XV.

"FORTUNE'S gone forth, you feek a wand'ring dame,

"A fettled refidence the harlot fcorns: "Curfe on fuch vifitants, fhe never came,

"But with a cruel hand she scatter'd thorns!

XVI.

"To the green vale, yon fhelt'ring hills furround, "Go forward, you'll arrive at Wisdom's cell: "Would you be taught where FORTUNE may be found, "None can direct your anxious fearch fo well."

XVII.

Forward they went, o'er many a dreary spot:
(Rough was the road, as if untrod before)
'Till from the casement of a low-roof'd cot
Wisdom perceiv'd them, and unbarr'd her door.

XVIII.

Wisdom, (fhe knew of FORTUNE but the name)
Gave to their questions a ferene reply:

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Hither, (fhe faid) if e'er that Goddess came, "I faw her not-fhe pafs'd unnotic'd by.

XIX.

"Abroad with Contemplation oft I roam,
"And leave to Poverty my humble cell:
"She's my domeftic, never ftirs from home,
"If FORTUNE has been here, 'tis fhe can tell.

XX.

"The matron eyes us from yon mantling shade, "And fee her fober footsteps this way bent! "Mark by her fide a little rofe-lipp'd maid, ""Tis my young daughter, and her name's Content."

As

XXI.

As Poverty advanc'd with lenient grace,

"FORTUNE (fhe cry'd) hath never yet been here: "But Hope, a gentle neighbour of this place, “Tells me, her highness may, in time, appear.

XXII.

"Felicity, no doubt, adorns their lot,

"On whom her golden bounty beams divine! "Yet tho' fhe never reach our ruftic cot, "Patience will vifit us-we fha'n't repine:"

XXIII.

After a vaft (but unavailing) round,

The meffengers returning in despair, On an high hill a fairy mansion found,

And hop'd the Goddess, FORTUNE, might be there.

XXIV.

The dome, fo glitt'ring, it amaz'd the fight,
('Twas adamant, with gems encrufted o'er)
Had not a cafement to admit the light,
Nor could JovE's deputies defcry the door.

XXV.

But cager to conclude a tedious chace,

And anxious to return from whence they came, Thrice they invok'd the Genius of the place, Thrice utter'd, awfully, Jove's facred name.

XXVI.

As Echo from the hill announc'd high Jove,

Illufion and her fairy dome withdrew : (Like the light mifts by early funbeams drove)

And FORTUNE ftood reveal'd to public view.

Oft

XXVII.

Oft for that happiness high courts deny'd,
To this receptacle dame FORTUNE ran:
When harrafs'd, it was here fhe us'd to hide,
From the wild fuits of difcontented Man.

XXVIII.

Proftrate, the delegates their charge declare, (Happy the courtier that falutes her feet!) FORTUNE receiv'd them with a flatt'ring air, And join'd them 'till they reach'd Jove's judgment feat.

XXIX.

Men of all ranks at that illuftrious place

Were gather'd; tho' from diff'rent motives keen: Many-to fee dame FORTUNE's radiant face, Many-by radiant FORTUNE to be feen.

XXX.

Jove fmil'd, as on a fav'rite he esteems,

He
gave her, near his own, a golden feat:
Fair FORTUNE's an adventurer, it seems,
The deities themselves are glad to greet.

XXXI.

"Daughter, (fays JUPITER) you're fore accus'd! "Clamour inceffantly reviles your name!

If by the rancour of that wretch abus'd,

"Be confident, and vindicate your fame.

XXXII.

"Tho' pefter'd daily with complaints from Man, Through this conviction I record them not

66

"Let my kind providence do all it can,

"None of that fpecies ever lik'd his lot.

"But

XXXIII.

"But the poor quadrupede that now appeals! "Can wanton cruelty the weak purfue!

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Large is the catalogue of woes he feels,
"And all his wretchednefs he lays to you."

XXXIV.

"Afk him, high JUPITER-(reply'd the dame) "In what he has excell'd his long-ear'd class? "IS FORTUNE (a divinity) to blame

"That she defcends not to regard

XXXV.

Fame enter'd in her rolls the fage reply;

66

-an Afs ?"

The dame, defendant, was discharg'd with grace! Go-(to the plaintiff, faid the Sire) and try

By merit to furmount your low-born race.

XXXVI.

"Learn from the Lion to be just and brave,
"Take from the Elephant inftruction wife;
"With gracious breeding like the Horse behave,
"Nor the fagacity of Hounds defpife.

XXXVII.

"Thefe ufeful qualities with care imbibe, "For which fome quadrupedes are juítly priz❜d: "Attain thofe talents that adorn each tribe, "And you'll no longer be a wretch defpis'd."

Α ΜΑΝ

A MAN TOM Y MIND.

(WROTE AT THE REQUEST OF A LADY.)

SINCE

I.

INCE wedlock's in vogue, and ftale virgins defpis'd,

To all batchelors greeting, these lines are premis'd; I'm a maid that would marry, but where fhall I find (I wish not for fortune) a man to my mind?

II.

Not the fair-weather fop, fond of fashion and lace; Not the 'fquire, that can wake to no joys but the chace; Not the free-thinking rake, whom no morals can bind: Neither this-that-nor t'other's the man to my mind.

III.

Not the ruby-fac'd fot, that topes world without end; Not the drone, who can't relifh his bottle and friend; Not the fool, that's too fond; nor the churl that's unkind :

Neither this-that-nor t'other's the man to my mind.

IV.

Not the wretch with full bags, without breeding or merit;

Not the Flash, that's all fury without any spirit;

Not