Swift and Patronage

SwiftandPatronage DUSTINGRIFFIN Intheseventy-fiveyearsbetween1675and1750thesystemofpatronage ,inwhichwritersinEnglandweresustainedbywealthypeersand ultimatelybythecourt,yieldedtoasystembasedonthebooksellersand ultimatelyonthemarketplace.Butthepaceofthisgreatculturalchange wasbynomeanssteadyanduniform.Formsofpatronagemanagedto survivewellpast1750—Johnson,afterall,hadapension.Andwriters werevariouslyaffected,dependingontheirspecialcircumstances.Swift, asanordainedAnglican,withfriendsinbothchurchandstatetohelp him,wasinsidethepatronagesystem,andtosomeextentitsbeneficiary, inawaythathisCatholicfriendandyoungercontemporaryPopewas not.Asamanofsomepoliticalinfluence,Swiftwasalsoempoweredto actasapatronhimself,andtosmooththewayforyoungerwritersand churchmen.Muchgooditdidhim.TheironyisthatPope,theapparent outsider,infactfoundmoreaccesstopowerandwealththanSwift,who hadenoughaccesstomakehimhungryandenoughdisappointmentto makehimbitter. BiographershavemademuchofSwift'sambivalentrelationshiptothe worldofpower.Oneconstanttheme,traceabletoSwift'sownfavorite viewofhimself,isthat,asafriendofgreatmen,hepridedhimselfonhis equalstanding,hisindependence,andhisfreedomtospeakhismind. Anotherthemeishisrecurrentresentmentthathiswould-bepatrons— 197 198 / URIII1N fromSirWilliamTempletoRobertHarleyandtheQueenherself—failed tohelphimasmuchastheymight.Swiftnursedthatsenseofresentment evenasheestablished,inIreland,apositionofconsiderableauthority. AsEhrenpreishassummarized,his"rewardsweregreaterthanhisbitter- nesslethimadmit."1Tosomeextenthisresentfulsenseofinjuredmerit musthavebeenpsychologicallysustaining,butthecostsmayhavebeen high.JohnsonspeaksbothofSwift's"pleasureofcomplaining"andof "therageofneglectedpride,andthelanguishmentofunsatisfieddesire." Hisresentmentwasnotenablingbutultimatelydisabling:Swift,says Johnson,"wastedlifeindiscontent."2 Otherobservershavespottedadditionalironies.DavidNokeshas shownthatSwiftthoughtthecountryoweditspoetsaliving(thiswas theidealundertheoldpatronagesystem)andthatevenafterhebecame theHibernianPatriot,Swiftstillsoughtandwouldhaveaccepted patronageinEnglandinthelate1720s.3Anotherironyisthat,as Ehrenpreisshows,Swiftwasmoresuccessfulasapatronhimselfthan asaclient."Icanserveeverybodybutmyself,"Swiftcomplainedin 1712,attheheightofhisaccesstopower.4Butthesharpestandmost unkindironycomesfromJohnson,whoasaproudindependentwriter mighthavebeenexpectedtoapproveofSwift'smanlybearinginthe companyofgreatmen.WhatSwiftandhisadmirersregardedasinde- pendenceJohnsonlabelsservility:"Muchhasbeensaidoftheequality andindependencewhichhepreservedinhisconversationwiththeMin- isters,ofthefranknessofhisremonstrances,andthefamiliarityofhis friendship....Noman,however,canpayamoreserviletributetothe Greatthanbysufferinghislibertyintheirpresencetoaggrandizehim inhisownesteem"(3:21). Johnsoninvokestheprincipleofsubordination—"betweendifferent ranksofthecommunitythereisnecessarilysomedistance"—andsug- geststhatanyinferiorwhoprideshimselfonhisfamiliaritywithasupe- riorisfoolinghimself.Fortheinferiorispresenteitheronsufferanceor becauseheistemporarilyuseful.Swift,hesuspects,isguiltyof"thepride ofimportanceandthemaliceofinferiority"(3:22).5SwiftatHarley's tablewasnotdisplaying"magnanimity"or"greatnessofsoul."By encroachingonHarley'sdignity,SwiftinfactputhimselfinHarley's power,tobe"repelledwithhelplessindignity,orenduredbyclemency andcondescension"(3:61).OneofJohnson'srecurrentthemesisthe "power"ofSwiftaswriter.ButasHarley'sclient,Swift,asJohnsonsaw it,hadnomorepowerthandidGulliver,forallhisself-importance,at thecourtoftheKingofBrobdingnag. Thisisasevereandperhapsanunfairindictment.Butthereissome reasontobelievethatSwiftwouldhaverecognizedthepictureJohnson SwiftandPatronage/ 199 drew.InaseriesofpoemsSwifthimselfdrewpicturesofthepatron- clientrelationshiphehadknown,especiallywithHarley.Thepoems havebeenreadforevidenceofSwift'sfriendships,self-conceptions, resentments,andanxieties.WecanalsoseeinthemSwift'sambivalence aboutthesystemofpatronage,hisawarenessthattheclienthasaccess butnorealpower.Butthepoemsarenotjustconfessionsofweakness. Theyalsofunctionasstrategies(orfantasies)ofretaliation,inwhichthe clientfindsawaytoupstagethepatron. Swift'simitationoftheseventhepistleofHorace'sfirstbook,written in1713,justafterSwiftwasmadeDeanofSt.Patrick's,castsHarleyin theroleofMaecenas."MyLord"is"thenation'sgreatsupport"(1), whileSwiftisjustapoorpriest.Harleytakeshimupand,forajest, makeshimadean,promisingalifeof"plenty,power,andease"(92).The poemlaughsatSwift'simpressionablenaivete—Swiftthe"gudgeon" takesHarley'sbait(80)—and(inonecommonreading)conveysthrough itsrallyingtoneofhumorousgrumblingthe"intimacy"betweenclergy- manandLordTreasurer.6Iwouldarguethatthepoeminfactimplies somerealresentmentandreproachforHarley'scallous"jest"(aterm usedthreetimes—finallywithanedgeofbitterness).AnIrishdeanery wasnotwhatSwiftwanted,anditquicklyprovedcostlyandvexing. Insteadofrulingasa"tyrant"(90)overtwodozencanons,Swiftis obstructedandoppressedbytenants,farmers,andtithecollectors.His impotenceismockedbyhispatron'sowncommandingauthority.In contrasttothehobbleddean,Harleyneedbutspeak,andhis"summons" (73)isobeyed,byservantandbyclientalike. ButthepoemdoesnotleaveSwifthumiliated.Itcontrives,infact,to turnthetablesonthepatronbyre-assertingtheclient'sownpower.That powerconsistsinjustsayingno.ThepoembeginswithSwift'srefusalto acceptHarley'sinvitationtodinner,andconcludeswithhissymbolic resignation:"Andsinceyounowhavedoneyourworst,"hesaysto Harley,"Prayleavemewhereyoufoundmefirst"(137-38).Justas Swift,beforeHarleyfoundhim,had"intendedtoretire"fromthebusy politicalworld,sonowheclaimstocontrolhisownfate,andreturnsto hisoriginalplan.Althoughonlysymbolic,theresignationservesasa meansofdischarginganyobligationorrepudiatingadebt(thanksfor nothing!).Swift'sstrategy,ineffect,istodenythatapatron-clientrelationshipexists .Orrather,therelationshipisdisplaced:Harleyisthe "patron"(1.23)ofErasmusLewis,anUndersecretaryofState,treatedin thepoemasHarley's"errand"-boy(1.24).Swifthimselfisnottobe consideredanordinaryparson,eagerforpreferment.Heis"aclergyman ofspecialnote,"andshunshisfellowclerics.Hedidn'tapproachHarley; Harleyapproachedhim.ThemoneyinSwift'spocketisnotagiftbuta 200 / GRIFFIN loan.7ThepoemservesasameansforSwifttoasserthisown importance—Swiftclaimstogowherehepleasesandsaywhathe thinks—butatthesametimerevealsthathesharesJohnson'ssenseofthe client'shumblestation.AtHarley'stableSwift"soongrowsdomestic" (77).ThetermsuggestsboththatSwiftisoneofthefamily,andthathe hasbecomeamerehouseholdchaplain,ordomesticservant. "TheAuthorUponHimself"(1714)isanotherresponsetothecollapse ofSwift'spoliticalambitions.Againhisstrategyistodenyhisclient statusandtorepresenttheremovaltoIrelandasakindofretirement.As intheimitationofHorace,Swiftavoidspresentinghimselfasaclergy- manseekingpreferment.Moreamanofwitthanaparson("Norshowed theparsoninhisgaitorface"—line14),Swiftdisplayedthekindof gracethatgothiminvitedto"thetablesofthegreat"(16).Writingfor Harleywasnothisidea.Heisadvisedtodosobyhisfriends,and submitstotheir"betterjudgements"(25).Hisallegianceisnottoperson orpartybuttoprinciple.Hewantstodowhat"friendship,justice,truth require"(73)andfeelstheobligation—fostered(asSwiftknew,though hedoesnotsay)byscripturalparable—toemployhis"talents"for "noblerends"(24).Hegoestocourtnottofindapatron,butbecausehe hasbeen"invited"(28)byHarley.Oncetherehegainsaccessandinflu- ence.Swift'stonecombinesprideandself-mockery—heisproudthathe meetsprivatelywithHarleyandSt.John,andlaughsattherumorsthatexaggeratehisimportance.Swift'sindirectnessmakesitdifficultto decidehowmuchpowerheactuallylaysclaimto.ItissaidthatSwift "oilsmanyaspringwhichHarleymoves"(40).AsRogersnotes,the syntaxmakesitunclearwhetherHarleymovesthespringoiledbySwift, orwhetherSwiftoilsthespringwhichthenmovesHarley.8IsSwift merelyanunderstrapperoramanipulatorofhismaster?Hegainssuch influenceastobecomehimselfapatron,"caressedbycandidatedivines" (64)andsolicitedbytheentire"Scottishnation"thathemight"betheir friend"(69-70). Butallcomestonought.Enemiesmaneuverandfactiondivideshis "greatcontendingfriends"(72).SwiftisreluctanttoblameHarleyand St.John,andconveysnosensethathehimselfwassimplyusedbythe ministers.Hisownimportanceissuggestedbythemagnitudeofthe forcesallegedlymobilizedtodefeathim.The"oldred-patemurdering hag,"the"crazyprelate,"andthe"royalprude"(1-2)arelarger-than- lifevillains,suitableforwaylayingaheroicknight.Thehagswears "vengeance"(53)onhimandbecomesamonster,hermouthfillingwith venomdistilledfromherredlocks,andtheninstilledintothe"royal ear"(56).Althoughaproclamationspread"throughtherealm"(59) putsapriceonhishead,he"scornsignobleflight"(61)anddetermines SwiftandPatronage/201 tomakeastand.Atthispoint,however,Swiftundercutshisheroic pose.Heescapesnotbyresistingbutbecause"hiswatchfulfriends preservehimbyasleight"(62)-thatis,bycoveringupSwift'sauthor- shipofalibelouspamphlet—andhesubsequentlyendurestrialsmore embarrassingthanchivalric,whentheTreasureroftheQueen'sHouse- hold"InSwift'searthrustshalfhispowderednose"(68).WhenSwift hasdonewhathecan,andwhat"friendship,justice,truthrequire" (73),hefinallyabandonsthecampaign:"Whatcouldhemore,but decentlyretire?"(74). Thequestionisneatlyself-enhancing.ItmakesthepointthatSwift's departurefromcourtwasvoluntary.Heleavesnotasadisappointed suitorbutasaveterandiplomat(likehisoldpatronTemple)whodecides to"retire"—perhapstoalifeofruralleisureandcontemplation.Swift doesnotsaythathewasholedupinBerkshire,orthat—afulltwelve monthsbeforethepoemwaswritten—hehadalreadybeeninductedas DeanofSt.Patrick's.Indeed,thepretenseisthatthepoemiswrittenin 1713—thedateassignedtothepoeminitsfirstappearanceinprintinthe 1735Works—whenSwiftwasstillapartofthecourt,andnotin1714, whenhisIrishfatewassealed. The"LibelontheReverendDr.Delany"(1730)iscouchedintheform ofcynicaladvicefromaveteranofthepoliticalwars.Occasionedbyan epistlefromDelany,Swift'sfellowchurchmaninDublin,toLordCar- teret,LordLieutenant,the"Libel"isawayforSwifttolaughatDelany's deludeddreamsofpatronage,dreamsthatSwifthimselfonceshared. ButintheendtherealjokeisnotontheclientDelany,butonhiswould- bepatron,Carteret,andultimatelyonhismasters,Walpoleandtheking himself. Swiftbeginswithapictureoftheaspiringclients,welcomedbythe greatascompanionsfortheirtable,andboastingoftheiraccessandtheir intimacywithmeninpower.ItisSwiftatHarley'stablealloveragain. ThistimeSwiftmakesitpainfullyclearthattheintimacyisinfactone- sided:itisthegreatwho"choose"theircompanions(2),andwho"give leave"toletaclient"sitwhene'eryouwill"(4).Iftheclientpresumeson thefamiliaritytoraiseamatterofbusiness,he"quitemistake[s]prefer- ment'sroad"(12).EvenJohnson'startdescriptionoftheself-important SwiftinHarley'scompanypalesbesideSwift'sownwords,fullofself- loathing,abouttherealrelationshipbetweenpatronandclient: For,astheirappetitestoquench, Lordskeepapimptobringawench; So,menofwitarebutakind Ofpandarstoaviciousmind; Whoproperobjectsmustprovide 202 / GRIFFIN Togratifytheirlustofpride. (21-26) Swiftprovidesaseriesofexamplesofclientswhoeithercynically compliedwiththelustsofgreatmen(CongreveandAddison)orwith- drewandstarved(SteeleandGay).Henotablyomitshisowncase,and passesinsteadtoPope,whobecomestheheroofthepoem:"Hisheart toogreat,thoughfortunelittle,/Tolickarascalstatesman'sspittle" (81-82).Popecanaffordtodespiseslaves"thatcringeforbread"(88) becausehewas"placed,"withHomer'shelp,"abovethereachofwant." (Interestingly,SwiftobscuresthefinancialdimensionofPope'sHomer project.9Thoughheresentedthedependenceonpatrons,Swiftdidnot admirewriterswhowroteforbread,andrarelyacceptedmoneyforhis ownpublications.)10 TurningtoDelany'ssituation,Swiftsuspectsthathisfriendwillriseno higherthandomesticchaplain,fitforflattering,carvingattable,and showinghiswit.ButtherealforceofSwift'ssatireisturnedonCarteret, whowould,"ifhedurst,bemoreyourfriend"(114,emphasisadded). TheViceroy,thoughhedispensesIrishpatronage,ishimselfnotafree agent.HeservesatthepleasureofthePrimeMinister,andmustsubmit "ToWalpole'smorethanroyalwill"(122).Byanironicreversal,the patronturnsouttobebutadependentonastillgreaterman.Poor Carteret"mustobey,orlosehisplace"(160).Clientsthen,fromthe deludedDelanytotheunillusionedSwift,maytakesomecomfortinthe discomfortsofdependencethatplaguetheirbetters.Swifthimself emergesasthesecondheroofthepoem,ableto"lookoncourtswith strictereyes"(175)and(inastancethatPopewastofindcongenialinhis ownlatesatires)tobasehisjudgmenton...