Where (0) then fhall Hope and Fear their Objects find?

Muft dull Sufpence corrupt the ftagnant Mind?
Muft helpless Man, in Ignorance fedate,
Roll darkling down the Torrent of his Fate?
Muft no Diflike alarm, no Wishes rise,
No Cries attempt the Mercies of the Skies?
Enquirer, ceafe; Petitions yet remain,
Which Heav'n may hear, nor deem Religion vain.
Still raife for Good the fupplicating Voice,

But leave to Heav'n the Measure and the Choice.
Safe in his Pow'r, whofe Eyes difcern afar
The fecret Ambush of a fpecious Pray'r.
Implore his Aid, in his Decifions reft,
Secure whate'er he gives, he gives the best.
Yet when the Senfe of facred Prefence fires,
And ftrong Devotion to the Skies afpires,
Pour forth thy Fervours for a healthful Mind,
Obedient Paffions and a Will refign'd;
For Love, which fearce collective Man can fill;
For Patience Sov'reign o'er tranfmuted Ill;
For Faith, that panting for a happier Seat,
Counts Death kind Nature's Signal of Retreat :
Thefe Goods for Man the Laws of Heav'n ordain,
Thefe Goods he grants, who grants the Pow'r to
gain;

With these celeftial Wisdom calms the Mind,
And makes the Happinefs fhe does not find..

(0) Ver. 346-366

THE

THE

BATTLE OF THE WIGS.

IN THREE PARTS.

Dabiturque LICENTIA fumpta pudenter.—HOR. by Bonnell Thornton. Esqf

WRITTEN IN THE YEAR 1768.

То THE

READER..

HOUGH the Writer of the following little Piece has chosen to call it An Additional Canto to Dr. Garth's Poem of the Difpenfary, he by no Means pretends to afpire to an Imitation of that Work, much lefs would he prefume to affect a Rivalfhip with the ingenious Author. The Subject being in fome Meafure fimilar, he was induced to make Ufe of this Title.

The Difputes, at prefent fubfifting between the Fellows and Licentiates of the College of Phyficians, concerning their refpective Rights, feemed to be no improper Topic for an innocent Laugh. Nothing that should in the leaft offend any Individual, is intended by it. No Character is defigned to be perfonally pointed out. As to the common Sarcasm, The Killing of Numbers of Patients,' fays Dr. Garth, is fo trite a Piece of Raillery, that it ought not to make any Impreffion.'

(

It is difficult, and perhaps in fome Degree prefumptuous, to attempt following, in a confined Walk, the Steps of any Author of Eminence. If Y 2

fome

feme Expreffions or Sentiments in this Piece fhould be found to be the fame with, or somewhat fimilar to any in Dr. Garth's Poem, the Writer begs he may not lay under the Imputation of Plagiarism. One or two Inftances, which he has difcovered, of a Similarity, he has carefully pointed out.

One Part of the Machinery is founded upon Fact. A Blacksmith was employed to break open the College Gate, in order to try the Rights of the Licentiates. The Circumflances of the Butchers and the Engine charged with Blood, were jocular Reports at that Time.

The Writer begs leave to enter a Caveat against the Critics finding Fault with his Rhymes not exactly chiming in fome few Places. He cannot, with Submiffion, but be of Opinion, that the Senfe fhould not be totally facrificed to the Sound: Befides, he can fhelter himfeif under the Authority and Example of our best Authors. He might alfo plead in Favour of fome Alliterations, in which he has indulged himfelf, if he was not fatisfied, that the Ufe of them is generally allowed in the Mock-Heroick, however sparingly they ought to be introduced in more ferious Compofitions.

PART I

URN, Muse, once more toWarwick's dismal Lane, Where Feuds unheard of, and new Uproars reign; Where Fellows with Licentiates hold Debate ;Thefe, (to preferve their Dignity of State) Admit no Partners in their Councils grave, Who Titles only from Diplomas have;

NOT E.

V. 1. Turn, Mufe, once more to Warwick's difmal Lane. The College of Physicians is erected inWarwick-Lane.

An

JO

An equal Rank the others boldly claim,
Alike their Fortunes, and alike their Fame :-
Each Efculapian Breaft fell Difcord warms,
And for awhile the Gown gives place to Arms.
Say, DEATH, what prompted thee to spread Debate
Among thy Sons, the Arbiters of Fate?
Thy great Upholders, whofe unfparing Pen
Crowds Pluto's Realm, and thins the Race of Men?
'Twas on the Day, held facred to St. Luke,
Rever'd by Sages fkill'd in Purge or Puke ;-
When in mute State the grave Affembly meet,
To hear profound Oration,-and to Eat ;-
Licentiato held it for a Sin

15

To Faft without, while others Feaft within.
Hungry and Dry, he mourn'd his hapless Fate,
With Socio not allow'd to foul a Plate;
Forbid to cheer his Heart, and warm his Throttle,
With Hauftus repetendus of the Bottle.

20

NOTE S.

V. 10. And for awhile the Gown gives Place to Arms.

Cedunt Arma Toga, is a well-known Expreffion. In the Universities the Doctors of Phyfick are invested with a Scarlet Gown; and it may be a Queftion with fome perhaps, whether that or the Scarlet Coat has been productive of moft Destruction among Mankind.

V. 18. To hear profound Oration

On St. Luke's Day there is a Latin Speech pronounced by a Fellow in the College of Phyficians, called (from Doctor Harvey, the original Inftitutor of this Ceremony) Oratio Harveiana.

V. 24. With Hauftus repetendus of the Bottle. The medical Gentry, however they may recommend Abftinence to others, are many of them no

Enemies

Y 3

Mad'ning at length with Grief, and fir'd with Rage,25
Which nothing but Admittance could affuage,
Open your Gates, he cries, and let us enter,
• Or elfe to force them open we'll adventure.'
Socio, elated with his high Degree
Of A. B. A. M. M. B. and M. D.
Bids him without, and at a Distance wait,
Nor deigns he to unfold the facred Gate.
Shall Scots, he cries, or Leyden Doctors dare)
With fapient Regulars to claim a Chair?
How can Diplomatifs have equal Knowledge? 35
No, no-they must not Mefs with Graduates of a
He faid, when ftrait Licentiato tries
By Force to gain what ftubborn Pride denies.
And now the pond'rous Peftle beats to Arms,
And the huge Mortar rings with loud Alarms; 40

"

[College.'

NOTE

S. Enemies to the Bottle, if taken in Moderation, as they term it. A certain witty Phyfician was advising a Friend of his, who had been ufed to be too free with his Bottle, to take a chearful Pint with his Meals, and no more: But, fays he, the whole Se⚫cret confifts in knowing how much your Pint should hold. I myself take my Pint conftantly after Dinner and Supper; but mine is a Scots Pint,'-that is, two Quarts.

V. 29. Socio, elated with his high Degree
Of A. B. A. M. M. B. and M. D.

A. B. Artium Baccalaureus, Batchelor of Arts; A. M. Artium Magifter, Mafter of Arts; M. B. Medicina Baccalaureus, Batchelor of Phyfick; M. D. Medicine Doctor, Doctor of Phyfick.

V. 39. And now the pondrous Pefile beats to Arms, And the huge Mortar rings with loud Alarms. While lifted Peftles brandifh'd in the Air Defcend in Peals, and Civil Wars declare.-GARTH.

On