The Godhead would have back'd his quarrel, But with a blush on recollection Own'd, that his quiver and his laurel The Court was fat, the Culprit there, And from the gallery ftand peeping: Such as in filence of the night Come (fweep) along fome winding entry (*Styack has often feen the fight) Or at the chapel-door ftand fentry; In peaked hoods and mantles tarnish'd, Sour vifages, enough to scare * The House-keeper. ye, High Dames of honour once, that garnish'd The Peerefs comes. The Audience ftare, She curtfies, as fhe takes her chair, The Bard with many an artful fib, Had in imagination fenc'd him, Difprov'd the arguments of Squib *, And all that Groom could urge against him. But foon his rhetoric forfook him, He stood as mute as poor Macleane *Groom of the Chambers. + The Steward, A famous Highwayman hang'd the week before. F Yet Yet fomething he was heard to mutter, 6 How in the Park beneath an old-tree ⚫ (Without defign to hurt the butter, Or any malice to the poultry,) He once or twice had penn'd a fonnet; Yet hop'd that he might fave his bacon: • Numbers would give their oaths upon it, He ne'er was for a conj'rer taken.' The ghoftly prudes with hagged face My Lady rofe, and with a grace She fmil'd, and bid him come to dinner. " Jefu-Maria! Madam Bridget, Why what can the Viscountess mean?' (Cried the fquare Hoods in woeful fidget) The times are alter'd quite and clean! • Decorum's turn'd to mere civility; Her air and all her manners fhew it. • Commend me to her affability! Speak to a Commoner and Poet!" [Here 500 Stanzas are loft.] And fo God fave our noble King, And guard us from long-winded Lubbers, That to eternity would fing, And keep my Lady from her Rubbers. |