A strumpet's character's so tender, By being shot *-for row in lobby. * Notwithstanding the modern vocabulary of honour, which tells a man to risk his life, because another treads upon the tail of his dog; I must nevertheless affirm, that such conduct has nothing to do with real courage; for there are but very few injuries of such a glaring nature as to demand the blood of one fellow creature at the hands of another. Would it argue real courage, let me ask, for a man of a delicate and weak habit, and quite devoid of skill, to put his strength in opposition to an experienced bruiser? 'or would it redound to the credit of an individual who had never fired a pistol, to place himself within twelve paces of a man who could hit a crown piece at thirty yards, and who was to have the first shot into the bargain; if such be the standard of bravery, and the touchstone of honour, I must certainly coincide with Falstaff, when he exclaims, "What is honour? a word-What is that word honour? Air; a trim reckoning. Who hath it? He that died a Wednesday. Doth he feel it? No. Doth he hear it? No. Is it insensible then? Yea, to the dead. But will it not live with the living? No." No jot are modern belles less tardy, Who of their health are grown so thriftless, "Art," they exclaim, "is naught to us," L'ENVOY OF THE POET. Short is life's span, and much we have to do, THE POET'S CHORUS TO FOOLS. Come, trim the boat, row on each Rara Avis, Dr. Paley, in his Political and Moral Philosophy, very justly observes, that honour is nothing more than a law instituted by one certain class of people which is to act as a tie upon another, having no reference whatever, either to religion or morality; and with respect to that species of honour which prompts a man to rush headlong into ruin, it is invariably the rule, that if the actor succeeds, he is crowned with the applause of the multitude; whereas, if he fails, he is sure to be as universally reprehended. SECTION LI. OF GENTLEMEN FOOLS. Licet superbus ambules pecuniæ, SOME cheesemonger or tallowchandler, And to his country seat retires.* With purse-proud folly overbearing, * On the score of tradesmen having country seats, I have only to remark, that if our men of title and fashion do not look sharp about them, all the estates of their ancestors will become the property of the mercantile part of this country. Thanks to their own depravity! * He struts the potent village peer; Forgetful when he was his shop in, And sold spruce moulds, short eights, long fours. No longer such plain truths allowing, Shakspeare says truly, "Small things make base men proud;" and certainly to him who knows not justly how to appreciate' riches, nothing can be more despicable-It is but "throwing pearls before swine." A chi Fortuna suona, poco senno basta. † It is the province of ignorance to lord it most when favoured with the smiles of fortune, for Behind, his rib-dame Lard, or Wick, sir, And miss, with tawdry sash and frock; The miss's head a barber's block. Devoid of manners, taste, and science,*. L'ENVOY OF THE POET. Vain would this dolt the mental pow'rs refresh, Pride hath no other glass To show itself but pride: for supple knees Fee arrogance, and are the proud man's fees. A ludicrous trial, in which a sugar plumb City Knight was defendant, having assaulted a Carman in the Green |