TO the most noble Prince Henry Duke of Beaufort, Marquis and Earl of Worcester, Earl of Glamorgan, Baron Herbert, Lord of Chepflow, Ragland, and Gorver, and the illuftrious Brotherhood over whichhis Grace prefides, this Poem is humbly dedicated by their most obedient, moft dutiful, and bumble fervant. THE tea was fipp'd, Ocella gone *This is afcribed to Dr. King upon conjecture only. It was published in 1712, the winter before he died, by his bookfeller, infcribed to his patron, and is very much in his manner: his name is accordingly affixed to the author's notes. 'The poem is on many accounts worth preferving; and if it is not Dr. King's, it is at leaft not by an inferiour writer. + 'The Duke was Captain of the band of Gentlemen Pensioners. Though the interefts of virtue and religion are beft fecured by the feverest reason and argument, yet I hope a lefs folemn recommendation of them to the world may not be efteemed a prejudice to either. How oft' has a flubborn folly been fuccessfully arraigned by a candid and eafy rebuke, which had long maintained itself againft a more powerful though a lefs familiar conviction! If we can smile away the follies of an adverfary, fport with his vanities, and laugh him into a fenfe of his errours, why thould we forfeit that exquifite pleafure of complacency and good humour which a malicious conflict Volume II, F When from the marriage lumber freed To nod-or, much the fame, to read. } with a rival would moft certainly deprive us of? If we mifcarry in an attempt of this nature our defeat would be the lefs difhonourable, because we feemed only to play and trifle with the mistakes of an author; but fhould we, under the matk of a little raillery, wit, and good humour, obtain our end, it would double our fatisfaction as well as the glory of our conqueft. Two important debates of the utmost confequence in religion (Eachard's Contempt of the Clergy, and Philautus and Timothy) have with wonderful applaufe lately appeared in the world; the beauties of their authors' ftyle, the purity of their diction, the elegant turn of thought, and above ail a torrent of fevere but good-natured wit, drew a thoufand readers to perufe an hypothefis they little imagined ever to efpoufe; but they were infenfibly deluded into good principles, and betrayed into a conviction of thofe very truths they came on purpofe to deride and ridicule: where they expected to gratify a fancy only, they found a more real advantage in the reformation of their judgment, and from admirers of the authors' wit and beautics became at laft profelytes to their opinions. If in two or three inftances I have tranfgreffed my own rules, the fool or the knave muft be imagined very notorious; and that thofe tender and merciful lathes that were judged fufficient for little offenders would hardly have reached the vanities of the one or the villanies of the other: and if I am thought to have injured any person in his character, or to have faid as much as I am able, I muft beg leave to affure the world that it was owing to abundance of humanity and goodnature I did not fay a great deal more; and would rather advife them to fit eafy and quiet under the innocent rebukes of a fatire, than provoke others to prepare that correction which their ignorance, their impudence, or both, have fo juftly deferved. King. While no regard at all was had A calf that wore without his skin. But tho' his thoughts were fix'd to read The treatise was not yet decreed; Uncertain to devote the day To politicks or else to play, 25 What theme would beft his genius fuit, Where both contending champions boast As chiefs are oft' in story read 30 Each to pursue when neither fled ‡. * John Scott, D. D. author of The Chriftian Life, 5 vols. +A whimsical odd fellow, and a preacher among the Camifars. King.-Lacy was one of those enthufiafts who fup ported the French prophets. See the battle of Mons 1709. King. He enters now the fhining dome Where crowded authors fweat for room; So close a man could hardly fay Which were more fix'd the fhelves or they. It's author's name and where he dwells, If we have faith to look within. A fet of wooden volumes grace; To please the eye the highest space Pure timber authors! that contain Diftinguifh'd then in even rows Here fhines the verfe and there the profe; United, it is not fo with books.) 35 40 45 50 55 MISCELLANIES. The Schoolmen firft in long array Since all with him were thought to dream That flagg'd before they fill'd a rheam; His authors wifely taught to prize 70 Than buying writers by the pound; For Heav'n must needs his breast inspire That fcribbling fill'd each month a quire, Who fcorn'd each fot who fool'd in twelves. Fierce wits that long at variance ftood, Here vanquish'd Bentley, dreading fill 75 80 85 |