464
EPITAPH ON WILL PATE.
haud minus eximii,
quam
ob morum urbanitatem suavitatemque
dilecti.
Hunc lapidem
sequenti Apophthegmate aureo incisum,
Tumulo imponi jussit:
"Epicharmian illud teneto,
Nervos atque Artus esse Sapientiæ,
Non temere credere."
Obiit nono die Decembris,
Anno ætatis suæ octogesimo,
Æræ Christianæ mdccxlvi[1].
END OF THE EIGHTEENTH VOLUME.
- ↑ Mr. Pope in a letter to Mr. Hughes, April 15, 1714, (Duncombe's collection, I, 126,) says, "I have added another [paper of proposals for Homer] for Mr. Pate, if he thinks fit to oblige me so far, as you seemed inclined to believe he might." In a note on this passage, the editor introduces this anecdote: "Lord Hervey was once very desirous of entering into a satirical war with Pope, in revenge for that poet's scurrilous and illiberal treatment of him, (who was really a man of great sense and abilities, and on that account only had the honour of being called up to the house of lords in his father's life time) telling bishop Hoadly that if he had any genius, it was for satire. The bishop desired his lordship to apply the following story; Will Pate, going home pretty late and pretty mellow, would needs quarrel with a nightman, who had given him a lash with his whip, and running to the man's cart began to pelt him. 'Oh, oh,' says the fellow, 'are you thereabouts! That's my trade.' Lord Hervey replied immediately, 'he would have nothing to say to Pope."
B. Baldwin and Son, Printers, New Bridge-street, London.
