Our Friend Dan Prior, told (you know)
A Tale extremely à propos:
Name a Town Life, and in a trice,
He had a Story of two Mice.
Once on a time (fo runs the Fable) A Country Mouse, right hofpitable, Receiv'd a Town Mouse at his Board, Juft as a Farmer might a Lord. A frugal Mouse upon the whole,
Yet lov'd his Friend, and had a Soul,
Knew what was handsome, and would do't, On juft occafion, coute qui coute.
He brought himn Bacon (nothing lean)
Pudding, that might have pleas'd a Dean; Cheese, fuch as men in Suffolk make, But wish'd it Stilton for his fake; Yet, to his Gueft tho' no way fparing, He eat himself the rind and paring. Our Courtier scarce could touch a bit, But show'd his Breeding and his Wit; He did his best to feem to eat,
"I vow you're mighty neat.
"But Lord, my Friend, this favage Scene! "For God's fake, come and live with Men:
"Confider, Mice, like Men, must die,
"Both fmall and great, both you and I:
"Then spend your life in Joy and Sport,
(This doctrine, Friend, I learnt at Court.)
Vin' tu homines urbemque feris praeponere fylvis? Carpe viam (mihi crede) comes: terreftria quando Mortales animas vivunt fortita, neque ulla eft,
Aut magno aut parvo, leti fuga. quo, bone, circa, Dum licet, in rebus jucundis vive beatus : Vive memor quam fis aevi brevis. Haec ubi dicta Agreftem pepulere, domo levis exfilit : inde Ambo propofitum peragunt iter, urbis aventes Moenia nocturni fubrepere. jamque tenebat Nox medium coeli fpatium, cum ponit uterque In locuplete domo vestigia: rubro ubi cocco Tincta fuper lectos canderet veftis eburnos ; Multaque de magna fupereffent fercula coena, Quae procul exftructis inerant hefterna caniftris. Ergo ubi purpurea porrectum in vefte locavit Agreftem; veluti fuccinctus curfitat hofpes, Continuatque dapes : nec non verniliter ipfis Fungitur officiis, praelibans omne quod affert.
The verieft Hermit in the Nation
May yield, God knows, to ftrong temptation.
Away they come, thro' thick and thin,
To a tall house near Lincoln's-Inn; ('Twas on the night of a Debate, When all their Lordships had fate late.) Behold the place, where if a Poet Shin'd in Defcription, he might show it; Tell how the Moon-beam trembling falls, And tips with Silver all the walls; Palladian walls, Venetian doors, Grotefco roofs, and Stucco floors: But let it (in a word) be faid, The Moon was up, and Men a bed,
The Napkins white, the Carpet red:
The Guests withdrawn had left the Treat,
And down the Mice fate, téte à tête.
Our Courtier walks from difh to dish, Taftes for his Friend of Fowl and Fish;
Tells all their names, lays down the law,
Que ça eft bon? Ah goutez ça !
"That Jelly's rich, this Malmsey healing, Pray, dip your Whiskers and your Tail in." Was ever such a happy Swain ?
He ftuffs and fwills, and ftuffs again. "I'm quite asham'd-'tis mighty rude "To eat fo much-but all's fo good, VOL. VI.
Ille cubans gaudet mutata forte, bonifque Rebus agit laetum convivam: cum fubito ingens Valvarum ftrepitus lectis excuffit utrumque. Currere per totum pavidi conclave; magifque Exanimes trepidare, fimul domus alta Moloffis Perfonuit canibus. tum rufticus, Haud mihi vita Eft opus hac, ait, et valeas: me fylva, cavusque Tutus ab infidiis tenui folabitur ervą.
"I have a thousand thanks to give- "My Lord alone knows how to live." No fooner faid, but from the Hall Rush Chaplain, Butler, Dogs and all : "A Rat, a Rat! clap to the door- The Cat comes bouncing on the floor. O for the heart of Homer's Mice, Or Gods to fave them in a trice! (It was by Providence they think,
damn'd Stucco has no chink.)
"An't please your Honour, quoth the Peasant, "This fame Deffert is not so pleasant :
"Give me again my hollow Tree, "A Cruft of Bread, and Liberty!
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