of state:  From whence with half an eye we may discover The peace is made, and Perkin must come over.” 
  York is from Lambeth sent, to show the queen
A dang’rous treatise[6] writ against the spleen;
Which, by the style, the matter, and the drift,
’Tis thought could be the work of none but Swift. 
Poor York! the harmless tool of others’ hate;
He sues for pardon,[7] and repents too late. 
  Now angry Somerset her vengeance vows
On Swift’s reproaches for her ******* spouse:[8]
From her red locks her mouth with venom fills,
And thence into the royal ear instils. 
The queen incensed, his services forgot,
Leaves him a victim to the vengeful Scot.[9]
Now through the realm a proclamation spread,
To fix a price on his devoted head.[10]
While innocent, he scorns ignoble flight;
His watchful friends preserve him by a sleight. 
  By Harley’s favour once again he shines;
Is now caress’d by candidate divines,
Who change opinions with the changing scene: 
Lord! how were they mistaken in the dean!  Now Delawar[11] again familiar grows; And in Swift’s ear thrusts half his powder’d nose.  The Scottish nation, whom he durst offend, Again apply that Swift would be their friend.[12]
  By faction tired, with grief he waits awhile,
His great contending friends to reconcile; Performs what friendship, justice, truth require:  What could he more, but decently retire?

[Footnote 1:  Dr. John Sharpe, who, for some unbecoming reflections in his sermons, had been suspended, May 14, 1686, was raised from the Deanery of Canterbury, to the Archbishopric of York, July 5, 1691; and died February 2, 1712-13.  According to Dr. Swift’s account, the archbishop had represented him to the queen as a person that was not a Christian; the great lady [the Duchess of Somerset] had supported the aspersion; and the queen, upon such assurances, had given away the bishopric contrary to her majesty’s first intentions [which were in favour of Swift].  See Orrery’s “Remarks on the Life of Swift,” p. 48.—­W.  E. B.]

[Footnote 2:  Queen Anne.]

[Footnote 3:  Coffeehouses frequented by the clergy.  In the preceding poem, Swift gives the same trait of his own character: 
  “A clergyman of special note
  For shunning those of his own coat.” 
His feeling towards his order was exactly the reverse of his celebrated misanthropical expression of hating mankind, but loving individuals.  On the contrary, he loved the church, but disliked associating with individual clergymen.—­Scott. See his letter to Pope, Sept. 29, 1725, in Pope’s Works, edit.  Elwin and Courthope, vii, 53, and the unjust remarks of the commentators.—­W.  E. B.]

[Footnote 4:  Daniel Finch, Earl of Nottingham, who made a speech in the House of Lords against the author.]

[Footnote 5:  John Aislaby, then M.P. for Ripon.  They both spoke against him in the House of Commons.—­Scott.]