Passion, oh me! how I run on!
There's that that would be thought upon,

I trow, besides the bride.

The business of the kitchen's great,

For it is fit that men should eat,

Nor was it there denied.

Just in the nick the cook knock'd thrice,

And all the waiters in a trice

His summons did obey:

Each serving man, with dish in hand,

March'd boldly up, like our train'd band, Presented, and away.

When all the meat was on the table,

What man of knife or teeth was able

To stay to be intreated?

And this the very reason was,

Before the parson could say grace

The company was seated.

Now hats fly off, and youths carouse,
Healths first go round, and then the house,
The brides came thick and thick;

And when 'twas nam'd another's health,
Perhaps he made it hers by stealth;
(And who could help it, Dick!)
Q

VOL. III.

O' th' sudden up they rise and dance;
Then sit again, and sigh, and glance;

Then dance again and kiss:

Thus several ways the time did pass,
Till every woman wish'd her place,
And every man wish'd his.

By this time all were stol'n aside

To counsel and undress the bride:

But that he must not know:

But yet'twas thought he guess'd her mind, And did not mean to stay behind

Above an hour or so.

When in he came, Dick, there she lay,
Like new-fall'n snow melting away:

('Twas time, I trow, to part)
Kisses were now the only stay,
Which soon she gave, as who would say
"God b' w' ye with all my heart."

But just as heavens would have, to cross it, In came the bride-maids with the posset; The bridegroom ate in spite ;

For had he left the women to 't,

It would have cost two hours to do 't,

Which were too much that night.

At length the candle's out; and now, All that they had not done, they do; What that is, who can tell?

But I believe it was no more

Than thou and I have done before

With Bridget and with Nell.

SIR JOHN DENHAM,

Born in Dublin, 1615, entered, in 1631, gentleman-commoner at Trinity College, Oxford, where it is said he was chiefly addicted to gaming, and exhibited no signs of genius, and that his tragedy "the Sophy," which he wrote in 1641, and his beautiful poem on "Cooper's Hill," composed soon after, were received by the world with astonishment. Waller said" He broke out like the Irish Rebellion, threescore thousand strong, when no body was aware or in the least suspected it." Though but an indifferent soldier, his address and knowledge of mankind were often of service to Charles I. and after the restoration he was much admired by Charles II. who is said to have frequently suggested the subjects of his poetry. He died in 1668.

SONG.

[Out of an Epigram of Martial.] '

PRITHEE, die and set me free,

Or else be

Kind and brisk, and gay, like me.

I pretend not to the wise ones,

To the grave, to the grave,
Or the precise ones.

"Tis not cheeks, nor lips, nor eyes,

That I prize,

Quick conceits, or sharp replies;

If wise thou wilt appear, and knowing,

Repartee, repartee,

To what I'm doing.

Prithee, why the room so dark?

Not a spark

Left to light me to the mark.
I love daylight, or a candle,

And to see, and to see

As well as handle.

Why so many bolts and locks,

Coats and smocks,

And those drawers, with a pox ?

I could wish, could nature make it,

Nakedness, nakedness

Itself were naked.