IMITATIONS

OF

HORACE.

VOL.VI.

в

EPISTO L A VII.

me

UINQUE dies tibi pollicitus me rure fu

turum, Sextilem totum mendax desideror. atqui, Si me vivere vis fanum recteque valentem; Quam mihi das acgro, dabis aegrotare timenti, Maecenas, veniam: dum ficus prima calorque Designatorem decorat liétoribus atris: Dum pueris omnis pater, ct matercula pallet ; Officiofaque sedulitas, et opella foreniis Adducit febris, et testamenta refignat. Quod si bruma nives Albanis illinet agris; Ad mare descendet vates tuus, et libi parcet, Contractusque leget; te, dulcis amice, reviset Cum Zephyris, fi concedes, et hirundine prima.

E P I S

T L

E

VII.

Imitated in the Manner of Dr. Swift.

IT IS true, my Lord, I gave my word,

1 I would be with you, June the third ; Chang'd it to August, and (in Thort) Have kept it---as you do at Court. You humour me when I am sick, Why not when I am fplenetick? In town, what Objects could I meet? The shops shut up in ev'ry street, And Fun’rals black’ning all the Doors, And yet more melancholy Whores: And what a dust in every place? And a thin Court that wants your Face, And Fevers raging up and down, And W* and H** both in town!

“ The Dog days are no more the case.” 15 'Tis true, but Winter comes apace: Then southward let your bard retire, Hold out some months 'twixt Sun and Fire, And you shall see the first warm Weather, Me and the Butterflies together.

20

Non, quo more pyris vesci Calaber jubet hofpes, Tu me fecisti locupletem. Vescere sodes. Jam fatis eft. At tu quantumvis tolle. Benigne. Non invisa feres pueris munuscula parvis. Tam teneor dono, quam fi dimittar onustus. Ut libet: haec porcis hodie comedenda relinques. Prodigus et stultus donat quae fpernit et odit : Haec feges ingratos tulit et feret omnibus annis. Vir bonus et fapiens, dignis ait efle paratus ? Nec tamen ignorat, quid diftent aera lupinis? Dignum praestabo me, etiam pro laude merentis. Quod fi me noles ufquam difcedere; reddes Forte latus, nigros angusta fronte capillos:

S

30

Our

My Lord, your Favours well I know;
'Tis with Distinction you bestow;
And not to ev'ry one that comes,
Just as a Scotsman does his Plumbs.
“ Pray take them, Sir,---Enough's a Feast: 25
“ Eat some, and pocket up the rest---
What rob your Boys? those pretty rogues !
“ No, Sir, you'll leave them to the Hogs.
Thus Fools with Compliments besiege ye,
Contriving never to oblige ye.
Scatter your Favours on a Fop,
Ingratitude’s the certain crop;
And 'tis but just, I'll tell ye wherefore,
You give the things you never care for.
A wise man always is or shou'd
Be mighty ready to do good;
But makes a diff'rence in his thought
Betwixt a Guinea and a Groat.

Now this I'll say, you'll find in me
A safe Companion, and a free;
But if you'd have me always near---
A word, pray, in your Honour's ear.
I hope it is your Resolution
To give me back my Constitution!

35