But more of trap and bait, Sir,
Why fhou'd I fing, or either?
Since the rat, who knew the sleight,
Came in the dead of night,

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 féem,

Had then-a dozen or more in.

Then answer this, ye fages!

Nor deem I mean to wrong ye, Had the rat which thus did feize on The trap, lefs claim to reason,

Than many a fcull among ye?

DAN PRIOR'S mice, I own it,
Were vermin of condition;
But this rat who merely learn'd
What rats alone concern'd,
Was the greater politician.

That England's topsy-turvy,

Is clear from these mishaps, Sir; Since traps, we may determine, Will no longer take our vermin, But vermin* take our traps, Sir.

* Written at the time of the Spanish depredations.

Let

Let fophs, by rats infefted,

Then truft in cats to catch 'em;
Left they grow as learn'd as we,
In our ftudies; where, d'ye fee,
No mortal fits to watch 'em.

Good luck betide our captains;
Good luck betide our cats, Sir;
And grant that the one

May quell the Spanish Don,

And the t'other deftroy our rats, Sir.

On certain PASTORALS.

S

O rude and tunelefs are thy lays,

The weary audience vow,

'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 meafur'd out enough.

Το

* KIDDERMINSTER, famous for a coarfe woollen manufacture,

To the VIRTUOSO S.

H

AIL curious wights! to whom so fair
The form of mortal flies is!

Who deem thofe grubs beyond compare,
Which common fenfe defpifes.

Whether o'er hill, morass or mound,
You make your sportsman fallies;
Or that your prey in gardens found
Is urg'd thro' walks and allies,

Yet, in the fury of the chace,

No flope cou'd e'er retard you;
Bleft if one fly repay the race,
Or painted wing reward

you.

Fierce as CAMILLA* o'er the plain
Purfu'd the glittʼring stranger;
Still ey'd the purple's pleasing stain,
And knew not fear nor danger.

'Tis you dispense the fav'rite meat
To nature's filmy people;

Know what conferves they chufe to eat,
And what liqueurs, to tipple.

P 2

* See VIRGIL.

And

And, if her brood of infects dies,
You fage affiftance lend her;
Can stoop to pimp for am'rous flies,
And help 'em to engender.

'Tis you protect their pregnant hour;
And when the birth's at hand,
Exerting your obstetric pow'r
Prevent a mothless land.

Yet oh! howe'er your tow'ring view
Above grofs objects rises,
Whate'er refinements you pursue,

Hear, what a friend advises:

A friend, who, weigh'd with yours, must prize
DOMITIAN'S idle paffion;

That wrought the death of teazing flies,
But ne'er their propagation.

Let FLAVIA's eyes more deeply warm,
Nor thus your hearts determine,
To flight dame nature's faireft form
And figh for nature's vermin.

And speak with some respect of beaux,
Nor more as triflers treat 'em :
'Tis better learn to fave one's cloaths,

Than cherish moths, that eat 'em.

The

The EXTENT of COOKERY.

WH

Aliufque et idem.

Hen Toм to CAMBRIDGE firft was fent,
A
A plain brown bob he wore;

Read much, and look'd as tho' he meant

To be a fop no more.

See him to LINCOLN'S-INN repair,

His refolution flag;

He cherishes a length of hair,

And tucks it in a bag.

Nor COKE nor SALKELD he regards,

But gets into the house,

And foon a judge's rank rewards
His pliant votes and bows.

Adieu ye bobs! ye bags give place!
Full-bottoms come instead!

Good L-d! to fee the various ways

Of dreffing—a calve's-head !