An Accession of Dignity even to be envied,
This Shadow was presented,
And the Original honoured,
A. D. MDCCXXII,
By the Right Honourable
Edward Earl of Oxford and Mortimer.
IONATHAN SWIFT,
DECAN. S. PATRIC. DVBL.
EFFIGIEM VIRI MVSIS AMICISSIMI,
INGENIO PRORSVS SIBI PROPRIO CELEBERRIMI,
VT IPSVM SVIS OXONIENSIBVS ALIQVATENVS
REDONARET,
PARIETEM HABERE VOLVIT BODLEIANVM,
A. D. MDCCXXXIX,
IOHANNES BARBER, ARMIGER,
ALDERMANNVS,
NEC ITA PRIDEM PRAETOR LONDINENSIS.
In English:
JONATHAN SWIFT,
DEAN OF ST. PATRICK'S DUBLIN.
This portrait of the Muses' friend,
Of a happy turn of wit, peculiar to himself,
That he might, in some sort be restored to his Oxford Friends,
Was placed in the wall of the Bodleian gallery,
A. D. MDCCXXXIX,
At the desire of John Barber, Esquire,
Alderman, and some time Lord Mayor of London.
