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The Review of English Studies 2004 55(222):709-717; doi:10.1093/res/55.222.709
© 2004 by Oxford University Press
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Sir Balaam and an Ass: Pope, Atterbury, and Coningsby

Pat Rogers

University of South Florida, Tampa

Alexander Pope's Epistle to Bathurst (1733) concludes with the exemplary tale of Sir Balaam. The knight's crooked career ends in disgrace: ‘The house impeach him; Coningsby harangues.’ An examination of the life-history of the Whig politician Thomas Coningsby, first earl (c.1656–1729), adds richness to the allusion and helps to reveal Pope's aims in the poem. Coningsby was himself notoriously corrupt, and he had been impeached for his conduct as Paymaster-General in Ireland. Much of his time had been spent in ‘harangues’ against Catholics and Tories, and he had led the attempt to impeach Pope's patron Robert Harley, first earl of Oxford. He had also been ranged more than once against another friend of the poet, Francis Atterbury, who was arraigned before the House of Lords. There is a hidden joke in the allusion, as once in the Lords Atterbury had famously turned a reference by Coningsby to Balaam's ass against his adversary. Detailed contextualization of this episode also throws new light on the possible real-life models of Sir Balaam.


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