( 14 )
Has Life no Joys for me? or (to be grave)
Have I no Friend to serve, no Soul to save?
"I found him close with Swift—Indeed? no doubt
(Cries prating Balbus) "something will come out."
'Tis all in vain, deny it as I will.
"No, such a Genius never can lye still,"
And then for mine obligingly mistakes
The first Lampoon Sir Will. or Bufo makes.
Poor guiltless I! and can I chuse but smile, 270
When ev'ry Coxcomb knows me by my Style?
Have I no Friend to serve, no Soul to save?
"I found him close with Swift—Indeed? no doubt
(Cries prating Balbus) "something will come out."
'Tis all in vain, deny it as I will.
"No, such a Genius never can lye still,"
And then for mine obligingly mistakes
The first Lampoon Sir Will. or Bufo makes.
Poor guiltless I! and can I chuse but smile, 270
When ev'ry Coxcomb knows me by my Style?
Curst be the Verse, how well soe'er it flow,
That tends to make one worthy Man my foe,
Give Virtue scandal, Innocence a fear,
Or from the soft-ey'd Virgin steal a tear! 275
But he, who hurts a harmless neighbour's peace,
Insults fall'n Worth, or Beauty in distress,
Who loves a Lye, lame slander helps about,
Who writes a Libel, or who copies out:
The Fop whose pride affects a Patron's name, 280
Yet absent, wounds an Author's honest fame;
Who can your Merit selfishly approve,
And show the Sense of it, without the Love;
Who has the Vanity to call you Friend,
Yet wants the Honour injur'd to defend; 285
That tends to make one worthy Man my foe,
Give Virtue scandal, Innocence a fear,
Or from the soft-ey'd Virgin steal a tear! 275
But he, who hurts a harmless neighbour's peace,
Insults fall'n Worth, or Beauty in distress,
Who loves a Lye, lame slander helps about,
Who writes a Libel, or who copies out:
The Fop whose pride affects a Patron's name, 280
Yet absent, wounds an Author's honest fame;
Who can your Merit selfishly approve,
And show the Sense of it, without the Love;
Who has the Vanity to call you Friend,
Yet wants the Honour injur'd to defend; 285
Who
