For quick preferment he will pander prove; L'ENVOY OF THE POET. The worthy man may teach religion's laws; THE POET'S CHORUS TO FOOLS. Come, trim the boat, row on each Rara Avis, and towering priests alone aspire to scourge, the back of sovereignty. In addition to the arrogance of papal dignity, which formerly compelled sovereigns to kiss a dirty old velvet slipper; and even went so far as to make the backs of emperors mere footstools, in order to help these vicegerents on their palfrey's backs, it should not be forgotten that we are indebted to a monk for the invention of gunpowder; while Galau, bishop of Munster, was the first who found out that destructive engine of war, a bomb. * Buon prelato buon 'esempio. SECTION XV. OF FOOLS WHO PRACTISE VILENESS OF MANNERS AT TABLE. Noscitur a socio. O! 'wou'd that I, the lance could wield, When seated at the table. It is impossible to pass over this section of the Poet, without expressing a sentiment of commiseration for the feelings of the nobleman above mentioned, when we call to mind the emotion of horror that must have pervaded his breast, on witnessing the conduct of his son at table, who after all the refined instructions which he had received, was so absolutely destitute of delicacy, as to lick up the juice of a current tart from his plate, in the presence of his Lordship and a large party; on which occasion, his mortified parent ordered the valet into the chamber, in From neighbour's glass, with reeking lip, His draught of table beer to sip, With teeth a huge bone gnawing; The plate with vary'd meats high pil'd, While meat 'twixt teeth fast sticking, With fork your grinders picking. order to shave his son, whose physiognomy looked as if it had been lathered with pink instead of white suds. Carving with your own knife and fork; helping to sauce with your own spoon, licking your fingers, and expressing by the greedy look of the eyes, the ravenous propensity of the stomach, may be ranked among those actions which disgrace the table, and it has even come within the knowledge of the writer, to observe a person at his own house lengthen out the grace before meat, in order to fix upon the parti-cular part of the viand most acceptable to his palate, which he has instantly notified to the company on concluding his benediction in order to prevent any other person present from bearing off the darling prizę. Or when you eat, o'er plate to stoop, Since you for others scorn to care, If round the board fair dames you view, If civil you wou'd hand a plate, Your elbow thrust 'gainst neighbour's pate, L'ENVOY OF THE POET. Shun ev'ry act which decency disdains, For he whose object is a polished mind, |