BANKS.
When Secret Influence expiring lay,
And Whigs triumphant hail’d th’ auspicious day,
I bore that faithless message to the House, 85
By PITT contriv’d the gaping ’squires to chouse;
That deed, I ween, demands superior thanks:
The British Commons were the dupes of BANKS.
PRETTYMAN.
Say, in what regions are those fathers found,
For deep-dissembling policy renown’d; 90
Whose subtle precepts for perverting truth,
To quick perfection train’d our patron’s youth,
And taught him all the mystery of lies?
Resolve me this, and I resign the prize.
BANKS.
Say, what that mineral, brought from distant climes, 95
Which screens delinquents, and absolves their crimes;
Whose dazzling rays confound the space between
A tainted strumpet and a spotless Queen;
Which Asia’s Princes give, which Europe’s take;
Tell this, dear Doctor, and I yield the stake. 100
PITT.
Enough, my friends—break off your tuneful sport,
’Tis levee day, and I must dress for Court;
Which hath more boldly or expertly lied,
Not mine th’ important contest to decide.
Take thou this MITRE, Doctor, which before 105
A greater hypocrite sure never wore;
And if to services rewards be due,
Dear BANKS, this CORONET belongs to you:
Each from that Government deserves a prize,
Which thrives by shuffling, and subsists by lies. 110
IMITATIONS.
Ver. 6. Amant alterna Camenæ.
Ver. 10. Hos Corydon, illos referebat in ordine Thyrsis.
Ver. 29. Dicite—quandoquidem in molli consedimus herbâ
Ver. 61. Ante leves ergo pas entur in æthere cervi
Et freta destituent nudos in littore pisces—
Ver. 89. Die quibus in terris, &c.
Ver. 104. Non nostrum inter vos tantas componere lites.
Ver. 105. Et vitulà tu dignus et hic.
NOTES. Ver. 17. Our poet here seems to deviate from his general rule, by the introduction of a phrase which appears rather adapted to the lower and less elevated strain of pastoral, than to the dialogue of persons of such distinguished rank. It is, however, to be considered, that it is far from exceeding the bounds of possibility to suppose, that, in certain instances, the epithet of “Witless,” and the coarse designation of “Lout,” may be as applicable to a dignitary of the church, as to the most ignorant and illiterate rustic.
Ver. 62. The truth of this line must be felt by all who have read the lyrical effusions of Mr. Warton’s competitors, whose odes were some time since published, by Sir John Hawkins, Knight. The present passage must be understood in reference to these, and not to the Laureat’s general talents.
Ver. 85. The ingenious and sagacious gentleman, who, at the period of the glorious revolution of 1784, held frequent meetings at the Saint Alban’s Tavern, for the purpose of bringing about an union that might have prevented the dissolution of parliament; which meetings afforded time to one of the members of the proposed union to concert means throughout every part of the kingdom, for ensuring the success of that salutary and constitutional measure, which, through his friend Mr. B—ks, he had solemnly pledged himself not to adopt. How truly does this conduct mark “the statesman born!” ———— Dolus an virtus, quis in hoste requirit?
Ver. 98. It must be acknowledged that there is some obscurity in this passage, as well as in the following line,
“Which Asia’s princes give, which Europe’s take:”