defamer^s coft. 
 And purge thy virtue, though the copy's loft. 
 
 Fain would the mufe, inflam'd with pious zeal, 
 Millions of other graces ftill reveal, 
 
 All 
 
C 233 
 
 All centMng in this man, to bkfs the age, 
 His equal mind and temper void of rage, 
 His energy in pray'r, his faith fublime, 
 His meeknefs, love and candour to a crime ; 
 But confcious of her weajknefs flie declines^ 
 And to fome college-bard the glorious theme 
 refigns. 
 
 Nor fliall that hoary feer remain unfung^ 
 To whom the reins of Exeter belong, 
 That learned doftor, and that frugal Head, 
 "Who grudges ev'n himfelf his daily breads 
 Of fo penurious, provident a fenft, 
 He curfes human life for its expence, 
 And often wiflies he was under ground^ 
 Rather than lofe a penny in the pound. 
 
 Candles 
 
I Hi 
 
 CaPxdles are dear, and therefore he thinks beft 
 Still with the fetting fun to go to reft, 
 Unlefs, to linifli fomething for his fhop, 
 Fletcher will pay him well for fitting up: 
 Yet few, I fear, will think it worth their while, 
 So languid is his matter and his ftile, 
 To publifh all the volumes he could write ; 
 Poor Wh-st-r was alas I half ruinM by't. 
 
 With half a fowl, and half a fennyfmall 
 He makes a fober dinner in the hall, 
 (Such flender meals fufficehis famifli'd nerves,) 
 And the minc'd fragment for his fupper ferves. 
 
 Stooping with age, he dodders as he goes. 
 From his red eyes a rheumy torrent flows, 
 
 Like 
 
[25 ] 
 
 Like winter fruit, his yellow rivel'd skin 
 
 Dams up the little blood that creeps within, 
 
 Threefcore and ten have quenchM his vital heat, 
 
 And his decaying pulfes fcarcely beat ; 
 
 Yet thus difabled, for the longing dame 
 
 he feels the pangs of love^ though not the fiame; 
 
 Fair Raggabelj that near his college-gaie 
 
 Fine china fells, and tea, and chocolate, 
 
 Or mends old tatter'd gowns with matchlefs arty 
 
 Shines in his eye, and triumphs in his heart ; 
 
 Oft to her fliop the feeble lecher ftrays, 
 
 Toys with her hand, or with her bubbies plays ; 
 
 On her dear fece he rolls his doting eyes, 
 
 As fhe weighs coffee, or the needle plies ; 
 
 One evening, prollrate on his tottering knees, 
 
 The faplefs dotard fpoke in words like thefe •, 
 
 E B:eholdj 
 
[ 2<S] 
 
 Behold, o! faireft ofthofe gentle maids, 
 Who with their beauty grace thefe learned fhades,- 
 Behold 1 what conquefts thy perfeftions gain, 
 A reverend, aged doftor wears thy chain. 
 Me whom a college for its Head obeys. 
 To whom each fellow fervile homage pays. 
 Thy beauty captivates, thy charms inthral, 
 Ev'n at thefe years a flaveto love I falL 
 And o! my deareft Raggy, do not quite 
 Break my old heart, or judge my torments flighty 
 Unlike raw boys who tell you fulfome lies. 
 Adore this moment, and the next defpife, 
 Ripen'd with age my palfion cannot change. 
 Nor will my years permit my heart to range ; 
 
 Smile 
 
[27] 
 
 Smile on me then, and with thy blooming cliarms 
 Blefs my defiring, my impatient arms, 
 One evening at my lodgings let me prove 
 With how much truth and conftancy I love. 
 
 The damfel, though with wit not over-ftock'd, 
 With this fevere reply his reverence lliockM ; 
 What pity is it that defire fliould laft^ 
 And the good-will to fin, when youth is paft ? 
 Thy paffions ftill remain, thrice holy drone, 
 And ahl I grieve to think the fl:ing is gone : 
 Yes, I behold thee with a pitying eye. 
 And for my fake, good man ! thou flialt not dye ; 
 Since at your lodgings you requeft my fight, 
 ril wait upon you there to morrow night ; 
 
 E 2 Safe 
 
[28] 
 
 Safe in thy hands my virtue I will truft, 
 And do, dear doftor, do thy very worft^ 
 
 Be not fo mighty fmart the don reply'd, 
 Nor judge fo rafhly^ e'^er my ftrength is try'd, 
 In me the emblem of a leek is feen, 
 White though my head be turn^dy my tail is green. 
 
 But whither does the mufe erroneous ftray, 
 By tales of love diverted from her way ? 
 Gardiner upbraids my ears with cold negleft, 
 And from the mufe demands his due refpecl. 
 
 Forbear, great man^ reftrain thy flowing 
 
 gall, 
 Wherefore on me do all thefe cenfures fall ? 
 
 Why 
 
[29 ] 
 
 Why lliouldft thou hope for honour from my lays, 
 When thy own Young forgets to fing thypraife ? 
 
 What fliall a patriot lole his due reward, 
 Becaufeill usM by one ungrateful bard? 
 Your pardon, fir ; the reafoning I allow. 
 And with thefe honours deck your lofty brow 
 
 If fize and ftature raife a deathlefs name, 
 How vaft your praife, how bulky is your fame ! 
 Without a rival, fir, the ftreets you tread, 
 Thou greateft, wittieft man, now Tadloe's dead; 
 Since that huge atlas fell, you reap alone 
 The thanks of all the ^ paviers in the town. 
 
 ^ Alluding to the following epigram^ 
 
 WheiiTADLOE walks the Itreets, the paviers cry 
 jGod blefs yon, fir 3 and throw their rammers by. 
 
 Nor 
 
 „>fc 
 
L"3°] 
 
 Nor muft thy praife o ! Taffy, be forgot^ 
 Another college prince, and tyrant fot, 
 ToG— D~R next in learning and in fize^ 
 Somewhat more honeft, and almoft as wife ; 
 His languine cheeks with deep vermilion glow. 
 With anttent'britijh blood his veins overflow. 
 His country's native ire inflames his breaft, 
 And hoftile leeks nod dreadful on his creft, 
 Like proud Tlmlimmon^s height he feems to 
 
 move, 
 And his broad flioulders prop the clouds above. 
 
 Heaven to this man unufual vigour gave, 
 To rule a college obflinately brave, 
 
 Youths 
 
[31 ] 
 
 Youths all endued with more than vulgar flame. 
 And ftubborn as the rocks, from whence they 
 
 came ; 
 Hard to reflrain, by nature prone to rage, 
 No common arm their fury can affwage, 
 So much with fparks of vengeance they abound,' 
 They knock oppofing barge-men to the ground,; 
 And like a tempeft hurl deftru£lion round. 
 
 Fain would I next great D — son rehearfe^ 
 And greet him with new honours in my verfe; 
 ! might I call him by that awful name, 
 Which his foul covets, and his merits claim I 
 How would it touch the cockles of my heart 
 In ordinance to fee him bear his part, 
 
 'Gainft 
 
[ 32 ] 
 
 'Gainft upftait mafters wage confederate war^- 
 And "^ Golgotha receive another ftar.- 
 
 Full well he knows this office to acquit^ 
 And muft be own'd for college bufinefs fit, 
 OeV paffive fellows skillM to domineer, 
 And grant to few the favour of his ear. 
 
 From Brazen and D e he learnt the arts 
 
 To pick their pockets, while he gains their hearts 
 To be adorM for breaking all their laws, 
 And tyrannize with fafety and applaufe. 
 
 So romilh priefts efl:eem and reverence gain, 
 By bidding penance^ and impofing pain ; 
 
 ^ A place fo called^ v^here the feulls of colleges meet 
 about bufinefs. 
 
 The 
 
[33] 
 
 The well-floggM Zealots blefs their Father's voice, 
 And in raw backs and aking bones rejoice* 
 
 But ah! within our walls diflention reigns, 
 And modern feuds difturb the laurePd plains, 
 Pert upftart patriots with rebellious pride, 
 Spurn at their Heads^ and Golgotha deride. 
 In bold confederate clubs and plots engage, 
 And youthful whims oppofe to thoughtful age ; 
 Each day the hoary fages fink in pow'r, 
 And Prefidents and Provofts fway no more ; 
 With grumbling tories faftious whigs combine, 
 
 And againft D n n perverlely join, 
 
 RefolvM to baulk him of the darling pow'r. 
 And antient rights of Charlot's fuccelTor. 
 
 F Who 
 
[3+] 
 
 Who after thefe fhall animate the lyre ? 
 M — TH — R '^ do thou my flagging verfe infpire, 
 Inftruct the mufe thy praifes to rehearfe, 
 And with thy {Lining deeds adorn my verfe : 
 Do thou ; for furely none befides can tell, 
 No mortal knows thy merits half fo welL 
 
 But I perceive, you frown upon my lays, 
 And fuUenly rejed the profferM praife, 
 Content to wither in obfcure retreat, 
 And unobfervM, in plenty drink and eat, 
 O'er aukward college pedants to prefide, 
 With private grandeur and monaftick pride. 
 
 ^ 'The prefent worthy V— C— r <?/ Oxford. 
 
 In 
 
[35] 
 
 In indolence and eafe to live unknown, 
 
 And nod, like eaftern tyrants on their throne. 
 
 Nor doft thou only chufe this mongrel Life, 
 Bleft with collegiate honours and — no wife ; 
 Sundry befides, thy brethren of the gown, 
 Like thee, defpifing fame and wide renown. 
 Preferring ftated meals and frequent prayers 
 To worldly buftles, and domeftick cares, 
 Within their humble cells indulge the fpleen, 
 Men never talkM of, and but rarely leen, 
 With their obfequious fellows they debate. 
 In their own cloyfters, all affairs of ftate. 
 Con over Mist, and Shatter once a week, 
 And by their love of kings and ftatefmen fpeak, 
 
 In 
 
C3<5] 
 
 In the fame traQ: of common-place they move, 
 And learn from them to cenfure and approve. 
 
 Others there are — but ftudious of her fame, 
 Fain would the mufe conceal her mother's {hame, 
 Sore loath I am to fpeak the mournful truth, 
 That modern Heads corrupt the letterM youths 
 That bold fanaticks, full of fturdy zeal 
 For Brunswick's houfe, difturb our common- 
 weal, 
 Grave loyal wretches, of their monarch proud^ 
 To coUege-pow'r advanc'd, infe£t the croud, 
 Through thefe unhappy walls their poifon Ipread, 
 And ftrike ev'n Golgotha it felf with dread. 
 
 Since 
 
[37] 
 
 Since firft our Grannum cropt the fatal tree. 
 No fpot of earth is from pollution free, 
 Briers and thorns infeft the richeft ground, 
 And tares amongft the choiceft wheat are found ; 
 The fruitful Nile deftru£tive monfters breeds, 
 And ev'n ^ Bellojitum pruduces weeds. 
 
 Yet bring them forth, my mufe, to publick 
 ftiame, 
 And in thy numbers brand each hated name. 
 Each bold apoftate fon, who durft difgrace 
 With heterogeneous thoughts his venerable race. 
 
 ^ An antient name of Oxford, and the country which 
 funounds it. 
 
 Here 
 
C 38] 
 
 Here Wickliff firft the northern errors 
 fram'd, 
 And Cranmer, ever with abhorrence nam'd ; 
 Here Latimer his novel dodrines taught, 
 And Ridley here for gofpel licence fought : 
 Prefumptuous prelates ! could they hope to live, 
 And o're the ruins of the church furvive ? 
 How could they dare oppofe fuch mighty odds, 
 And rafhly ftrivewith Romeo's, unnumberM Gods? 
 Within thefe walls a facrifice they fell, 
 And in their death foreftalFd the pains of hell. 
 
 From hence, degenerate from the common 
 throng, 
 Ev'n men of fenfe and probity have fprung ; 
 
 Here 
 
[ 39 ] 
 
 Here Locke, the fecond Stagyrtte^ was bred, 
 Of modern reafoning whigs the boafted head ; 
 Here Hales of ever-memorable isLun^^ 
 And CHiLLiNGWORTHacquirMadeathlefsname; 
 Here Ken net firft difcIosM his god-like foul, 
 And Hough a tyrant's pleafure did controul; 
 Marsha M from hence his piercing genius drew, 
 And Lloyd in thefe abodes immortal grev/. 
 
 HereGuibbons late, \v\x\\ yEfcula^ian s\:iW^ 
 PrefervM more lives, than modern em.pericks kill. 
 Friend to mankind ; and to his healing art 
 JoinM candour and benevolence of heart. 
 On health and learning ftill vouchfafes to fmile, 
 And ftines the great Machaon of our ille. 
 
 Here 
 
[40] 
 
 Here Oldham tagM his roughs licentious 
 
 rhimes, 
 And Steele with whiggiih wit prophanM the 
 
 times ; 
 Here Tickel fung the charms of opening /^^f^, 
 And Young explored the mines of Rome and 
 
 Greece ; 
 Philips and Smith the Chriji - church wits 
 
 dilgrace, 
 And Addison pollutes the Maudlin race. 
 
 From our old track whole colleges depart^ 
 And preach new doftrines with Hoadleian art. 
 
 Long 
 
Long fince the Merton Lollards ^ went aftray/ 
 And fVadham^s fons to Oriel led the way, 
 Exeter followM ; and in fome degree, 
 Scarce is a college from infedion free. 
 
 To propagate this rank contagious weed, 
 Ev'^n Brunswick joins, and fows the pregnant 
 
 feed, 
 With ill-timM gifts, malicioufly divine, 
 Shakes our averfion to his German line, 
 Shews that his breaft with love of fcience burns. 
 Smiles on our hate, and good for ill returns. 
 
 ^ The followers of Wickliff, who were the firft re^ 
 formers in this ijland. 
 
[42] 
 
 From fuch ungrateful toplcks, gentle mufe, 
 Divert thy fong, and nobler objefts chufe : 
 With more exalted themes thy numbers grace, 
 In more exalted numbers fing the place, 
 Where G — l with unfpotted virtue fliines, 
 And Att — RY formM his great defigns. 
 
 O ! preiate, of the church thou burning light. 
 Through all thy fufferings eminently bright, 
 In vain ill-fortune ftrives to make thee lefs, 
 Great in thy felf, but greater in diftrefs ; 
 TransfusM into thy foul by power divine, 
 Laud's aftive zeal and Wolsey^'s fpirit fhine. 
 Like them purfued by a corrupted age. 
 And facrific'd to wild, fanatick rage. 
 
 Or- 
 
[43 3 
 
 OrdainM a living martyrdom to feel, 
 And in exotick climates broach thy zeal ; 
 How in thy praife could I dilate my fong ! 
 But fate and rigid laws reftrain my tongue. 
 
 Our ftately rifing buildings fet to view, 
 Say how we furbilh old and model new, 
 Our theatres, mufaeums, printing domes, 
 And libraries replete with folio tomes, 
 Our greafy kitchens and large halls extol. 
 And vaulted cellars ftorM with double ^ O//, 
 Our tow'ring fteeples, painful to behold. 
 Our roaring bells, and altars daubM with gold ; 
 
 * College ale. 
 
 G 2 What 
 
C4+] 
 
 Say how our ftables charm the jocky's eyes, 
 And bog-houfes like palaces arife. 
 
 Sa\' farther how the caufs of faftion thrives, 
 For James how ready to devote our lives; 
 Our hierogliphick almanacks defcribe, 
 Our ^ Envoy-beadle and addrefling tribe ; 
 How treafon gives pretenfions to a place, 
 And loyalty efcapes by f AEis of Grace y 
 How FiDDEs for the church fatigues his quill, 
 And how the devil looks o'er Lincoln ftill. 
 
 ^ His excellency 'ETysskK'D Wh— T-^R, E% Envoy 
 extraordinary from the un—ty of O — d, 
 
 't' // is well known that the reverend Mr. Me ADO W- 
 COURT5 fellow of Merton college^ was obliged to plead 
 his majejifs A£i of Grace, for drinking his majejifs 
 health. 
 
 Re- 
 
[45] 
 
 Religion fmiles, while Potter ^ fills the 
 
 chair, 
 And learning triumphs under Mather's care: 
 FromM — ley's hideous looks, by day and night, 
 Leud ftrumpets fly, and chaften in his fight, 
 Shocked at his form, they curb their itching 
 
 blood. 
 And naughty children promife to be good; 
 AwM with his cloven feet and fcare-crow face, 
 The athiefl: fhudders, and grows rich in grace, 
 No more his dreadful execrations vents. 
 But owns there is a devil and repents. 
 
 * "the hijloop of Oxford, regius profejfor of divinity. 
 
 Next 
 
L4^] 
 
 Next to our Oxford huvQ2its touch theftring, 
 And their great names in mighty numbers fing ; 
 For fure no bards abound with thoughts fo 
 
 bright, 
 Nor with the genius of our poets write. 
 
 To prove this truth, feraphick Sternhold 
 read, 
 And Withers, both the right Oxonian breed, 
 On Sherley's comick pages caft your eyes, 
 And hear how Settle's lofty ftrains furprize; 
 Our modern wits with equal luftre fhine, 
 Angelick Cotes and Catcot the divine. 
 
 Rich, 
 
[47] 
 
 Rich, Catheral, Tristram, Amhurst, 
 
 Wilkes and names 
 Which rhime and equal-meafurM verfe difclaims, 
 What numbers would fuch rugged founds compofe 
 Which even offend the ear, pronounced in profe ? 
 With the fame eafe I could, in verfe fublime, 
 Make a IVelJh pedigree harmonious chime, 
 Or put the Ruffian army into rhime. 
 
 Unhappy bards! but others may be found 
 Whofe gentle names in verfe melodious found, 
 Bacon in eafy numbers glides along, 
 And Trap and Wharton nielt upon the 
 
 tongue, 
 Egregious wits ! and criticks both fubhme, 
 Whofe kindred talents fo exadlly chime, 
 
 That 
 
[ 48 ] 
 
 That hard it is to fay, in verfe or profe 
 Which happy genius more divinely flows ; 
 In this alone the former does excel, 
 That Trap writes mofl, but Wharton writes 
 as well. 
 
 But above all, record the female race, 
 The reigning Toafts and beauties of the place, 
 Whether in ^ Bullock^ s-lane they chufe to rove, 
 Or f Kidney-hall^ the foft retreat of love, 
 Their fhining virtues and their charms rehearfe^ 
 And vindicate their names from ^"^ Strephon's 
 verfe. 
 
 "^ The Drury-Lane of Oxford. 
 
 -^ Apublick houfe near Oxford, dedicated to love, 
 
 ^ Afcandalous libel upon the Oxford toajii. 
 
 In 
 
[4-9] 
 
 In love too often intereft fways the mind 
 And fordid riches our affections blind, 
 Some fqueamifli fops, fantaftically nice, 
 For virtue figh and puke at modifh vice ; 
 Others for titles languifli and would fcorn 
 Ev'n beauty's goddefs, if obfcurely born. 
 
 By no fuchborrowM charms, nor fpurious arts, 
 
 Our Oxford IdiAiQs reign o'er youthful hearts; 
 
 In their own native, naked charms they fhine, 
 
 Smug chamber-maids and fempftreffes divine, 
 
 Smart laundrefles on Saturdays fo clean, 
 
 And bed-makers on every day between. 
 
 The beggar's off-fpring to the parifh left, 
 
 And college baftard.s of their fires bereft, 
 
 Nymphs without fmocks our tender hearts fur* 
 
 prize, 
 
 And deities in rags attraO: our eyjs. 
 
 H Un- 
 
[ 5°] 
 
 Unhappy CoBUR^(E! lately laid in duft, 
 How to thy aflies ihall the mufe be jull ? 
 For to what member of Apollo's race 
 Did ever fhe deny the foft embrace ? 
 What flighted lover or defpairing fwain 
 Can of her wrongs or cruelty complain ? 
 No jilting tricks nor coying arts fhe knew, 
 But to the amorous kind was ever true, 
 To every fighing youth refignM her charms^ 
 And blefsM, at eafy rates, his longing arms. 
 
 Mourn, all yefons of learning, Saby's fate, 
 In verfe and profe the mighty lofs relate : 
 ^With tropes and figures, ^ Cotes, embalm her 
 
 name, 
 4: \yHARToN, in grateful metre chaunther fame, 
 
 ^ Our moft ingenious profejfor of Oratory. 
 ^ Our inimitable profejfor of Poetry. 
 
 Let 
 
C5I ] 
 
 Let each furvivIngToaft her garland bring, 
 And lavifli o'er her grave the flowery fpring; 
 In ftreams of blood let confcious Ifis flow, 
 Let Charwell fwell the fympathetick woe, 
 Let Chrift'Church Tom her lofs vociferous roar, 
 Tom^ who ne'er mourn'd for aught but kih^s 
 
 before ; 
 In hymns of woe let every college join. 
 In focial grief let every voice combine. 
 Let every heart with burfl:ing fighs approve 
 Our forrow as diffufive as her love. 
 
 While flie furviv'd, indulgent to our caufe, 
 We bilkM our founders and defyM their laws, 
 Thofe grave old blockheads, whofe religious pride 
 Would quench love's flame and check old na- 
 ture's tide, 
 
 H 2 AP 
 
[52] 
 
 Affwage hot blood, explode the genial tafl:^ 
 And make mankind unnaturally chaft. 
 RelievM by her from thefe imperious chains, 
 We knew the fweets of love, without the pains, 
 Clasp'd to her bofom, every college round 
 The joys of marriage, without marriage, found; 
 Spight of their mufty ftatutes all the night 
 We roird in blifs and revel'd in delight. 
 
 Amidst thefe tranfports, to our joys a flave, 
 Death praematurely fiatchM her to the grave; 
 That rank difeafe that fierce corroding flame, 
 Which takes from Venus its venereal name, 
 SiezM on her bloom, polluted all her charms. 
 And with contagion fill'd her circling arms, 
 
 Through 
 
C 53 ] 
 
 Through every vehi the fpreading poifon rag'd, 
 And with her life could only be aflwag'd, 
 
 Dk.ead foe to love! of human ills the worft! 
 Thou foreft plague, with which mankind is curft, 
 In diftant climes, amongft the favage kind, 
 O ! hadft thou ever^ ever been confin'd^ 
 Content the wild Barbarian to defile, 
 Nor with thy breath prophanM the Britijh ifle. 
 
 Say, mufe, in ftrains of elegiack woe, 
 What dire effects from fuch difafters flow. 
 That the precaution^ reader may bewai'e, 
 And, confcious of the mifchiefs, fhun the fiiare. 
 
 Soon as it pierces with its fubtle dart^ 
 Thecoaitoflove^ that weak unguarded part, 
 
 la 
 
[ 54 ] 
 
 Ik doleful founds the wounded youth complains 
 Of pungent fores, and fharp nofturnal pains, 
 His nerves are all relaxM, his eyes grow dim, 
 And rigid aches torture every limb. 
 His hot envtilbmM blood corrupts within. 
 And loathfome ulcers ftain his fading skin ; 
 At length his nofe difmantled finks away. 
 His flefh tiirns rbrten and his bones decay; 
 Too lat?e re^tance comes ! and pills to6 late ! 
 Nor can ev'n Misaubin reverfe his fate; 
 Living, his wholefome fi'iends avoid his fight. 
 And dying he pollutes the realms of night. 
 
 A<^AiNST tliis ill (to vary from my tale) 
 But two fpecifick remedies prevail ; 
 Virtue is one and purity of heart; 
 But if the flefh fubdues the better part, 
 
 Ano- 
 
I 
 
 [ 55 ] 
 
 Another ftill remains, the fam'd machine 
 (No doubt the reader guefles what I mean) 
 That modern rare device, whofe injurM name 
 Is grown opprobrious, though it covers fliame; 
 Without this guard, if my advice prevail, 
 On venal joys you never will regale ; 
 Then againft fire-fliips you may ftand the teft, 
 Andtruft the warmeft/iymph — — ^robatum eji. 
 
 So ancient warriours, buckled up in fteel, 
 LaughM at the drubbings, which they could no^ 
 feeL 
 
 Po OR Co B urne's fate thefe fad reflexions dr^w, 
 01 moft unhappy, haplefs nymph, adieu- 
 Tormenting lofs! too grievous for the mind! 
 If gentle Dutton were not left behind; 
 
 la 
 
[ 56] 
 
 In her furviving charms we find relief, 
 
 On her foft bofom intermit our grief. 
 
 The painful hours in foft endearments v/afte, 
 
 And in our prefent joys forget the part* | 
 
 Hail charming fair! O! may'ft thou ever 
 prove 
 Free from the bane and peftilence of love; 
 Long may'ft thou live, a foft luxurious life, 
 •By turns of twenty colleges the wife^ 
 With charms unfading glut the ftudious fwains^ 
 The favourite Toaft of all our Oxford plains. 
 
 On this delighful fubje£l, big with praife. 
 How could the mufe prolong her wanton lays? 
 UnnumberM beauties, equally divine, 
 Attra£t her eyes, and in her fancy fhine. 
 
 Sala- 
 
[ 57] 
 
 Salacious Child the neighboring dons em- 
 brace, 
 And Shephard bleffes all the Cambrian race ; 
 Crass A with lufcious beauties charms the fight, 
 And melts in greafy volumes of delight; 
 In Tatham's kitchen as Hie bafls the meat, 
 The Maudlin fmarts their tender vows repeat \ 
 Oft as (he plies the fauce-pan in her hand, 
 The Lincoln wits in filent rapture ftand; 
 Oft as with whirling arms flie winds the jack, 
 They fuck the dewy moifture from her neck. 
 The favoury odors from her lips they kifs. 
 And wallow in a dripping-pan of blifs. 
 
 Forgive me fair ones, who remain unfung, 
 Sound and iinfound, ye tribe of old and young ; 
 
 I To 
 
r 58] 
 
 To pralfe you all who fwarm in every plain, 
 Would fwell my verfe beyond an epick flrain ; 
 Each college ftew a volume would require, 
 And Bl RE in the tedious task would tire. 
 
 Henceforth, ye fons of Cam^ prefumptu- 
 ous race. 
 No more with us contend for age or place ; 
 At length confuted, quit the learned field, 
 And to your rival the precedence yield. 
 In times remote, before the Cam was known, 
 Our Ifa rearM her head and gainM renown ; 
 Arts now forgot her temples did adorn^ 
 And flour ifhM e'er the Stagy rite was born ; 
 ComparM with her, the Gracian ftate gives way, 
 And Athens was a fchool of yefterday. 
 
 Hence- 
 
[59] 
 
 Henceforth in arts and knowledge vye no 
 more 
 But with you fitter the difpute give o^efj, 
 Let Clarke to learning all pretenfions quit, 
 And captious Bentley to Delaune fubmit^ 
 No more let Newton his difcoveries boaftj 
 But own himfelf in greater Shipper loftj 
 Let HoADLEY to Sacheverel yield the prize, 
 Nor againft Potter in contenfion rife*^ 
 
 Hail, honourM madam ! hail for arts renown'd^ 
 Through ev'ry age with ivy garlands crown'd^ 
 Who from a thouland bubbies, never dry, 
 Doft with pure milk a thoufand babes fupply^ 
 Great Britam's mother-nurfe ! accept thefe lays, 
 Which an adopted fon in duty pays; 
 
 I 2 Who 
 
[66] 
 
 Who oft has heard^ with confcious grief and 
 
 fhamej 
 Licentious wits infult thy reverend name^ 
 Who oft has feen them^ with indignant rage, 
 Laugh at thy filver hairs and wrinkled age ; 
 UrgM bythefe wrongs^inherdear mother's caufe, 
 Weak as fhe is, the mufe officious draws^ 
 And in thefe grateful lines attempts to fiiew 
 What publick honours to her name are due ; 
 RefolvM at leaft on daring wings to play, 
 And to fome greater genius point the way. 
 Mean while this verfe fliall confecrate my 
 name, 
 ^^viAtv''nv7it\iBlackmore\ Alfred vyefor fame, 
 The prefent age my labours fliall reward^ 
 Kndi Britain fti!eme the religious Bard\ 
 The future age a fumptuous pile fliall raife, 
 And croud the wall with monumental praife ; 
 
 Erea 
 
[6i ] 
 
 EreO: above fliall ftand the marble bujO, 
 Beneath^ the facred urn fhall hold my duft> 
 Fame on the right her conftant watcli fliall keep, 
 And Alma on the left dejefted weep^ 
 Wreaths and feftoons the labourM ftone fliall grace, 
 And this infcription fill the middle fpace. 
 
 " Rear" d at the ptb lick coji^ this flat ely jhrtne 
 T)oes the choice aflies of a bard confine ^ 
 ^' Who-, in the fir ft prevailing George^s daysj 
 " Ttin^d his old Britifh har^ to Alma's fraifCj, 
 " And J in a cotirfe of bold fcholaftick rhimeSj, 
 " T)ar^d all the infults of thofe factious times. 
 
 u 
 
 " JVhile marble can endure j this hallowed flone 
 " Shall guard his diift and make his virtues known ; 
 " JVhen that decays J, his fame fto all fill furvivCj 
 " And in the duteous work for ages live-^ 
 
 '' When 
 
L(52 ] 
 
 " When that work dyes^ let hardened finners fear j 
 *^ For then the world^s eternal doom is near. 
 
 ^' Reader J from Oxford if you chance to 
 
 ^' come J 
 " Shed a few tears 6*^r his fele^ledtomhj, 
 " Nor ask his name^ but be content to knowj 
 ^' That for a pious wit your grateful forrows 
 
 " flow. 
 
 P O S T- 
 
 K 
 
POSTSCRIPT. The following Verfes 
 having been tranfmitted to me^ I hope it will 
 not he thought improper to annex them to the 
 freceeding POEM, 
 
 A 
 Letter of Thanks 
 
 FROM THE 
 
 Univerfityof Cracow, 
 
 To their Sovereign. 
 k 
 
 T T T E of Cracow the Chancellor and his Vice-Can, 
 
 ' ^ ^ With the DoO:ors and Maflers, all to a Man, 
 AfTembled in form, have fent trufly Ned Whifi^ 
 (The laft enrol? d jlave in our ^ Almanack-Lifi^ 
 ' With orders to give you, fir, to underlland 
 
 That a letter fign'd (B ge is fafe come to hand. 
 
 Which having been over and over perus'd. 
 Your pre fent was near upon being refused ^ 
 
 S:q thz CracoTO'AlmamQla for 1724. 
 
 But 
 
[<54] 
 
 But after a grave and maturer debate, 
 
 We, moved thereunto by realbns of State, 
 
 Came at length to agree one and all, 'twou'd be better 
 
 To take /V, and feem thus to thank you by letter. 
 
 This done, fir, we hope you are herewith content. 
 
 Since farther than fhh^ nothing by us is meant. 
 
 We icorn to profefs the leaft loyal aiTe£lion 
 
 To one, who againft our will gives us protection ;> 
 
 Neither wiila we, nor pray we for Princes at. home^ 
 
 Having lent all our prayers, and our wiihes to Rome. 
 
 Allure yourfelf therefore, you always lliall find 
 
 We ever ihall . hate yon, be you ever 7^ kind-^ 
 
 In token hereof our mmes we ccnsealy 
 
 But lend you thefe prelents under our Seal. 
 
 / [-. Sealed in. the convocation-boufey with the 
 common fed of the univerfityj this \cjth 
 day ofyhy^, 1724* 
 
 F I N I S. 
 
^B^^^^^ff 
 
 
 
 
 •1^ 
 
 
 1 
 
 ^'k