The first distich of this epitaph contains a kind of information which few would want, that the man for whom the tomb was erected, _died_. There are, indeed, some qualities worthy of praise ascribed to the dead, but none that were likely to exempt him from the lot of man, or incline us much to wonder that he should die. What is meant by "judge of nature," is not easy to say. Nature is not the object of human judgment; for it is vain to judge where we cannot alter. If by nature is meant what is commonly called _nature_ by the criticks, a just representation of things really existing, and actions really performed, nature cannot be properly opposed to _art_; nature being, in this sense, only the best effect of _art_. The scourge of pride-- Of this couplet, the second line is not, what is intended, an illustration of the former. _Pride_ in the _great_, is, indeed, well enough connected with _knaves in state_, though _knaves_ is a word rather too ludicrous and light; but the mention of _sanctified_ pride will not lead the thoughts to _fops in learning_, but rather to some species of tyranny or oppression, something more gloomy and more formidable than foppery. Yet soft his nature-- This is a high compliment, but was not first bestowed on Dorset by Pope[152]. The next verse is extremely beautiful. Blest satirist! In this distich is another line of which Pope was not the author. I do not mean to blame these imitations with much harshness; in long performances they are scarcely to be avoided; and in shorter they may be indulged, because the train of the composition may naturally involve them, or the scantiness of the subject allow little choice. However, what is borrowed is not to be enjoyed as our own; and it is the business of critical justice to give every bird of the muses his proper feather. Blest courtier! Whether a courtier can properly be commended for keeping his _ease sacred_, may, perhaps, be disputable. To please king and country, without sacrificing friendship to any change of times, was a very uncommon instance of prudence or felicity, and deserved to be kept separate from so poor a commendation as care of his ease. I wish our poets would attend a little more accurately to the use of the word _sacred_, which surely should never be applied in a serious composition, but where some reference may be made to a higher being, or where some duty is exacted, or implied. A man may keep his friendship sacred, because promises of friendship are very awful ties; but, methinks, he cannot, but in a burlesque sense, be said to keep his ease _sacred_. Blest peer! The blessing ascribed to the _peer_ has no connexion with his peerage; they might happen to any other man whose ancestors were remembered, or whose posterity are likely to be regarded. I know not whether this epitaph be worthy either of the writer or of the man entombed. II