The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift/Volume 8/Horace, Part of Book I, Sat. IV
HORACE, PART OF BOOK I, SAT. IV,
PARAPHRASED. 1733.
IF noisy Tom[1] should in the senate prate,
"That he would answer both for church and state;
And, farther to demonstrate his affection,
Would take the kingdom into his protection:"
All mortals must be curious to inquire,
Who could this coxcomb be, and who his sire?
"What! thou, the spawn of him[2] who sham'd our isle,
Traitor, assassin, and informer vile!
Though by the female side[3] you proudly bring,
To mend your breed, the murderer of a king;
What was thy grandsire[4], but a mountaineer,
Who held a cabin for ten groats a year;
Whose master Moore[5] preserved him from the halter!
For stealing cows; nor could he read the Psalter!
Durst thou, ungrateful, from the senate chace
Thy founder's grandson[6], and usurp his place?
Just Heaven! to see the dunghill bastard brood
Survive in thee, and make the proverb good[7]?
Then vote a worthy citizen[8] to jail,
In spite of justice, and refuse his bail!"
- ↑ Sir Thomas Prendergast.
- ↑ The father of sir Thomas Prendergast, who engaged in a plot to murder king William III; but, to avoid being hanged, turned informer against his associates, for which he was rewarded with a good estate, and made a baronet.
- ↑ Cadogan's family.
- ↑ A poor thieving cottager under Mr. Moore, condemned at Clonmell assizes to be hanged for stealing cows.
- ↑ The grandfather of Guy Moore, esq., who procured him a pardon.
- ↑ Guy Moore was fairly elected member of parliament for Clonmell; but sir Thomas, depending upon his interest with a certain party then prevailing, and since known by the title of parsonhunters, petitioned the house against him; out of which he was turned upon pretence of bribery, which the paying of his lawful debts was then voted to be.
- ↑ "Save a thief from the gallows, and he will cut your throat."
- ↑ Mr. George Faulkner. See the following verses. — Mr. Serjeant Bettesworth, a member of the Irish parliament, having made a complaint to the house of commons against the "Satire on Quadrille," they voted Faulkner the printer into custody (who was confined closely in prison three days, when he was in a very bad state of health, and his life in much danger) for not discovering the author.