The Revenge (Young, 1721)/Dedication

My Lord,

ere I a Stranger to Your Grace, I should not be afraid to solicit Your Patronage, since You have taken the Politer Arts into Your Protection; and They who endeavour to excel in them, are, in effect, making their Court to You. But I can ​plead more than a Common Title to this Honour. Your Grace has been pleas'd to make Your self Accessory to the following Scenes, not only by suggesting the most beautiful Incident in them, but by making all possible Provision for the Success of the Whole. Your great Delicacy of Taste in Compositions of this kind, has so assisted this Poem; and the Indulgence of Your Nature has so endeavoured to shorten the great Distance between Your Grace and its Author, that I have been sometimes scarce able to consider You in any other Light, than as one entirely devoted to these Amusements, and pursuing the same Studies with my self.

The World, which is large in Your Praises of another Nature, will be surpriz'd to hear me speak of Your Grace in this manner. They talk of One abounding in all the Grace and Power of Publick Eloquence, and eminently furnish'd ​with Those particular Talents, which qualify for shining in the Highest Stations, and influencing the National Welfare: Of One, who made a Name in Senates in his Minority; and who now, at an Age, which in some well-constituted States would exclude him their Grand Council, has finish'd a Reputation in that of Great Britain, and gain'd Those for his greatest Admirers, who are Themselves most admir'd There: One, who through This whole Memorable Session, has acted in the Spirit of a Regulus, vigorously opposing Measures, in which he might have found his private Advantage, and exerting the noblest Indignation and Contempt for those, who, like the Old Carthaginians, were equally famous for their Riches, and their Faith. One who, if he advances in Proportion to his first Degree of Glory, shall not thank Posterity for ranking Him with the most Celebrated this Nation has ​produc'd, tho' His great Father be in the Number of them.

His Country may with Pleasure reflect, that when He has any thing of Moment in his View, there is Nothing, which can either break his Resolution, tire his Activity, or limit his Expence. His Spirit encreases on Resistance, and like a great Flame, it burns the stronger, and shines the brighter, in proportion to the Violence of the Storm that offends it. In the present troubled State of Affairs, in which the Nation fluctuates, how has he strove against the Power of Wind and Tyde to assist Her into Harbour; while some have endeavoured to tear Her to Pieces, in order to provide for their private Safety, and swim ashore on her Ruins?

Thus speaks the World. I, My Lord, whose Knowledge of Your Grace lyes more in private Life, can tell them, in Return, of One, who can animate his Country Retirement with a kind of ​Pleasures, sometimes unknown to Persons of Distinction in that Scene: Who can divide the longest Day into a Variety of Polite and Useful Studies, and appoint the Great Men of Antiquity their stated Hours, to receive (if I may so speak) their Audience of Him: Who is an excellent Master of their History in particular, and observing how Nature in a Course of Years is apt to come round again, and tread in her own Footsteps; Has a Happiness in applying the Facts or Characters of Antient to Modern Times; which requires a beautiful Mixture of Learning, and Genius; and a Mind equally knowing in Books and Men: Who can carry from his Studies such a Life into Conversation, that Wine seems only an Interruption of Wit: Who has as many Subjects to talk of, as proper Matter on those Subjects, as much Wit to adorn that Matter, and as many Languages to produce it so adorn'd, as any ​of the Age in which he lives. And yet so sweet his Disposition, that no one ever wish'd his Abilities less, but such as flattered themselves with the Hope of Shining when near him.

But there are still superior Qualities, which I am oblig'd to remember, as is the Society to which I belong, and to return Him our Thanks for His late Donation to it. Which is so Noble that it had laid us under the greatest Obligation, though it had been from Another: Though it had been from one whose Quality and Character would have made a far less Addition to it; and who had not by the most graceful and engaging manner of conferring it, more than doubled its Value. As for my own particular Obligations to Him, I shall not endeavour to express My self in Words; but beg leave to refer Him to the whole future Course of my Life for my Sense of them. My present Fortune is his Bounty, and my Future his Care; which, I will venture to say, will ​be always remembred to His Honour, since He, I know, intended His Generosity as an Encouragement to Merit, tho' (thro' his very pardonable Partiality to one who bears Him so sincere a Duty and Respect) I happen to receive the Benefit of it.

They who are acquainted with Your Grace, will be of Opinion, that I make Your Goodness but an ill Return by the Liberty I now take. But tho' it be true, that They who merit Praise most, affect it least; it is also true, that to commend what is excellent is a Debt We owe the Publick. In Regard to which, how ill soever You may relish it, I have made no Scruple to use You as You Deserve: And my Comfort is, I can take Refuge in Your Lordship's own Example, for preferring the Publick before You.

But, if You are still dissatisfy'd, I shall only say, it is hard, that Your Grace should joyn with Your Enemies, ​(who will equally dislike it) against Me. For Enemies, My Lord, You have; nor am I sorry for it. All Shining Accomplishments will be for ever either Lov'd, or Envy'd; and next to the Person who pays You his Esteem, He bears the best Testimony to the Superiority of Your Character, who hates You for it. I give You Joy of those Foes Your great Qualities have made: And I congratulate You in a particular manner, that They are the most inveterate to Your Grace, whom Your Country pursues with her greatest Dislike. It is no Reflection on those who wish you best, to say, They will hardly be able to contribute more to Your Glory.