stretch out his hand to take it. King soon found a friend, as idle
and thoughtless as himself, in Upton, one of the judges, who had a
pleasant house called Mountown, near Dublin, to which King
frequently retired; delighting to neglect his interest, forget his
cares, and desert his duty.

Here he wrote "Mully of Mountown," a poem; by which, though fanciful
readers in the pride of sagacity have given it a poetical
interpretation, was meant originally no more than it expressed, as
it was dictated only by the author's delight in the quiet of
Mountown.

In 1708, when Lord Wharton was sent to govern Ireland, King returned
to London, with his poverty, his idleness, and his wit; and
published some essays, called "Useful Transactions." His "Voyage to
the Island of Cajamai" is particularly commended. He then wrote the
"Art of Love," a poem remarkable, notwithstanding its title, for
purity of sentiment; and in 1709 imitated Horace in an "Art of
Cookery," which he published with some letters to Dr. Lister.

In 1710 he appeared as a lover of the Church, on the side of
Sacheverell; and was supposed to have concurred at least in the
projection of the Examiner. His eyes were open to all the
operations of Whiggism; and he bestowed some strictures upon Dr.
Kennet's adulatory sermon at the funeral of the Duke of Devonshire.

"The History of the Heathen Gods," a book composed for schools, was
written by him in 1711. The work is useful, but might have been
produced without the powers of King. The same year he published
"Rufinus," an historical essay; and a poem intended to dispose the