A patriot is a fool in every age,

Whom all Lord Chamberlains allow the stage:

These nothing hurts; they keep their fashion still,

And wear their strange old virtue, as they will.

If any ask you, "Who's the man, so near

His prince, that writes in verse, and has his ear?"

Why, answer, Lyttleton, and I'll engage

The worthy youth shall ne'er be in a rage;

But were his verses vile, his whisper base,

You'd quickly find him in Lord Fanny's case.