One would think (though there is no knowing) that a descendant of this nobleman, if there be such a person living, could hardly be guilty of a mean or paltry action.

The finest piece of personal satire in Pope (perhaps in the world) is his character of Addison; and this, it may be observed, is of a mixed kind, made up of his respect for the man, and a cutting sense of his failings.  The other finest one is that of Buckingham, and the best part of that is the pleasurable.

“------Alas! how changed from him,
That life of pleasure and that soul of whim: 
Gallant and gay, in Cliveden’s proud alcove,
The bower of wanton Shrewsbury and love!”

Among his happiest and most inimitable effusions are the Epistles to Arbuthnot, and to Jervas the painter; amiable patterns of the delightful unconcerned life, blending ease with dignity, which poets and painters then led.  Thus he says to Arbuthnot—­

        “Why did I write?  What sin to me unknown
      Dipp’d me in ink, my parents’ or my own? 
      As yet a child, nor yet a fool to fame,
      I lisped in numbers, for the numbers came. 
      I left no calling for this idle trade,
      No duty broke, no father disobey’d: 
      The muse but serv’d to ease some friend, not wife;
      To help me through this long disease, my life? 
      To second, Arbuthnot! thy art and care,
      And teach the being you preserv’d to bear.

        But why then publish?  Granville the polite,
      And knowing Walsh, would tell me I could write;
      Well-natur’d Garth inflam’d with early praise,
      And Congreve lov’d, and Swift endur’d my lays;
      The courtly Talbot, Somers, Sheffield read;
      E’en mitred Rochester would nod the head;
      And St. John’s self (great Dryden’s friend before)
      With open arms receiv’d one poet more. 
      Happy my studies, when by these approv’d! 
      Happier their author, when by these belov’d! 
      From these the world will judge of men and books,
      Not from the Burnets, Oldmixons, and Cooks.”

I cannot help giving also the conclusion of the Epistle to Jervas.

        “Oh, lasting as those colours may they shine,
      Free as thy stroke, yet faultless as thy line;
      New graces yearly like thy works display,
      Soft without weakness, without glaring gay;
      Led by some rule, that guides, but not constrains;
      And finish’d more through happiness than pains. 
      The kindred arts shall in their praise conspire,
      One dip the pencil, and one string the lyre. 
      Yet should the Graces all thy figures place,
      And breathe an air divine on ev’ry face;
      Yet should the Muses bid my numbers roll
      Strong as their charms, and gentle as their soul;
      With Zeuxis’ Helen thy Bridgewater vie,
      And these be sung till Granville’s Myra die: 
      Alas! how little from the grave we claim! 
      Thou but preserv’st a face, and I a name.”