Lines on Swift’s Ancestors

Swift set up a plain monument to his grandfather, and also presented a cup to the church of Goodrich, or Gotheridge (in Herefordshire). He sent a pencilled elevation of the monument (a simple tablet) to Mrs. Howard, who returned it with the following lines, inscribed on the drawing by Pope. The paper is endorsed, in Swift’s hand: ‘Model of a monument for my grandfather, with Pope’s roguery.’ (Scott’s Life of Swift.)

JONATHAN SWIFT

Had the gift,

By fatherige, motherige,

And by brotherige

To come from Gotherige,

But now is spoil’d clean,

And an Irish dean;

In this church he has put

A stone of two foot,

With a cup and a can, sir,

In respect to his grandsire;

So, Ireland, change thy tone,

And cry, O hone! O hone!

For England hath its own.

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