Oldalképek
PDF
ePub

A dunce, or what's inanimate,
A golden afs, or coach of ftate;
But the difcerning few, the wife,
Truft not entirely to their eyes;
For they confider Honour's badges
Are not true Merit's conftant wages.
Examples in all lands abound,
Except our own, where few are found:
And therefore, to avoid reflection:
A foreign tale is my election.

An English merchant *, who for trade
His refidence Oporto made,

Liv'd in a house of structure odd;

One wing extending to the road,

Which made a nook where people stood,
The fountains of a briny flood.
Sol here intenfely darts his beams,
And raifes fuffocating teams.
Our merchant, who could not endure
The nuisance, studied for a cure.
Should he defire them to forbear;
A fhow'ry fky as foon would hear :
For they but small regard would show
A foreigner, their church's foc.

This brought to mind their fuperftition;
(A lucky thought in his condition)

The late Sir Robert Godfchall.

VOL. VI.

H

With

With that he for a workman fends,
Bids him forthwith the corner cleanfe,
And in it then a cross erect,
(Object of Catholics refpect)
'Tis; done the paffengers no more
Infeft the corner as before ;

But kneeling there, the cross adore.

The King, foon after, hapt to dub With knighthood, a notorious scrub: (Ye Britons take my story right 'Twas Portugal that own'd the knight) So ill bestow'd a grace became Of converfation general theme: When at our Merchant's table one, On the fame fubject thus began ; "I must confefs, I'm at a lofs, "How the King came to give the cross "To fuch a wretch, the public fcorn!" (The cross their badge of knighthood worn) Our Merchant, with a fmile, replies, "'Tis done with reafon. Kings are wife; "The fame I've to my corner done, "That it might not be pifs'd upon."

THE

THE CURSE OF AVARICE.

A SONG.

WHAT man in his wits had not rather be poor,
Than for lucre his freedom to give?
Ever busy the means of his life to secure,
And fo ever neglecting to live.

Environ'd from morning till night in a croud,
Not a moment unbent or alone;
Conftrain'd to be abject, tho' never so proud,
And at every one's call but his own.

Still repining, and longing for quiet each hour,
Yet ftudioufly flying it still;

With the means of enjoying his wifh in his pow'r,
But accurs'd in his wanting the will.

For a year must be pass'd; or a day must be come,
Before he has leifure to reft;

He must add to his ftore this or that pretty fum,
And then, will have time to be blest.

But his gains, more bewitching the more they increafe,
Only fwell the defires of his

eye :

Such a wretch let mine enemy live, if he please,

Let not even mine enemy die.

[blocks in formation]

A

E PIGRAM.

MISER fpied a mouse about his house; What do you here, fays he, my pretty mouse ? Smiling, replies the mouse, you need not sweat, I come for lodging, friend, and not for meat.

THE HONEST CONFESSIO N.

IT happen'd in a healthful year,
(Which made provifions very dear
And phyfic mighty cheap ;)

A Doctor, fore oppress'd with want,
On bufinefs turning out fo fcant,
Was one day feen to weep.

A neighbour afk'd him why fo fad,
And hop'd no dangerous illness had
To any friend befel-

O Lord! you quite mistake the cafe,
(Quoth Blifler) Sir, this rueful face

Is 'caufe my friends are well.

THE

THE MORNING VISIT.

A DIALOGUE BETWEEN LADY RATTLE AND LADY FAM.

L. R. GOOD morning, dear coufin, pray how do

you do?

I hope you was fortunate last night at loo.

L. P. No, trust me, I ne'er had fuch ill-luck before'; I loft a hundred fweet pieces, or more;

The clock just ftruck five as I went to bed,
Which caufes a fort of an ach in my head.
But prithee what news?

L. R.-Oh! furprifing indeed!
Lord Razorface fain would perpetuate his breed,
And therefore he's married-

L. P.

-Heaven grant me repose!

'Tis fome little wretch, fure, that nobody knows :

For no one of any diftinction would be

United to fuch a poor reptile as he.

His recent behaviour must bar his pursuit ;

By all he's conjectur'd a fool or a brute;

And befides he's no Lord, 'tis all a mere fiction,
Of that in the case we have thorough conviction.

[blocks in formation]
« ElőzőTovább »