The RAPE of the TRAP. "T A BALLAD, 1737. WAS in a land of learning, Such pranks of late Were play'd by a rat, As-tempt one to be witty. All in a college-study, Where books were in great plenty; This rat wou'd devour More fenfe in an hour, Than I cou'd write-in twenty. Corporeal food, 'tis granted, Serves vermin lefs refin'd, Sir; But this, a rat of taste, All other rats furpass'd; And he prey'd on the food of the mind, Sir; His breakfast, half the morning, He conftantly attended; And when the bell rung For ev❜ning-fong, His dinner fcarce was ended! Such He spar'd not ev❜n heroics, Of king ARTHUR'S, by the score In books of geo-graphy, He made the maps to flutter: A river or a fea Was to him a dish of tea; And a kingdom, bread and butter. But if fome mawkish potion Might chance to over-dofe him, To check its rage, He took a page Of logick-to compofe him A trap, in hafte and anger, Was bought, you need not doubt on't; And, fuch was the gin, Were a lion once got in, He cou'd not, I think, get out on't. With cheese, not books, 'twas baited, The fact I'll not belye it→→ Since none-I tell you that Whether fcholar or rat, Minds books, when he has other diet. By BLACKMORE. But But more of trap and bait, Sir, And dragg'd 'em away together: Both trap and bait were vanish'd, Thro' a fracture in the flooring; Which, tho' fo trim, It now may feem, Had then a dozen or more in. Then answer this, ye fages! Nor deem I mean to wrong ye, DAN PRIOR'S mice, I own it, That England's topsy-turvy, Is clear from these mishaps, Sir; Since traps, we may determine, * Written at the time of the Spanish depredations. Let Let fophs, by rats infested, . Good luck betide our captains; May quell the Spanish Don, And the t'other deftroy our rats, Sir. On certain PASTORALS. O rude and tunelefs are thy lays, S The 'Tis not th' Arcadian fwain that fings, But 'tis his herds that low. On Mr. C of KIDDERMINSTER'S Poetry. Why 'faith, dear friend, 'tis KIDDERMINSTER* stuff, And I do think you've measur'd out enough. To * KIDDERMINSTER, famous for a coarfe woollen manufacture. To the VIRTUOSOS. AIL curious wights! to whom so fair H The Who deem those grubs beyond compare, Whether o'er hill, morafs or mound, Yet, in the fury of the chace, Bleft if one fly repay the race, Fierce as CAMILLA* o'er the plain 'Tis you dispense the fav'rite meat To nature's filmy people; Know what conferves they chufe to eat, And what liqueurs, to tipple. See VIRCIL. P 2 And, |