19 Now chirping crickets raise their tinkling voice, The lambent flames in languid streams arise, And smoke, in azure folds, evaporates and dies.

ON CERTAIN PASTORALS.

So rude and tuneless are thy lays,
The weary audience vow

"Tis not th' Arcadian swain that sings,
But 'tis his herds that low.

ON MR C

OF KIDDERMINSTER'S POETRY.

Thy verses, friend! are Kidderminster stuff,
And I must own you've measured out enough.

TO THE VIRTUOSI.

1 Hail, curious Wights! to whom so fair
The form of mortal flies is!

Who deem those grubs beyond compare
Which common sense despises.

2 Whether o'er hill, morass, or mound,
You make your sportsman sallies,
Or that your prey, in gardens found,
Is urged through walks and alleys.

3 Yet, in the fury of the chase,

No slope could e'er retard you; Blest if one fly repay the race,

Or painted wing reward you.

4 Fierce as Camilla o'er the plain
Pursued the glittering stranger;
Still eyed the purple's pleasing stain,
And knew not fear nor danger.

5 'Tis you dispense the favourite meat
To Nature's filmy people;

Know what conserves they choose to eat,
And what liqueurs to tipple.

6 And if her brood of insects dies,
You sage assistance lend her;
Can stoop to pimp for amorous flies,
And help them to engender.

7 'Tis you protect their pregnant hour;
And, when the birth's at hand,
Exerting your obstetric power,
Prevent a mothless land.

8 Yet, oh! howe'er your towering view
Above gross objects rises,
Whate'er refinements you pursue,

Hear what a friend advises:

9 A friend, who, weigh'd with yours, must prize

Domitian's idle passion,

That wrought the death of teasing flies,
But ne'er their propagation.

10 Let Flavia's eyes more deeply warm,
Nor thus your hearts determine,
To slight Dame Nature's fairest form,
And sigh for Nature's vermin.

11 And speak with some respect of beaus,
Nor more as triflers treat them;
"Tis better learn to save one's clothes,
Than cherish moths that eat them.

THE EXTENT OF COOKERY.

Aliusque et idem.

1 When Tom to Cambridge first was sent,
A plain brown bob he wore;

Read much, and look'd as though he meant
To be a fop no more.

2 See him to Lincoln's-Inn repair,

His resolution flag;

He cherishes a length of hair,

And tucks it in a bag.

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

4 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!

SLENDER'S GHOST.

VIDE SHAKSPEARE.

1 Beneath a churchyard yew,
Decay'd and worn with age,
At dusk of eve methought I spied

Poor Slender's Ghost, that whimpering cried, "O sweet! O sweet Anne Page!"

2 Ye gentle Bards! give ear,

Who talk of amorous rage,

Who spoil the lily, rob the rose,

Come learn of me to weep your woes:

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

I never dreamt of flame or dart,
That fired my breast or pierced my heart,
But sigh'd, "O sweet Anne Page!"

4 And you! whose lovesick 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!"

5 And ye! whose souls are held,
Like linnets in a cage;

Who talk of fetters, links, and chains,
Attend and imitate my strains;

6 And you! who boast or grieve,
What horrid wars ye wage,

Of wounds received from many an eye,
Yet mean as I do, when I sigh,

"O sweet! O sweet Anne Page!"

7 Hence every fond conceit

Of shepherd or of sage;

"Tis Slender's voice, 'tis Slender's way,
Expresses all you have to say,

66

"O sweet! O sweet Anne Page!"

THE PROGRESS OF ADVICE.

A COMMON CASE.

Suade, nam certum est.

1 Says Richard to Thomas (and seem'd half afraid)
"I'm thinking to marry thy mistress's maid;
Now, because Mrs Lucy to thee is well known,
I will do 't if thou bidst me, or let it alone.

2"Nay, don't make a jest on 't; 'tis no jest to me; For faith I'm in earnest, so prithee, be free.

I have no fault to find with the girl since I knew her, But I'd have thy advice ere I tie myself to her."

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