The first Publication of the following Poem having been entrusted to the Care of the Printer, it came, thro' either his Ignorance or Timorousness, extremely mutilated, and incorrect from the Press. The twenty last Lines were left out, which made the Conclusion very abrupt, and in a great measure destroy'd the Intention, as well as Unity, of the whole Piece. The Characters of some great Personages were entirely omitted, and fictitious Names placed to others, instead of the real ones inserted by the Author, who was always of Opinion, that deserved Praise, as well as just Satire, should disdain a Mask. As to the Pointing, it was false in almost every Line, and there were many Words either mis-plac'd or mis-spell'd in almost every Page. Notwithstanding its appearing under these many Disadvantages, the Public were pleas'd to shew their Approbation of it in general, and to give it such a generous and uncommon Reception, that a large Number were obliged to be printed off, to supply the present Demand, before there was Leisure to restore or correct any thing. The following Edition was at length undertaken by the Author Himself, and is entirely agreeable to the Manuscript which he at first put into the Hands of the Printer. [Illustration: Decoration] Are these Things So? THE PREVIOUS QUESTION, From an ENGLISHMAN in his GROTTO, To a GREAT MAN at COURT. Dead to the World's each Scene of Pomp or Care, Wrapp'd up in Apathy to all that's there; My sole _Ambition_ o'er myself to reign, My _Avarice_ to make each Hour a Gain; My _Scorn_--the Threats or Favours of a Crown, A Prince's Whisper, or a Tyrant's Frown; My _Pride_--forgetting and to be forgot; My _Lux'ry_--lolling in my peaceful Grot. All Rancour, Party, Pique, expung'd my Mind, Free or to _laugh_ at, or _lament_ Mankind; Here my calm Hours I with the Wise employ, And the great _Greek_, or _Roman_ Sage enjoy; Or, gayly bent, the Mirth-fraught Page peruse, Or, pensive, keep a _Fast-Day_ with the Muse. Close shut my Cottage-Gate, where none pretends To lift the Latch, but Virtue and her Friends; Tho' pardon me--a Word, Sir, in your Ear, Once, _long ago_, I think I saw You here.