LONDON; A POEM: IN IMITATION OF THE THIRD SATIRE OF JUVENAL. WRITTEN IN 1738. Quis ineptæ Tam patiens urbis, tam ferreus ut teneat se? jov. 'THO' grief and fondness in my breast rebel, JUV. SAT. III. 1 Quamvis digressu veteris confusus amici ; Laudo, tamen, vacuis quod sedem figere Cumis Destinet, atque unum civem donare Sibyllæ Sir John Hawkins says, that by Thales we are here to understand Savage. Mr. Boswell asserts that this is entirely groundless, and adds, "I have been assured that Dr. Johnson said, he was not so much as acquainted with Savage when he wrote his London." This, added to the circumstance of the date (for Savage did not set out for Wales till July 1759) might be decisive, if unfortunately for Mr. Boswell he had not a few pages after, given us some highly complimentary lines which," he was assured were written by Dr. Johnson." A Ricardum Savage, in April 1738, about a month before London was published. This surely implies previous acquaintance with Savage, for Dr. Johnson would not have praised a stranger in such terms, and gives a very strong probability to Sir John Hawkins's conjecture. That Savage did not 'set out for Wales until the following year, is a matter of little consequence, as the intention of such a journey would justify the lines alluding to it. See Boswell's Life of Johnson, vol. i. p. 100 and p. 199. 8vo. edit. 1804. VOL. I. And, fix'd on Cambria's solitary shore, 2 For who would leave, unbrib'd, Hibernia's land, 3 While THALES waits the wherry that contains Of dissipated wealth the small remains, On Thames's banks, in silent thought we stood A transient calm the happy scenes bestow, -Ego vel Prochytam præpono Suburræ, Nam quid tam miserum, tam solum vidimus, ut non Tectorum assiduos, & mille pericula sæva Sed, dum tota domus rhedâ componitur unâ, Substitit ad veteres arcus, Queen Elizabeth, born at Greenwich, *Since worth, he cries, in these degenerate days Wants ev'n the cheap reward of empty praise; In those curs'd walls, devote to vice and gain, Since unrewarded science toils in vain; Since hope but sooths to double my distress, And every moment leaves my little less; While yet my steady steps no staff sustains, And life still vig'rous revels in my veins; Grant me, kind Heaven, to find some happier place, Where honesty and sense are no disgrace; Some pleasing bank where verdant osiers play, Some peaceful vale with Nature's paintings gay; Where once the harass'd Briton found repose, And, safe in poverty, defy'd his foes; Some secret cell, ye Pow'rs, indulgent give, live here, for 6 Let has learn'd to live. Here let those reign, whom pensions can incite Let such rajse palaces, and manors buy, 4 Hic tunc Umbritius: Quando artibus, inquit, honestis Ire, fatigatis ubi Dedalus exuit alas; Dum nova canities. 8- et pedibus me Porto meis, nullo dextram subeunte bacillo. 6 Cedamus patriâ: vivant Arturius istic Et Catullus: maneant qui nigra in candida vertunt. The invasions of the Spaniards were defended in the houses of parliament. With warbling eunuchs fill our silenc'd stage, Heroes, proceed! what bounds your pride shall hold ? What check restrain your thirst of pow'r and gold? Behold rebellious virtue quite o'erthrown, Behold our fame, our wealth our lives, your own. When publick crimes inflame the wrath of Heaven: Well may they rise, while I, whose rustic tongue 10 For what but social guilt the friend endears? Who shares Orgilio's crimes, his fortune shares, & Quid Romæ faciam ? mentiri nescio: librum, Si malus est, nequeo laudare & poscere. 9 Ferre ad nuptam quæ mittit adulter, Quæ mandat norint alii; me nemo ministro Fur erit, atque ideo nulli comes exeo. 10 Quis nunc diligitur nisi conscius ? Carus erit Verri, qui Verrem tempore, quo vult, *The licensing act was then lately made. The paper which at that time contained apologies for the court, |