ut by the
noblemen who visited him at Croyden, and who now introduced him to the
acquaintance of Mr. Dryden. But amongst the Men of quality he was most
affectionately caressed by William Earl of Kingston, who made him an
offer of becoming his chaplain; but he declined an employment, to
which servility and dependence are so necessarily connected. The
writer of his life observes, that our author in his satire addressed
to a friend, who was about to quit the university, and came abroad
into the world, lets his friend know, that he was frighted from the
thought of such an employment, by the scandalous sort of treatment
which often accompanies it. This usage deters men of generous minds
from placing themselves in such a station of life; and hence persons
of quality are frequently excluded from the improving, agreeable
conversation of a learned and obsequious friend. In this satire Mr.
Oldham writes thus,

Some think themselves exalted to the sky,
If they light on some noble family.
Diet and horse, and thirty-pounds a year,
Besides the advantage of his lordship's ear.
The credit of the business and the state,
Are things that in a youngster's sense found great.
Little the unexperienced wretch does know,
What slavery he oft must undergo;
Who tho' in silken stuff, and cassoc drest,
Wears but a gayer livery at best.
When diner calls, the implement must wait,
With holy words to consecrate the meat;
But hold it for a favour seldom known,
If he be deign'd the honour to sit down.
Soon as the tarts appear, Sir Crape withdraw,
Those dainties are not for a spiritual maw.
Observe your distance, and be sure to stand
Hard by the cistern, with your cap in hand:
There for diversion you may pick your teeth,
Till the kind voider comes for your relief,
For meer board wages, such their freedom sell,
Slaves to an hour, and vassals to a bell:
And if th' employments of one day be stole,
They are but prisoners out upon parole:
Always the marks of slavery remain,
And they tho' loose, still drag about their chain.
And where's the mighty prospect after all,
A chaplainship serv'd up, and seven years thrall?
The menial thing, perhaps for a reward,
Is to some slender benefice prefer'd,
With this proviso bound that he must wed, }
My lady's antiquated waiting maid, }
In dressing only skill'd, and marmalade. }
Let others who such meannesses can brook,
Strik