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The RAPE of the TRAP.

T

A BALLAD, 1737.

WAS in a land of learning,
The mufes fav'rite city,

uch 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 less 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 breakfaft, half the morning,

He constantly attended;

And when the bell rung

For ev❜ning-fong,

His dinner fcarce was ended!

He

He fpar'd not ev'n heroics,
On which we poets pride us;
And wou'd make no more

Of king ARTHUR'S, by the score
Than-all the world befide does.

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 scholar or rat,

Minds books, when he has other diet.

By BLACKMORE,

But

But more of trap and bait, Sir,
Why fhou'd I fing, or either?
Since the rat, who knew the fleight,
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 feem,

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 reafon,

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 topfy-turvy,

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

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* Written at the time of the Spanish depredations.

Let

Let fophs, by rats infested,

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 betidę our cats, Sir;
And grant that the one

May quell the Spanish Don,

And the t'other deftroy our rats, Sir.

On certain PASTORALS.

O rude and tunelefs are thy lays,

So rude and tunelets are

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 measur'd out enough.

Το

* KIDDERMINSTER, famous for a coarfe woollen manufacture.

[ 211 ]

To the VIRTUOSOS.

AIL curious wights! to whom so fair

H The form of mortal flies is!

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

Whether o'er hill, morafs 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 glitt'ring stranger;
Still ey'd the purple's pleafing ftain,
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 VIRCIL.

And,

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