ToAlexanderPope,Esq;IntreatinghimtowriteVersestotheMemoryofThomas,lateEarlofThanet"[T]he fifth Earl (1644-1729) married Catherine daughter of the Duke of Newcastle".
(Tucker [1992], 222)
.ShallfortheEpistletoLordBathurst,ontheUseofRiches.ManofRossthyLyrebestrung,AndsleepsillustriousThanetyetunsung?SincetodistinguishMeritisthyCare,LetThanetinthydeathlessPraisesshare:Letme,unequaltotheTask,exciteThymatchlessMuse,todohisMeritRight.Numbers,likethine,shouldcallhisVirtuesforth;PoeticMirrorsshouldbetruetoWorth;Disdainingtoreflectthoseglitt'ringRays,WhichflowfromPomp,orfromAmbition'sBlaze.FromScenesofWoe,unmov'd,whilstOthersfly,AndturnfromAnguishtheunmeltingEye;ThanetpursuestheFootstepsofthePoor,Andsilententersthro'thelonelyDoor;FairPlentyinhisTrain,andJoy,andHealth,SeekingDistress,asOthersseekforWealth;WithGodlikePityev'ryPray'rreceives,EachWishfulfils,andev'ryWantrelieves:WhereSicknessreigns,he,tohisutmostPow'r,SoftenstheAnguishofeachdismalHour:HesmoothstheruggedBrowofanxiousCare,AndgildsthegloomyProspectofDespair:WhilstLibertinesonVicetheirWealthemploy,HemakestheWidow'sHearttosingforJoy:OrphansnomoretheirParentslostcomplain;InThanet'sBountytheyreviveagain.NorforthisLifealonewouldheprovide;ToLifeeternalThanetwastheirGuide:NoronMoralityalonedepends;ButtothenoblestHeightsofFaithascends:Devotion'sheav'nlyFlameinspir'dhisBreast;StillintheTemplewerehisVowsaddress'd:Tho'heinVirtue'sPaths,delighted,trod,Studioustoplease,andimitatehisGod;Thehallow'dAltar,grateful,hesurvey'd,AndtherehislowlyAdorationpaid.Seethepale,childlessMiserhoardupWealth,And,trembling,snatchananxiousViewbyStealth;AmasstheshiningOrewithguiltyCare,Toaggrandizesomedistant,worthlessHeir;Wholongs,impatient,forthesolemnToll,Which,slow,proclaimsthesad-departedSoul;TheneyeswithJoythecare-collectedHoard,Andspends,profuse,whatAvaricehadstor'd;ByFortune'ssuddenSmilestoMadnessfir'd,Hewastesonev'ryVice,whatGuiltacquir'd.SodwellsonMountain-TopstheNorthernSnow,Congeal'dbyFrosts,forYearsuntaughttoflow;TillhotterSunsmorevig'rousBeamsdisplay;TheMassrelents,theglitt'ringPilesdecay;Sudden,fromhigh,resoundingTorrentsflow,ImpetuousrushingontheValesbelow;O'erwhelmtheHarvestofthepiningSwain,AndcursewithFloods,whichshouldhavebless'dthePlain.OnThanetHeav'nitshappierInfluenceshed;Anum'rousOff-springgrac'dhisnuptialBed:AndyetthoseMotivestopaternalCareSteel'dnothisBreastagainsttheSuppliant'sPray'r.StudioustodrawdownBlessingsonhisRace,HisBounticswithhisProgenyincrease.LikeEgypt'sFlood,beneficentherose;Silent,tho'vast,hiswell-judg'dBountyflows;O'ertheparch'dEarthitspreadsitsampleCourse,ProfuseofGood,but,modest,hidesitsSource.Asknot,towhathisCharitiesamount;SomanyMyriadsswellthevastAccount.YevainPretenderstosuperiorSense,YeemptyBoastersofBeneficence,WhointheScornersSeat,exulting,sit,AndvauntyourimpiousRailleryforWit,TheGospel-Ruledefectiveyoupretend,WhenyouthesocialDutiesrecommend;InThanetseethemheighten'dandrefin'd;InThanetseetheFriendofhumanKind;Heighten'dbyFaith,seeev'ryVirtue'sForce;ByFaith,theirsurestSanction,noblestSource.LoudlyyeboastamorethanChristianZeal,ForVirtue'sInt'rest,andthepublicWeal;BestbyEffectsareBoastingsunderstood;Come,proveyourArdorforthepublicGood!ThemightyHeroesofyourTribesurvey,Theirev'ryhiddenExcellencedisplay;Ordead,orliving,settheirVirtuesforth;Letall,united,viewithThanet'sWorth;Free-thinkers,Moralists,onyouIcall,CanThanet'sWorthbeequall'dbyyouall?Accept,illustriousShade!theseartlessLays;MySoulthisHomage,tothyVirtuepays:LedbythatsacredLight,aStranger-MuseAttemptsthosePaths,whichablerFeetrefuse;IndistantClimesthyVirtuesheadmires,IndistantClimesthyWorthherStraininspires.LongtothyTombtheWretchedshallrepair,AndtothyAshespayasilentTear;ShalltotheTravellerthyWorthrelate,AndEmulationthro'theWorldcreate:AgestocomeshallcelebratethyFame,AndOrphans,yetunborn,shallblessthyName.WhenthefirmBasisoftheEarthgivesWay,AndNature'sSelfshallfeelherlastDecay;Whenthose,whofromtheWretchedturn'dtheirEye.Toolaterelenting,shallforMercycry;TheThousandsthouhastfed,shall,inthyPraise,TheirloudHosanna'stoJEHOVAHraise;ThymodestWorthshallveilitselfnomore;AngelsshalltellwhatThanethidbefore.