POETICAL WORKS

OF

DR. WILLIAM KING.

IN TWO VOLUMES.

WITH THE LIFE OF THE AUTHOR.

I fing the various chances of the world,

Thro' which men are by Fate or Fortune hurl'd.
'Tis by no fcheme or method that I go,

But paint in verfe my notions as they flow;
With heat the wanton images purfuc,
Fond of the old, yet ftill creating new;
Fancy myself in fome fecure retreat,
Refolve to be content, and fo be great.

VOL. II.

EDINBURG:

Ar rue Apollo Puis, BY THE MARTINS.
Anno 1781.

KING.

Read here in fofteft founds the sweetest fatire;
A pen dipt deep in gall, a heart good nature.
An English Ovid, from his birth he feems
Infpir'd alike with ftrong poetick dreams:
The Roman rants of heroes, gods, and Jove;
The Briton purely paints The Art of Love.

ANONYM.

EDINBURG:
AT THE Apollo Pufs, BY THE MARTINS.
Anno 1781.

PREFACE.

pu

THE.Author of the following Poem may be thought to write for fame and the applause of the Town, but he wholly disowns it, for he writes only for the blick good, the benefit of his country, and the manu facture of England.. It is well known that grave senators have often at the Palace yard refreshed them felves with barley broth in a morning, which has had a very folid influence on their counfels; it is therefore hoped that other perfons may use it with the like fuccefs. No man can be ignorant how of late years cof fee and tea in a morning has prevailed; nay, cold wa¬ ters have obtained their commendation; andwells are fprung up from Acton tó Islington, and cross the water to Lambeth. These liquors have feveral eminent champions of all profeffions; but there have not been wanting perfons in all ages that have fhewn a true love for their country and the proper diet of it, as way tergruel, milkporridge, ricemilk, and especially Frumenty, both with plums and without. To this end feveral worthy perfons have encouraged the eating fuch wholesome diet in a morning; and that the poor may be provided, they have defired several matronsto

* Written to please a gentleman who thought nothing smooth or lofty could be written upon a mean subject, but had no intent of making any reflection upon The Difpenfary, which has defervedly gained a lasting reputation. King.