The Rolliad Part 37

Enough, break off--on RICHMOND I must wait; 105 And DEBBIEG too will think I stay too late; Yet ere I go some friendly aid I'd prove, The last sad tribute of a master's love.

In that famed College where true wisdom's found, For MACHIAVELIAN policy renown'd, 110 The pious pastors first fill'd LANSDOWNE's mind, With all the lore for Ministers design'd: Then mark my words, and soon those Seers shall see Their famed IGNATIUS far outdone in thee;-- In every action of your life be shown, 115 You think the world was made for you alone; With cautious eye each character survey, Woo to deceive, and promise to betray; Let no rash pa.s.sion Caution's bounds destroy, And ah! no more appear "THE ANGRY BOY!" 120

PITT.

Yet stay--Behold the Heav'ns begin to lour, And HOLLAND threatens with a thunder show'r; With me partake the feast, on this green box, Full fraught with many a feast for factious Fox; Each sapient hint that pious PRETTY gleans, 125 And the huge bulk of ROSE's Ways and Means; See too the smoaky citizens approach, Piled with pet.i.tions view their Lord Mayor's coach; Ev'n now their lengthen'd shadows reach this floor, Oh! that d--n'd SHOP-TAX--AUBREY, shut the door! 130

THE STATESMEN.] It will be unnecessary to inform the cla.s.sical reader, that this Eclogue evidently commences as an imitation of the 1st. of Vergil--the Author, however, with a boldness perfectly characteristic of the personages he was to represent, has in the progress of his work carefully avoided every thing like a too close adherence to his original design.

Line 8.--_A banish'd man_, &c.] Vide the n.o.ble Marquis's celebrated speech, on the no less celebrated IRISH PROPOSITIONS.

Line 14.--_And stammer'd out the_ FIRMAUN, &c.] When a language happens to be deficient in a word to express a particular idea, it has been ever customary to borrow one from some good-natured neighbour, who may happen to be more liberally furnished. Our Author, unfortunately, could find no nation nearer than TURKEY, that was able to supply him with an expression perfectly apposite to the sentiment intended to be here conveyed.

Line 25.--_Not bare-breeche'd_ GRAHAM.] His Lords.h.i.+p some time since brought in a bill to relieve his countrymen from those habilliments which in ENGLAND are deemed a necessary appendage to decorum, but among our more northern brethren are considered as a degrading shackle upon natural liberty. Perhaps, as the n.o.ble Lord was then on the point of marriage, he might intend this offering of his _opima spolia_, as an elegant compliment to HYMEN.

Line 51.--_But Reverend_ JENKY.] Our Author here, in some measure deviating from his usual perspicuity, has left us in doubt whether the term _Reverend_ is applied to the years or to the profession of the gentleman intended to be complimented. His long experience in the secrets of the CRITICAL REVIEW, and BUCKINGHAM HOUSE, would well justify the former supposition; yet his early admission into DEACON'S ORDERS will equally support the latter: our readers therefore must decide, while we can only sincerely exult in his Majesty's enjoyment of a man whose whole pious life has been spent in sustaining that beautiful and pathetic injunction of scripture, "SERVE G.o.d, AND HONOUR THE KING."

Line 68.--_And Bulls and Bears in mystic mazes dance_.] The beautiful allusion here made to that glorious state of doubt and obscurity in which our youthful Minister's measures have been invariably involved, with its consequent operation on the stockholders, is here most fortunately introduced.--What a striking contrast does Mr. PITT's conduct, in this particular, form to that of the Duke of PORTLAND, Mr. Fox, and your other _plain matter of fact men!_

Line 83.--_Sooner shall_ ROSE _than_ PRETTYMAN _lie faster_.] This beautiful compliment to the happy art of embellishment, so wonderfully possessed by this _par n.o.bile fratrum_, merits our warmest applause; and the skill of our author no where appears more conspicious than in this line, where, in refusing to give to either the pre-eminence, he bestows the _ne plus ultra_ of excellence on both.

RONDEAU.

HUMBLY INSCRIBED

_To the_ RIGHT HON. WILLIAM EDEN, ENVOY EXTRAORDINARY _and_ MINISTER PLENIPOTENTIARY _of Commercial Affairs at the Court of_ VERSAILLES.

Of EDEN lost, in ancient days, If we believe what MOSES says, A paltry pippin was the price, One crab was bribe enough to entice Frail human kind from Virtue's ways.

But now, when PITT, the all-perfect, sways, No such vain lures the tempter lays, Too poor to be the purchase twice, Of EDEN lost.

The Dev'l grown wiser, to the gaze Six thousand pounds a year displays, And finds success from the device; Finds this fair fruit too well suffice To pay the peace, and honest praise, Of EDEN lost.

ANOTHER.

"A mere affair of trade to embrace, Wines, brandies, gloves, fans, cambricks, lace; For this on me my Sovereign laid His high commands, and I obeyed; Nor think, my lord, this conduct base.

"Party were guilt in such a case, When thus my country, for a s.p.a.ce, Calls my poor skill to DORSET's aid A mere affair of trade!"

Thus EDEN, with unblus.h.i.+ng face, To NORTH would palliate his disgrace; When NORTH, with smiles, this answer made: "You might have spared what you have said; I thought the business of your place A mere affair of trade!"

ANOTHER.

Around the tree, so fair, so green, Erewhile, when summer shone serene, Lo! where the leaves in many a ring, Before the wint'ry tempest wing, Fly scattered o'er the dreary scene:

Such, NORTH, thy friends. Now cold and keen Thy Winter blows; no shelt'ring skreen They stretch, no graceful shade they fling Around the tree.

Yet grant, just Fate, each wretch so mean, Like EDEN, pining in his spleen For posts, for stars, for strings, may swing On two stout posts in hempen string!

Few eyes would drop a tear, I ween, Around the tree.

ANOTHER.

"The JORDAN have you been to see?"

Cried FOX, when late with shuffling plea, Poor EDEN stammer'd at excuse, But why the JORDAN introduce?

What JORDAN too will here agree?

That JORDAN which from spot could free One man unclean here vain would be: If yet those powers of wond'rous use The JORDAN have!

One fitter JORDAN of the three Would I for EDEN's meed decree; With me then open every sluice, And foaming high with streams profuse, For EDENS head may all with me The JORDAN have!

ANOTHER.

For EDEN's place, where circling round EUPHRATES wash'd the hallow'd mound, The learned long in vain have sought; 'Twas GREECE, 'twas POLAND, some have taught; Some hold it in the deluge drown'd: PITT thinks his search at PARIS crown'd; See the Gazette his proofs expound!

Yet who of looking there had thought For EDEN's place!

No;--view yon frame with dirt embrown'd, Some six feet rais'd above the ground, Where rogues, exalted as they ought, To peep through three round holes are brought, There will the genuine spot be found For EDEN's place!

EPIGRAMS

_On the_ IMMACULATE BOY

That Master PITT seems To be fond of extremes, No longer is thought any riddle; For sure we may say, 'Tis as plain as the day, That he always kept clear of the middle.

ANOTHER.

'Tis true, indeed, we oft abuse him, Because he bends to no man; But Slander's self dares not accuse him Of stiffness to a woman.

ANOTHER.

"No! no! for my virginity, When I lose that," quoth PITT, "I'll die;"

Cries WILBERFORCE, "If not till then, By G--d you must outlive all men[1]."

ANOTHER[2].

On _fair and equal_ terms to place An union is thy care; But trust me, POWIS, in this case The _equal_ should not please his Grace, And PITT dislikes the _fair_.