[Footnote 1: Compare the Earl of Orrery's "Verses to Swift on his birthday" (vol. i, 228) with his "Remarks on the Life and writings of Swift." And see _post_, p. 406. The next line refers to Faulkner.--_W. E. B._]
The following lines were enclosed in a letter from Mr. Pulteney, (afterwards Earl of Bath,) to Swift, in which he says--"You must give me leave to add to my letter a copy of verses at the end of a declamation made by a boy at Westminster school on this theme,--_Ridentem dicere verum quid vetat?_"
Dulce, Decane, decus, flos optime gentis Hibernae Nomine quique audis, ingenioque celer: Dum lepido indulges risu, et mutaris in horas, Quò nova vis animi, materiesque rapit? Nunc gravis astrologus, coelo dominaris et astris, Filaque pro libitu Partrigiana secas. Nunc populo speciosa hospes miracula promis, Gentesque aequoreas, aëriasque creas. Seu plausum captat queruli persona Draperi, Seu levis a vacuo tabula sumpta cado. Mores egregius mira exprimis arte magister, Et vitam atque homines pagina quaeque sapit; Socraticae minor est vis et sapientia chartae, Nec tantum potuit grande Platonis opus.
BY MR. JAMES STERLING, OF THE COUNTY OF MEATH
While the Dean with more wit than man ever wanted, Or than Heaven to any man else ever granted, Endeavours to prove, how the ancients in knowledge Have excell'd our adepts of each modern college; How by heroes of old our chiefs are surpass'd In each useful science, true learning, and taste. While thus he behaves, with more courage than manners, And fights for the foe, deserting our banners; While Bentley and Wotton, our champions, he foils, And wants neither Temple's assistance, nor Boyle's; In spite of his learning, fine reasons, and style, --Would you think it?--he favours our cause all the while: We raise by his conquest our glory the higher, And from our defeat to a triumph aspire; Our great brother-modern, the boast of our days, Unconscious, has gain'd for our party the bays: St. James's old authors, so famed on each shelf, Are vanquish'd by what he has written himself.
ON DR. SWIFT'S LEAVING HIS ESTATE TO IDIOTS
Swift, wondrous genius, bright intelligence, Pities the orphan's, idiot's want of sense; And rich in supernumerary pelf, Adopts posterity unlike himself. To one great individual wit's confined! Such eunuchs never propagate their kind. Thus nature's prodigies bestow the gifts Of fortune, their descendants are no Swifts. When did prime statesman, for a sceptre fit His ministerial successor beget? No age, no state, no world, can hope to see Two SWIFTS or WALPOLES in one family.