T

ON MR. C

OF KIDDERMINSTER'S POETRY.

HY verses, Friend! are Kidderminster * stuff, And I must own you've measur'd out enough.

TO THE VIRTUOSI.

HAIL, curious Wights! to whom so fair

The form of mortal flies is!

Who deem those grubs beyond compare,
Which common sense despises.

Whether o'er hill, morass, or mound,
You make your sportsman sallies,
Or that your prey, in gardens found,
Is urg'd thro' walks and allies;

Yet in the fury of the chase
No slope could e'er retard you,
Bless'd if one fly repay the race,
Or painted wing reward you.

Fierce as Camilla † o'er the plain
Pursu'd the glitt'ring stranger,
Still ey'd the purple's pleasing stain,
And knew not fear nor danger.

Kidderminster, famous coarse woollen manufacture.

† See Virgil.

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"Tis you dispense the fav'rite meat

To Nature's filmy people,

Know what conserves they chuse to eat,,,

And what liqueurs to tipple.

And if her brood of insects dies,"

You sage assitance lend her;

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A friend who, weigh'd with your's, must prize

To slight Dame Nature's fairest form
And sigh for Nature's vermine,

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And speak with some respect of beaus,
No more as trifiers treat 'em;

'Tis better learn to save one's clothes
Than cherish moths that eat 'em.

THE EXTENT OF COOKERY.

Aliu que et idem.

EXPLANATION. I'

Another and the same.

WHEN Tom to Cambridge first was sent,

A plain brown bob he wore,

Read much, and look'd as tho' he meant

To be a fop no more.

See him to Lincoln's-Inn repair,

His resolution flag,

He cherishes a length of hair,

And tucks it in a bag.

Nor Coke nor Salkeld he regards,
But gets into the House,
And soon a judge's rank rewards
His pliant votes and bows.

Adieu, ye Bobs! ye Bags! give place;
Full bottoms come instead:

Good L-d! to see the various ways
Of dressing a calf's head!

Volume I.

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5

IC

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THE PROGRESS OF ADVICE.

A COMMON CASE.

Suade, nam certum est.

EXPLANATION.

Advise it, for 'tis fix'd.

SAYS Richard to Thomas (and seem'd half afraid)

"I am thinking to marry thy mistress's maid;

Now, because Mrs. Lucy to thee is well known, "I will do't if thou bidd'st me, or let it alone.

"Nay, don't make a jest on't; 'tis no jest to me; 5 "For 'faith I'm in earnest ; so prithee be free. "I've no fault to find with the girl since I knew her, "But I'd have thy advice ere I tie myself to her."

Said Thomas to Richard, "To speak my opinion, "There is not such a bitch inKing George's dominion; "And I firmly believe, if thou knew'st her as I do, "Thou wouldst chuse out a whipping-post first to be ty'd to.

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"She's peevish, she's thievish, she's ugly, she's old, "And a liar, and a fool, and a slut, and a scold." Next day Richard hasten'd to church and was wed, And ere night had inform'd her what Thomas had said.

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SLENDER'S GHOST.

VIDE SHAKESPEARE.

BENEATH a church-yard yew,

Decay'd and worn with age,

At dusk of eve methought I spy'd

Poor Slender's Ghost, that, whimp'ring, cry'd,

"O sweet! O sweet Anne Page!"

Ye gentle Bards! give ear,

Who talk of am'rous rage,

Who spoil the lily, rob the rose,

Come, learn of me to weep your wocs: "O sweet! O sweet Anne Page!"

IQ

Why should such labour'd strains
Your formal Muse engage?

I never dream'd of flame or dart,

That fir'd my breast, or pierc'd my heart,
But sigh'd, "O sweet Anne Page!"

And you! whose love-sick minds
No med'cine can assuage,
Accuse the leech's art no more,
But learn of Slender to deplore,
"O sweet! O sweet Anne Page!

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