The works of Alexander Pope Esq. : In nine volumes, complete. With his last corrections, additions, and improvements; as they were delivered to the editor, a little before his death. Together with the commentary and notes of Mr. Warburton (Volume 4) online

to enter thus, in the mod plain and fokmn manner he
could, a fort of PROTEST againfl that infuperabje corrup-
tion and depravity of manners, which he had been fo un-
happy as to live to fee. Could he have hoped to have
amended any, he had continued thofe attacks j but bad
men were grown fo Jfharnelefs and fo powerful, that Ridi-
cule was become as unfafe as it was ineffectual. The
Poem raifed him, as he knew it would, fome enemies ;
but he had reafon to be fatisfied with the approbation of
good men and the teftimony of his own confcience, P.



( 334 )

O N

Receiving from the Right Hon. the Lady

FR ANCE S SHIRLEY

A STANDISH and Two PENS.

YE S, I beheld th' Athenian Queen
Defcend in all her fober charms j
" And take (me faid, and fmil'd ferene)
" Take at this hand celeftial arms :

<e Secure the radiant weapons wield;

" This golden lance (hall guard Defert,
<c And if a Vice dares keep the field,

c This fteel mail ftab it to the heart."

Aw'd, on my bended knees I fell,

Received the weapons of the fky ;
And dipt them in the fable Well,

The fount of Fame or Infamy.

NOTES.

The Lady Frances Shirley] A Lady whofe great Merit
Mr. Pope took a real pleafure in celebrating.



( 335 )

? what Weapon? (Flavia cries)
" A ftandifh, iteel and golden pen !
" It came from Bertrand's *, not the fkies ;
" I gave it you to write again.

" But, Friend, take heed whom you attack;

44 Youll bring a Houfe (I mean of Peers)
** Red, Blue, and Green, nay white and black,

" L and all about your ears.

' You'd write as fmooth again on glafs,

" And run, on ivory, fo glib,
" As not to flick at fool or afs b ,

" Nor flop at Flattery or Fib c .

" Athenian Queen ! and fiber c harms /
" I tell ye, fool, there's nothing in't :

" 'Tis Venus, Venus gives thefe arms cl ;
(< In Dryden's Virgil fee the print e .

NOTES.

a A famous toy-fhop at Bath.
b The DunciaJ.
c The Epijlle to Dr. Arbuthnot.

11 Such toys being the ufual prefents from lovers to their
miftrefles.
e When flie delivers ^neas a fuitof heavenly armour.



" Come, it you'll be a quiet foul,

" That dares tell neither Truth nor Lies f ,

I'll lift you m the harmlefs roll

" Of thofe that fing of thefe poor eyes."

NOTES.

f i. e. If you have neither the courage to write Satire,
nor the application to attempt an Epic poem. He was
then meditating on fuch a work.



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