Of their past crimes, and dangerous estate, 700 Pardon of women with repentance buy, And learn to honour them, as much as I. * * * * * Footnotes: [300] 'Quin:' was a great voluptuary. [301] 'Chloe:' M. St Clouet, or Chloe, cook to Holles, Duke of Newcastle. [302] 'Augusta:' London. [303] 'Light-footed Greek:' Achilles, who was left at Scyros, dressed in female attire. [304] 'L----:' Ligonier. [305] 'Cz----'s:' Czarina's. [306] 'P----:' Petersburg. [307] 'Dodd:' the Rev. Dr William Dodd, the unfortunate divine, afterwards hanged for forgery. See Boswell. [308] 'Lepel:' Mary, daughter of Brigadier-General Le Pell, married in 1720 to John Lord Hervey. [309] 'Caroline:' Lady Caroline Hervey was the youngest daughter of John Lord Hervey. INDEPENDENCE. Happy the bard (though few such bards we find) Who, 'bove controlment, dares to speak his mind; Dares, unabash'd, in every place appear, And nothing fears, but what he ought to fear: Him Fashion cannot tempt, him abject Need Cannot compel, him Pride cannot mislead To be the slave of Greatness, to strike sail When, sweeping onward with her peacock's tail, Quality in full plumage passes by; He views her with a fix'd, contemptuous eye, 10 And mocks the puppet, keeps his own due state, And is above conversing with the great. Perish those slaves, those minions of the quill, Who have conspired to seize that sacred hill Where the Nine Sisters pour a genuine strain, And sunk the mountain level with the plain; Who, with mean, private views, and servile art, No spark of virtue living in their heart, Have basely turn'd apostates; have debased Their dignity of office; have disgraced, 20 Like Eli's sons, the altars where they stand, And caused their name to stink through all the land; Have stoop'd to prostitute their venal pen For the support of great, but guilty men; Have made the bard, of their own vile accord, Inferior to that thing we call a lord. What is a lord? Doth that plain simple word Contain some magic spell? As soon as heard, Like an alarum bell on Night's dull ear, Doth it strike louder, and more strong appear 30 Than other words? Whether we will or no, Through Reason's court doth it unquestion'd go E'en on the mention, and of course transmit Notions of something excellent; of wit Pleasing, though keen; of humour free, though chaste; Of sterling genius, with sound judgment graced; Of virtue far above temptation's reach, And honour, which not malice can impeach? Believe it not--'twas Nature's first intent, Before their rank became their punishment, 40 They should have pass'd for men, nor blush'd to prize The blessings she bestow'd; she gave them eyes, And they could see; she gave them ears--they heard; The instruments of stirring, and they stirr'd; Like us, they were design'd to eat, to drink,