[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 passage 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 worship as my houshold god, 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 illustrious 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 ship’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.