13 NOVEMBER 1920, Page 8

POPE AS A PROPHET.

MANY of our readers seem to have been interested by the quotation from Pope which showed how our greatest analytical and prophetic poet had peered into the future and envisaged Mrs. Asquith. It has occurred to us that in the coming winter a very excellent parlour game might be found in trying to fit upon modem coiffures more of the caps made by Pope for once lovely heads.

For what modem woman of the world did Pope predict these pictures! As we have no desire to be torn to pieces in Picca- dilly or lynched under the plane trees in Berkeley Street—May- fair's first martyr—nothing will induce us to give our own selections.

"How soft is Silia! fearful to offend ;

The frail one's advocate, the weak one's friend."

"So Philonoide, lecturing all mankind On the soft passion, and the taste refined, The address, the delicacy—stoops at once And makes her hearty meal upon a dunce."

"Flavia's a wit, has too much S.31180 to pray ; To toast 'Our wants and wishes,' is her way; Nor asks of God, but of her stars, to give The mighty blessing. ` While we live, to live."

"Wise wretch ! with pleasures too refined to please ; With too much spirit to be e'er at ease ; With too much quickness ever to be taught ; With too much thinking to have common thought ; You purchase pain with all that joy can give, And die of nothing, but the rage to live. '

. . . • '

" Or her, that owns her faults, but never mends, Because she's honest, and the best of friends."

. . . .

"Shines, in exposing knaves, and painting fools, Yet is, whate'er she hates and ridicules:" "Virtue she finds too painful an endeavour, Content to dwell in decencies for over. So very reasonable, BO unmoved, As never yet to love, or to be loved."

. . . . •

1" Reserve with frankness, art with truth allied, Courage with softness, modesty with pride."

. . . . .

But we must not forget the men. What male heads fit these caps 7-

' Catius is ever moral, ever grave. Holds who endures a knave is worse than knave

Save just at dinner, than prefers no doubt A rogue with venison to a saint without."

"See the same man in vigour in the gout, Alone, in company, in place or out. Early at business, or at hazard late, Mad at a Fox-chase, Wise at a debate ;

Drunk at a Borough, civil at a ; Friendly at Hackney, faithless at Whitehall."

"Who would not praise Patritio's high desert, His hand imstaired, his uncorrupted heart, His comprehensive head ! all interests weigh'cl. All Europe sav'd, yet Britain not betray'd. He thanks you not, his pride is in piequet, Newmarket fame, and judgment at a bet."

"Not always actions show the man we find Who does a kindness, is not therefore kind ; Perhaps prosperity becalrn'cl his breast ; Perhaps the wind, just shifted from the east: Not therefore humble he who seeks retreat,

Pride guides his steps, and bids lihn shun the great:

Who combats bravely, is not therefore brave, lie dreads a death-bed like the meanest slave ; Who reasons wisely is not therefore wise, His pride in reas'ning, not in acting lies."

"Ask men's opinions : Scoto now shall tell How trade increases, and the world goes well I Strike off his pension, by the setting sun, And Britain, if not Europe, is undone."

"That gay free-thinker, a fine talker once, What turns him now a stupid silent dunce Some god, or spirit he has lately found ; Or cheac'd to meet a minister that frown'd."