What could persuade thee, at this time of life, To launch afresh into the sea of strife? Better for thee, scarce crawling on the earth, Almost as much a child as at thy birth, 620 To have resign'd in peace thy parting breath, And sunk unnoticed in the arms of Death. Why would thy gray, gray hairs resentment brave, Thus to go down with sorrow to the grave? Now, by my soul! it makes me blush to know, My spirit could descend to such a foe: Whatever cause the vengeance might provoke, It seems rank cowardice to give the stroke. Sure 'tis a curse which angry fates impose, To mortify man's arrogance, that those 630 Who're fashion'd of some better sort of clay, Much sooner than the common herd decay. What bitter pangs must humbled Genius feel, In their last hours to view a Swift and Steele! How must ill-boding horrors fill her breast, When she beholds men mark'd above the rest For qualities most dear, plunged from that height, And sunk, deep sunk, in second childhood's night! Are men, indeed, such things? and are the best More subject to this evil than the rest, 640 To drivel out whole years of idiot breath, And sit the monuments of living death? Oh, galling circumstance to human pride! Abasing thought, but not to be denied! With curious art the brain, too finely wrought, Preys on herself, and is destroy'd by thought. Constant attention wears the active mind, Blots out her powers, and leaves a blank behind. But let not youth, to insolence allied, In heat of blood, in full career of pride, 650 Possess'd of genius, with unhallow'd rage Mock the infirmities of reverend age: The greatest genius to this fate may bow; Reynolds, in time, may be like Hogarth now. * * * * * Footnotes: [117] For occasion of this poem, see Life. [118] 'Fox:' Henry Fox, afterwards Lord Holland, supposed not to be over-honest. [119] 'Dashwood:' Sir Francis Dashwood, generally thought a bigoted and stupid Tory. [120] 'Norton:' Sir Fletcher Norton, Attorney-General from 1763 to 1765, created a peer in 1782 by the title of Lord Grantley. [121] 'Mansfield:' the celebrated Murray, Lord Mansfield. See Junius. [122] 'Rochester:' Pearce, Bishop of Rochester, mentioned above as a foe to Churchill. [123] 'Ayliffe:' a forger of the period, said to have been ill-used by Lord Holland. Churchill intended to write a poem, entitled, 'Ayliffe's Ghost,' but did not live to accomplish his intention. [124] 'Mighty name:' Pope, referring to his famous attack on Addison. [125] 'Fathers:' Thomas Potter, Esq., a man of splendid abilities, was disinherited by his father, the Archbishop of Canterbury, on account of his dissolute life. [126] 'Martin:' Samuel Martin, Esq., F.R.S., M.P. for Camelford; the hero of 'The Duellist.' [127] 'Webb:' Philip Carteret Webb. Esq., Solicitor to the Treasury.