JONATHAN SWIFT, D. D. 175

The temper and manners of Swift were ill quali

fied to allay these prejudices. In assuming his new

offices, with perhaps too much an air of authority, he

soon provoked opposition from the Archbishop of

When Wharton reign ' d, a Whig he was ;

When Pembroke, that ' s dispute, sir;

In Oxford ' s time, what Oxford pleased,

Non-Con, or Jack, or Neuter.

This place he got by wit and rhyme,

And many ways most odd ;

And might a bishop be in time,

Did he believe in God.

For High-Church men and policy

He swears he prays most hearty ;

But would pray back again, to be

A Dean of any party.

Four lessons, Dean, all in one day !

Faith ! it is hard, that ' s certain :

' Twere better hear thy own Peter say,

G d d n thee, Jack and Martin.

Hard ! to be plagued with Bible, stilt.

And prayer-book before thee ;

Hadst thou not wit, to think, at will,

On some diverting story?

Look down, St Patrick, look, we pray,

On thine own church and steeple;

Convert thy Dean on this great day,

Or else, God help the people !

And now, whene ' er his Deanship dies,

Upon his tomb be ' graven ;

A man of God here buried lies,

Who never thought of Heaven.