In all professions, time and pains give skill; Without hard study dare physicians kill? Can he that ne'er read statutes or reports, Gire chamber counsel, or urge law in courts! But eyery whipster knows affairs of state, Nor fears on nicest subjects to debate. A knight of eighteen hundred pounds a year Who minds his head, if his estate be clear? 440 Sure he may speak his mind, and tell the house He matters not the government a louse. Lack-learning knights, these things are safely said . To friends in private, at the Bedford-head; But in the house, before your tongue runs on, Consult sir James, lord William's dead and gone. Words to recall is in no member's power, One single word may send you to the Tower.

AN

The wrong'd to help, the lawless to restrain, Thrice every year in ancient Egbert's reign, 600 The members to the Mitchelgemot went, In after-ages called the Parliament; Early the Mitchelgemot did begin T'inroll their statutes on a parchment skin : For inpious treason hence no room was left, For nfurder, for polygamy, or theft: Since when the senate's power both sexes know From hops and claret, soap and callico. Now wholesome laws young senators bring in 'Gainst gaols, attorneys, bribery, and gin: tho

The

Since such the nature of the British state,
power

of Parliament so old and great,
Ye squires and Irish lords, 'tis worth your care
To be return’d for city, town, or shire,
By sheriff, bailiff, constable, or mayor.

Some doubt, which to a seat has best pretence,
A män of substance, or a man of sense :
But never any member feats will do,
Without a head-piece and a pocket too ;
Sense is requir’d the depth of things to reach, 4%
And money gives authority to speech.

A man of busʼness won't 'till evening dine, Abstains from women, company, and wine : From Fig's new theatre he'll miss a night, Though cocks, and bulls, and Irish women fight: Nor sultry sun, nor storms of soaking rain, The man of bus'ness from the house detain : Nor speaks he for no reason but to say, I am a member, and I spoke to-day. I speak sometimes, you'll hear his lordship cry, 480 Because some speak that have less sense than I.

The man that has both land and money too,
May wonders in a trading borough do:
They'll praise his ven'son and commend his port,
Turn their two former members into sport,
And, if he likes it, satirize the court.

But at a feast 'tis difficult to know,
From real friends an undiscover'd foe;
The man that swears he will the poll secure,
And pawns his soul that your election's sure, 490
Suspect that man : beware, all is not right,
He's ten to one a corporation-bite.

1

Alderman Pond, a downright honest man,
Would say, I cannot help you, or I can :
To spend your money, sir, is all a jest;
Matters are settled, set your heart at rest :
We've made a compromise, and sir, you know,
That sends one member high, and t'other low.
But if his good advice you would not take,
He'd scorn your supper, and your punch forsake,

970's Leave

you

of mighty interest to brag, And polf two voices like sir Robert Fag.

Parliamenteering is a sort of itch,
That will too oft uowary knights bewitch.
Two good estates Sir Harry Clodpole spent ;
Sate thrice, but spoke not once, in parliament;
Two good estates are gone-Who'll take his word}":
Oh! should his uncle die, he'd spend a third ;
He'd buy a house his happiness to crown,
Within a mile of some good borough-town ; 510
Tag, rag, and bobtail to sir Harry's run,
Men that have votes, and women that have none;
Sons, daughters, grandsons, with his Honor dine ;

He keeps a public-house without a sign.
Coblers and smiths extol th'ensuing choice,
And drunken taylors boast their right of voice.
Dearly the free-born neighbourhood is bought,
They never leave him while he's worth a groat:
So leeches stick, nor quit the bleeding wound,
Till off they drop with skins full to the ground.

520 EPISTLE XI.

AN

ESSAT

ON

CONVERSATION,

TO WILLIAM WYNDHAM, ESQ.

OF FELBRIG, NORFOLK.

conversations

The art of converse, how to sooth the soul
Of haughty man, his passions to control,
His pride at once to humble and to please,
And join the dignity of life with ease,
Be now my theme. O thou, whom Nature's hand
Fram’d for this best, this delicate command,
And taught, when lisping without reason's aid,
At the same time to speak and to persuade,
WYNDHAM, with diligence awhile attend,
Nor scorn th’instructions of an older friend ; 10