By common pomp, or ceremonious train,
Seen heretofore, or to be seen again,
But they devis'd new honours, yet unknown,
Or paid to any fubject of a crown.

The Gallic king, in age and counsels wife,
Sated with war, and weary of disguise,
With open arms falutes the British peer,
And gladly owns his prince and character.
As Hermes from the throne of Jove defcends,
With grateful errand, to heaven's choiceft friends;
As Iris from the bed of Juno flies,
[fkies,
To bear her queen's commands through yielding
Whilft o'er her wings fresh beams of glory flow,
And blended colours paint her wondrous bow;
So Bolingbroke appears in Louis' sight,
With meffage heavenly; and, with equal light,
Difpels all clouds of doubt, and fear of wars,
And in his miftrefs' name for peace declares:
Accents divine! which the great king receives
With the fame grace that mighty Anna gives.

Let others boaft of blood, the fpoil of foes, Rapine and murder, and of endless woes, Detefted pomp! and trophies gain'd from far, With fpangled enfigns, ftreaming in the air; Count how they made Bavarian subjects feel. The rage of fire, and edge of harden'd steel;

Fatal effects of foul infatiate pride,
That deal their wounds alike on either fide,
No limits fet to their ambitious ends;
For who bounds them, no longer can be frie
By different methods Bolingbroke fhall raife
His growing honours and immortal praise.

He, fir'd with glory and the public good,
Betwixt the people and their danger stood:
Arm'd with convincing truths, he did appear;
And all he said was sparkling, bright, and clear.
The liftening fenate with attention heard,
And fome admir'd, while others trembling fear'4,
Not from the tropes of formal eloquence,
But Demofthenic ftrength, and weight of feni
Such as fond Oxford to her son supplied,
Defign'd her own, as well as Britain's pride;
Who, lefs beholden to the ancient strains,
Might fhew a nobler blood in English veins,
Outdo whatever Homer fweetly fung
Of Neftor's counfels, or Ulyffes' tongue.
Oh! all ye nymphs, whilft time and youth a
Prepare the rose and lily for his brow.
Much he has done, but ftil! has more in view;
To Anna's intereft and his country true.
More I could prophefy, but must refrain:
Such truths would make another mortal vain!

THE time will come (if fate fhall please give

This feeble thread of mine more space to live)
When I fhail you and all your acts rehearse,
In a much loftier and more fluent verfe;
To Gauges' banks, and China farther caft,
To Carolina, and the diftant weft,

Your name fhall fly, and every where be bleft;

* Dr. King dedicated his English verfion of that work to the Duke of Beaufort.

THE LAST BILLET.

SEPTEMBER and November now were past,
When men in bonfires did their firing waste;
Yet ftill my monumental log did last :
To begging boys it was not made a prey
On the king's birth or coronation day.
Why with those oaks, under whose facred shade
Charles was preferv'd, fhould any fire be made?
At last a froft, a difmal froft, there came,
Like that which made a market upon Thame :
Unruly company would then have made.
Fire with this log, whilft thus its owner pray'd:
"Thou that art worship'd in Dodona's grove,
"From all thy facred trees fierce flames remove:
"Preferve this groaning branch, O hear my

TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE
THE LATE EARL OF

Upon bis difputing publicly at Chrift Church, Oxford.

MUSE, to thy mafter's lodgings quickly Ay,
Entrance to thee his goodnefs won't deny :
With due fubmiffion, tell him you are mine,
And that you trouble him with this defign,
Exactly to inform his noble youth

Of what you heard just now from vanquish'd truth: "Conquer'd, undone! 'Tis ftrange that there "fhould be

"In this confeffion pleasure ev'n to me. [barr'd "With well wrought terms my hold I strongly "And rough diftinctions were my furly guard. "Whilft I, fure of my caufe, this strength poffefs; "A noble youth, advancing with address, "Led glittering falfehood on with so much art, "That I foon felt fad omens in my heart. "Words with that grace," faid I, "muft needs perfuade;

"I find myself infenfibly betray'd.

"Whilst he purfues his conqueft, I retreat, "And by that name would palliate my defeat.

"But here methinks I do the profpe& lee "Of all those triumphs he prepares for me, "When virtue or when innocence oppreft

Fly for fure refuge to his generous breaft; "When with a noble mien his youth appears, "And gentle voice perfuades the listening peers. Judges fhall wonder when he clears the laws, Difpelling mifts, which long have hid their

་་

"caufe:

"Then, by his aid, aid that can never fail, [vail: "Ev'n I, though conquer'd now, fhall fure pre"Thousands of wreaths to me he shall repay, "For that one laurel error wears to day."

A GENTLEMAN TO HIS WIFE.

WHEN your kind wishes firft I fought,
'I'was in the dawn of youth:
I toafted you, for you I fought,
But never thought of truth.

You faw how ftill my fire increas'd;
I griev'd to be denied:
You faid, "till I to wander ceas'd,
"You'd guard your heart with pride."

I, that once feign'd too many lies,
In height of paffion fwore,

By you and other deities,

That I would range no more.

I've fworn, and therefore now am fix'd,
No longer falfe and vain :
My pallion is with honour mix'd,
And both fhall ever reign.

Probably James the third earl of Anglefea

THE MAD LOVER.

I'LL from my breast tear fond defire, Since Laura is not mine:

I'll ftrive to cure the amorous fire,

And quench the flame with wine.

Perhaps in groves and cooling fhade Soft flumbers I may find:

There all the vows to Laura made, Shall vanish with the wind.

The fpeaking ftrings and charming fong
My paffion may remove:

Oh, mufic will the pain prolong,
And is the food of love.

I'll fearch heaven, earth, hell, seas, and air,
And that fhall fet me free:
Oh, Laura's image will be there
Where Laura will not be.

My foul must fill endure the pain, And with fresh torment rave: For none can ever break the chain That once was Laura's flave.

THE SOLDIER's 'WEDDING.

A SOLILOQUY BY NAN THRASHREWILL.

Being part of a Play, called," The New Trup."

}

O My dear Thrasher well, you're gone to fea, And happiness must ever banish'd be From our flock-bed, our garret, and from me! Perhaps he is on land at Portsmouth now In the embraces of fome Hampshire sow, Who, with a wanton pat, cries, "Now, my dear, "You're wishing for fome Wapping doxy here.”— "Pox on them all! but moft on bouncing Nan, "With whom the torments of my life began: "She is a bitter one !"-You lie, you rogue; You are a treacherous, falfe, ungrateful dog. Did not I take you np without a shirt? [dire! Woe worth the hand that fcrubb'd off all your Did not my intereft lift you in the guard? And had not you ten fhillings, my reward? Did I not then, before the ferjeant's face, [grace? Treat Jack, Tom, Will, and Martin, with dif And Thrafherwell before all others choose, When I had the whole regiment to loufe. Curs'd be the day when you produc'd your fword, The juft revenger of your injur'd word: The martial youth round in a circle flood, With envious looks of love, and itching blood: You, with fome oaths that fignified confent, Cried Tom is Nan's!" and o'er the fword you

went.

Then I with fome more modeftly would step:
The enfign thump'd my hum, and made me lesp
leap'd indeed; and you prevailing men
Leave us no power of leaping back again.

THE OLD CHEESE.

YOUNG Slouch, the farmer, had a jolly wife,
That knew all the conveniencies of life,
Whofe diligence and cleanliness fupplied
The wit which Nature had to him denied:
But then she had a tongue that would be heard,
And make a better man than Slouch afeard.
This made cenforious perfons of the town
Say, Slouch could hardly call his foul his own:
For, if he went abroad too much, the'd ufe
To give him flippers, and lock up his shoes.
Talking he lov'd, and ne'er was more afflicted
'Than when he was difturb'd or contradicted:
Yet ftill into his story she would break
With, ""Tis not fo-pray give me leave to speak."
His friends thought this was a tyrannic rule,
Not differing much from calling of him fool;
Told him, he must exert himself, and be
In fact the master of his family.

He faid, "That the next Tuesday noon would
"fhow

"Whether he were the lord at home, or no; "When their good company he would entreat "To well-brew'd ale, and clean, if homely, meat." With aching heart home to his wife he goes, And on his knees does his rafh act difclofe, And pray's dear Sukey, that, one day at least, He might appear as mafter of the feast.

"I'll grant your wifh," cries fhe," that you may

"fee

'Twere wisdom to be govern'd still by me.” The guests upon the day appointed came, Each bowfy Farmer with his fimpering dame. "Ho! Sue" cries Slouch, "why doft not thou " appear! [" here?" "Are these thy manners when aunt Snap is" I pardon ask," fays Sue; " I'd not offend "Any my dear invites, much less his friend."

Slouch by his kinsman Gruffy had been taught To entertain his friends with finding fault, And make the main ingredient of his treat His faying, "There was nothing fit to eat: "The boil'd pork ftinks, the roast beef's not enough,

"The bacon's rufty, and the hens are tough; "The veal's all rags, the butter's turn'd to oil; And thus I buy good meat for fluts to spoil. ""Tis we are the firft Slouches ever fate "Down to a pudding without plumbs or fat. "What teeth or ftomach's ftrong enough to feed "Upon a goofe my grannum kept to breed? "Why muft old pigeons, and they ftale, be dreft, "When there's fo many fquab ones in the neft? "This beer is four; this mufty, thick, and ftale, "And worse than any thing, except the Ale."

Sue all this while many excufes made: Some things fhe own'd; at other times fhe laid The fault on chance, but oftener on the maid. *Then cheese was brought. Says Slouch," This c'en fhall roll:

ér I'm fure 'tis hard enough to make a bowl:

This is skim-milk, and therefore it fhall go;
And this, because 'tis Suffolk, follow too."

But now Sue's patience did begin to wase; Nor longer could diffimulation laft. "Pray let me rife," fays Sue," my dear; I'll find "A cheese perhaps may be to lovy's mind." Then in an entry, ftanding close, where he Alone, and none of all his friends, might fee; And brandishing a cudgel he had felt, And far enough on this occafion fmelt; "I'll try, my joy!" she cried, if I can please "My dearest with a taste of his old cheefe!" Slouch turn'd his head, faw his wife's vigorous hand

Wielding her oaken fapling of command, Knew well the twang; " Is't the old cheese my "dear? [fwear, "No need, no need of cheese," cries Slouch: "I'll "I think I've din'd as well as my lord mayor!".

THE SKILLET.

Two neighbours, Clod and Jolt, would married

be;

But did not in their choice of wives agree.
Clod thought a cuckold was a monstrous beast,
With two huge glaring eyes and spreading creft:
Therefore, refolving never to be fuch,
Married a wife none but himself could touch.
Jolt, thinking marriage was decreed by fate,
Which thews us whom to love, and whom to hate,
To a young, handfome, jolly lafs, made court,
And gave his friends convincing reasons for't,
That, fince in life fuch mischief must be had,
Beauty had fomething ftill that was not bad.
Within two months, fortune was pleas'd to fend
A tinker to Clod's houfe, with "Brafs to mend."
The good old wife furvey'd the brawny spark,
And found his chine was large, though countenance

dark.

First she appears in all her airs, then tries
The fquinting efforts of her amorous eyes.
Much time was spent, and much defire expreft
At laft the tinker cried," Few words are best:
"Give me that skillet then; and, if I'm true,
"I dearly earn it for the work I do."
They 'greed; they parted. On the tinker goes,
With the fame ftroke of pan, and twang of nofe,
Till he at Jolt's beheld a sprightly dame
That fet his native vigour all on flame.
He looks, fighs, faints, at last begins to cry,
"And can you then let a young tinker die ?"
Says he, "Give me your skillet then, and

"try."

"My killet! Both my heart and skillet take; "I wish it were a copper for your fake."

After all this, not many days did pafs, Clod, fitting at Jolt's houfe, furvey'd the brafs And glittering pewter standing on the shelf; Then, after fome gruff muttering with himself, Cried," Pr'ythee, Jolt, how came that skillet "thine?" ["mine; "'t'en't "You know as well as 1," quoth Jolt; "But I'll afk Nan." "Twas done; Nan told the

In truth as 'twas; then cried, "You've got the better:

For, tell me, deareft, whether you would choose "To be a gainer by me, or to lofe.. "As for our neighbour Clod, this I dare fay, "We've beauty and a fkillet more than they."

THE FISHERMAN.

TOM BANKS by native induftry was taught
The various arts how fishes might be caught.
Sometimes with trembling reed and fingle hair,
And bait conceal'd, he'd for their death prepare,
With melancholy thoughts and downcaft eyes,
Expecting till deceit had gain'd its prize.
Sometimes in rivulet quick, and water clear,
They'd meet a fate more generous from his fpear.
To basket oft' he'd pliant oziers turn,
Where they might entrance find, but no return.
His net well pois'd with lead he'd fometimes
Encircling thus his captives all below. [throw,

But, when he would a quick deftruction make,
And from afar much larger booty take,
He'd through the ftream, where most descending,

fet

From fide to fide his ftrong capacious net;
And then his ruftic crew with mighty poles
Would drive his prey out from their oozy holes,
And fo pursue them down the rolling flood,
Gafping for breath, and almoft chok'd with mud,
Till they, of farther paffage quite bereft,
Were in the mash with gills entangled left.

Trot, who liv'd down the stream, ne'er thought
his beer

Was good, unlefs he had his water clear. He goes to Banks, and thus begins his tale : "Lord' if you knew but how the people rail! "They cannot boil, nor wath, nor rinse they fay, "With water fometimes ink, and fometimes whey, According as you meet with mud or clay.

Befides my wife thefe fix months could not brew, "And now the blame of this all's laid on you: "For it will be a difmal thing to think "How we old Trots muft live, and have no drink "Therefore, I pray, fome other method take "Of fifhing, were it only for our fake."

Says Banks, I'm forry it fhould be my lot "Ever to difoblige my goflip Trot:

"Yet 't'en't my fault; but fo 'tis fortune tries

one,

[“ fon; "To make his meat become his neighbour's poi"And fo we pray for winds upon this coaft,

་་

By which on t'other navies may be loft. "Therefore in patience rest, though I proceed: "There's no ill-nature in the cafe, but need. "Though for your ufe this water will not ferve, "I'd rather you fhould choke, than I fhould "farve."

A CASE OF CONSCIENCE.

OLD Paddy Scot, with none of the best faces, Had a most knotty pate at folving cafes;

In any point could tell you, to a hair,
When was a grain of honefty to spare.
It happen'd, after prayers, one certain night,
At home he had occafion for a light
To turn Socinus, Leffius, Efcobar,
Fam'd Covarruvias, and the great Navarre:
And therefore, as he from the chapel came,
Extinguishing a yellow taper's flame,
By which juft now he had devoutly pray'd,
The useful remnant to his fleeve convey'd.
There happen'd a physician to be by,
Who thither came but only as a spy.
To find out others' faults, but let alone
Repentance for the crimes that were his own.

This Doctor follow'd Paddy; faid, “ He lad'd "To know what made a facrilegious fact.”

Paddy with ftudied gravity replies, "That's as the place or as the matter lies: "If from a place unfacred you should take "A facred thing, this facrilege would make; "Or an unfacred thing from facred place, "There would be nothing different in the cafe; "But, if both-thing and place fhould facred be, ""Twere height of facrilege, as doctors all agree." "Then," fays the doctor, for more light in "this,

"To put a special cafe, were not amifs.

Suppofe a man should take a common prayer "Out of a chapel where there's fome to spare!" "A common prayer?" fays Paddy," that would "be

"A facrilege of an intense degree."

Suppose that one should in thefe holidays "Take thence a bunch of rosemary or bays?" "I'd not be too cenforious in that case, "But 'twould be facrilege ftill from the place."

"What if a man fhould from the chapel take "A taper's end: fhould he a fcruple make, "If homeward to his chambers he should go, "Whether 'twere theft, or facrilege, or no?"

The fly infinuation was perceiv'd: Says Paddy, "Doctor, you may be deceiv'd, "Unless in cafes you distinguish right; "But this may be refolv'd at the first fight. "As to the taper, it could be no theft, "For it had done its duty, and was left: "And facrilege in having it is none, "Because that in my fleeve I now have one."

THE CONSTABLE.

ONE night a fellow wandering without fear, As void of money as he was of care, Confidering both were wash'd away with beer, With Strap the conftable by fortune meets, Whofe lanterns glare in the most silent streets. Refty, impatient any one fhould be So bold as to be drunk that night but he "Stand; who goes there," cries Strap," at hour "fo late? [pate.""Answer. Your name; or elfe have at your "I wo'nt ftand, 'caufe I can't. Why muft you

"know

"From whence it is come, or where I go?"