University of Virginia Library

COUPLETS & VERSICLES 1731–1740

I. Lines from Horace.

Our ancient kings (and sure those kings were wise)
Judged for themselves, and saw with their own eyes.

II. On Queen Caroline's Death-bed.

Here lies wrapt up in forty thousand towels
The only proof that C--- had bowels.

III. On a Picture of Queen Caroline, drawn by Lady Burlington.

Alas! what room for Flattry, or for Pride!
She's dead!—but thus she lookd the hour she dy'd,
Peace, blubbring Bishop! peace thou flattring Dean!
This single Crayon, Madam, saints the Queen.

IV. LINES

On Ministers

—But Ministers like Gladiators live;
Tis half their business, Blows to ward, or give,
The good their Virtue might effect, or sense,
Dies between Exigents, and self defence.

V. COUPLET

May THESE put Money in your Purse,
For I assure you, I've read worse.

VI. On Dr. Alured Clarke

Let Clarke make half his life the poor's support,
But let him give the other half to court.

VII. COUPLET

From Horace .

In unambitious silence be my lot,
Yet ne'er a friend forgetting, till forgot.

VIII. COUPLET.

On his Grotto.

And life itself can nothing more supply
Than just to plan our projects, and to die.

IX. LINES

To King George II.

O all-accomplish'd Cæsar! on thy Shelf
Is room for all Pope's Works—and Pope himself:
'Tis true, Great Bard, thou on my shelf shall lye
With Oxford, Cowper, Noble Strafford by:
But for thy Windsor, a New Fabric Raise
And There Triumphant Sing Thy Soverain's Praise.