The Works of Soame Jenyns ... In Four Volumes. Including Several Pieces Never Before Published. To Which are Prefixed, Short Sketches of the History of the Author's Family, and also of his Life; By Charles Nalson Cole |
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A DIALOGUE Between the Right Hon. HENRY PELHAM and Madam POPULARITY.
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 | The Works of Soame Jenyns |  |
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A DIALOGUE Between the Right Hon. HENRY PELHAM and Madam POPULARITY.
IN IMITATION OF HORACE, BOOK III. ODE IX.
H. Pelham.1.
Whilst I was pleasing in your eyes,And you was constant, chaste, and wise;
Ere yet you had your favours granted
To ev'ry knave or fool who canted,
In peaceful joy I pass'd each hour,
Nor envy'd Walpole's wealth and pow'r.
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2.
While I possess'd your love alone,My heart and voice were all your own;
But on my soul 'twou'd vex a saint,
When I've most reason for complaint,
To hear you thus begin to scold:
Think on Britannia! proud and old!
Are not her interests all your theme,
Your daily labour, nightly dream?
H. Pelham.
3.
My just regard I can't denyFor her and her prosperity;
Nor am asham'd it is so great,
That, to deliver her from debt,
From foreign wars and civil strife,
I'd freely sacrifice my life.
Madam Popularity.
4.
To her your warmest vows are plighted,For her I ev'ry day am slighted;
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And my neglected voice unheard:
Examples numerous I cou'd mention,
A peace! bad as the old convention;
Money reduc'd to three per cent,
No pity on the poor who lent;
Armies that must for ever stand,
And still three shillings laid on land.
H. Pelham.
5.
Suppose now, Madam, I was willingFor once to bate this grievous shilling,
To humour you—I know 'tis wrong,
But you have such a cursed tongue.
Madam Popularity.
6.
Why then, tho' rough as winds or seas,You scorn all little arts to please,
Yet thou art honest, faith, and I
With thee alone will live and die.
| The Works of Soame Jenyns | |