Would't thou, poffeffor of a flock, employ (Appriz'd that he is fuch) a careless boy,

And feed him well, and give him handsome pay,
Merely to fleep, and let them run aftray?
Survey our schools and colleges, and fee
A fight not much unlike my fimile.
From education, as the leading caufe,
The public character its colour draws;
Thence the prevailing manners take their cast,
Extravagant or fober, loofe or chafte.

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 fupply 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 confefs,

Or better manag'd, or encourag'd less.

ON

THE DEATH

OF

MRS. THROCKMORTON'S

BULFINCH.

Ye nymphs! if e'er your eyes were red
With tears o'er hapless fav'rites shed,
O fhare Maria's grief!

Her fav'rite, even in his cage,

(What will not hunger's cruel rage?) Affaffin'd by a thief.

Where Rhenus ftrays 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 founds exprefs'd
Of flagelet or flute.

The honours of his ebon poll

Were brighter than the fleekeft mole;
His bofom of the hue

With which Aurora decks the fkies,

When piping winds fhall foon arise.
To fweep up all the dew.

Above, below, in all the houfe,
Dire foe, alike to bird and mouse,
No cat had leave to dwell;.

On

And Bully's cage fupported stood, props of smootheft-fhaven wood,. Large-built and lattic'd well.

Well-lattic'd-but the grate, alas!
Not rough with wire of fteel or brafs,.
For Bully's plumage fake,

But fmooth with wands from Oufe's fide,
With which, when neatly peel'd and dried.
The fwains their baskets make.

Night veil'd the pole. All feem'd fecure.. When led by inftin&t sharp and fure,, Subfiftence to provide,

A beaft forth-fallied on the fcout,

Long-back'd, long-tail'd, with whisker'd fnout, And badger-colour'd hide."

He, ent'ring at the ftudy door,

Its ample area 'gan explore;

And fomething in the wind

Conjectur'd, sniffing round and sound,
Better than all the books he found,
Food, chiefly, for the mind.

Just then, by adverfe fate imprefs'd,
A dream difturb'd poor Bully's reft;
In fleep he feem'd to view

A rat, faft-clinging to the cage,
And, fcreaming at the fad prefage,
Awoke and found it true.

For, aided both by ear and scent,

Right to his mark the monster went-
Ah, Mufe forbear to speak

Minute the horrors that enfued;

His teeth were ftrong, the cage was wood-
He left poor Bully's beak.