Would'it thou, poffeffor of a flock, employ
(Appriz'd that he is such) a careless boy,
And feed him well, and give him handsome pay,
Merely to sleep, and let them run aftray?
Survey our schools and colleges, and see
A fight not much unlike my fimile.
From education, as the leading cause,
The public character its colour draws;
Thence the prevailing manners take their cast,
Extravagant or fober, loose or chaste.
And, though I would not advertise them yet,
Nor write on each-This Building to be Let,
Unless the world were all prepar'd t' embrace
A plan well worthy to supply their place;
Yet, backward as they are, and long have been,
To cultivate and keep the morals clean,
(Forgive the crime) I wish them, I confess,
Or better manag’d, or encourag'd less.
Y
e nymphs! if e'er your eyes were red With tears o'er hapless fav’rites shed,
share Maria's grief! Her fav’rite, even in his cage, (What will not hunger's cruel rage?)
Assassin'd by a thief.
Where Rhenas strays his vines among,
The egg was laid from which he sprung,
And though by nature mute,
Or only with a whistle blest,
Well-taught, he all the sounds expressid
Of Aagelet or flute.
The honours of his ebon poll
Were brighter than the sleekeft mole
His bofom of the hue
With which Aurora decks the skies,
When piping winds shall soon arise
To sweep up all the dew.
Above, below, in all the house,
Dire foe, alike to bird and mouse,
No cat had leave to dwell ;.
And Bully's cage supported stood,
On props of smoothest-shaven wood,
Large-built and lattic'd well
Well-lattic'd—but the grate, alas!
Not rough with wire of steel or brass,
For Bully's plumage fake,
But smooth with wands from Ouse's fide,
With which, when neatly peeld and dried,
The fwains their basket's make.
Night veild the pole. All feem'd secure.. When led by inftin&t sharp and sure,
Subsistence to provide,
A beaft forth-fallied on the scout,
Long-back'd, long-tail'd, with whiskera snout,
And badger-colour'a hide.
He, ent'ring at the study door,
Its ample area 'gan explore;
And something in the wind
Conjecturd, sniffing round and sound,
Better than all the books he found,
Food, chiefly, for the mind,
Just then, by adverse fate imprefs'd,
A dream disturbid poor Bully's reft ;
In sleep he feem'd to view
A rat, faft-clinging to the cage,
And, screaming at the sad presage,
Awoke and found it true.
For, aided both by ear and scent,
Right to his mark the monster went
Ah, Mufel forbear to speak
Minute the horrors that ensued;
His teeth were strong, the cage was wood
He left poor Bully's beak.
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