One's credit, however, of courfe will grow better; Here enters the footman, and brings me a letter. "Dear Sir! I receiv'd your obliging epistle, Your fame is fecure-bid the critics go whistle. I read over with wonder the poem you fent me; And I must speak your praises, no foul fhall prevent me. The audience, believe me, cry'd out ev'ry line Was strong, was affecting, was juft, was divine; All pregnant, as gold is, with worth, weight, and beauty, And to hide fuch a genius was-far from your duty. I foresee that the court will be hugely delighted: Sir RICHARD, for much a lefs genius, was knighted. Adieu, my good friend, and for high life prepare ye; I cou'd fay much more, but you're modeft, I fpare ye.' Quite fir'd with the flatt'ry, I call for my paper, And waste that, and health, and my time, and my taper: I fcribble 'till morn, when with wrath no small store, Comes my old friend the mercer, and raps at my door. "Ah! friend, 'tis but idle to make fuch a pother, Fate, fate has ordain'd us, to plague one another."
Written at an Inn at HENLEY.
O thee, fair freedom! I retire
From flattery, cards, and dice, and din;
Nor art thou found in manfions higher
Than the low cott, or humble inn.
'Tis here with boundless pow'r I reign; And ev'ry health which I begin, Converts dull port to bright champaigne ; Such freedom crowns it, at an inn.
I fly from pomp, I fly from plate ! I fly from falfehood's specious grin ! Freedom I love, and form I hate,
And chufe my lodgings at an inn.
Here, waiter! take my fordid ore,
Which lacqueys else might hope to win It buys, what courts have not in ftore; It buys me freedom, at an inn.
Whoe'er has travell❜d life's dull round, Where'er his ftages may have been, May figh to think he still has found The warmest welcome, at an inn.
HAT village but has fometime seen The clumsy shape, the frightful mien, Tremendous claws, and fhagged hair, Of that grim brute yclip'd a bear? He from his dam, the learn'd agree, Receiv'd the curious form you fee; Who with her plastic tongue alone, Produc'd a visage-like her own.- And thus they hint, in mystic fashion, The pow'rful force of education *—' Perhaps yon crowd of fwains is viewing E'en now, the strange exploits of Bruin; Who plays his antics, roars aloud; The wonder of a gaping crowd!
So have I known an aukward lad, Whose birth has made a parish glad, Forbid, for fear of sense, to roam, And taught by kind mamma at home; Who gives him many a well-try'd rule, With ways and means-to play the fool. In fenfe the fame, in ftature higher, He shines, ere long, a rural squire, Pours forth unwitty jokes, and fwears, And bawls, and drinks, but chiefly stares
* Of a fond matron's education.
His tenants of fuperior fenfe Carouze, and laugh, at his expence; And deem the paftime I'm relating, To be as pleasant, as bear-baiting.
The CHARMS of PRECEDENCE,
IR, will you please to walk before ?” -- No, pray Sir--you are next the door.-"Upon mine honour, I'll not ftir-" Sir, I'm at home, confider, SirExcuse me, Sir, I'll not go first”— Well, if I must be rude, I mustBut yet I wish I cou'd evade it'Tis ftrangely clownish, be perfuadedGo forward, cits! go forward fquires! Nor fcruple each, what each admires. Life fquares not, friends, with your proceeding; It flies, while you difplay your breeding; Such breeding as one's granam preaches, Or fome old dancing-master teaches, O for fome rude tumultuous fellow, Half crazy, or, at least, half-mellow, To come behind you unawares, And fairly push you both down ftairs! But death's at hand-let me advise ye, Go forward, friends! or he'll furprise ye. Befides,
Befides, how infincere you are! Do ye not flatter, lye, forfwear, And daily cheat, and weekly pray, And all for this-to lead the way?
Such is my theme, which means to prove, That, tho' we drink, or game, or love, As that or this is moft in fashion, Precedence is our ruling paffion. When college-ftudents take degrees, And pay the beadle's endless fees, What moves that scientific body, But the first cutting at a gawdy?
And whence fuch fhoals, in bare conditions, That ftarve and languish as physicians, Content to trudge the streets, and stare at The fat apothecary's chariot?
But that, in CHARLOT's chamber (fee MOLIERE'S Medecin malgre lui)
The leach, howe'er his fortunes vary, Still walks before the apothecary.
FLAVIA in vain has wit and charms, And all that fhines, and all that warms; In vain all human race adore her, For-lady MARY ranks before her.
O CELIA, gentle CELIA ! tell us, You who are neither vain, nor jealous! The fofteft breast, the mildest mien! Wou'd you not feel fome little spleen, Q4
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