IT SIR, TO DR. SHERIDAN. Dec. 14, 1719*, 9 at night. Tis impoffible to know by your letter whether the wine is to be bottled to-morrow, or no. If it be, or be not, why did not you, in plain English, tell us fo? For my part, it was by mere chance I came to fit with the ladies+this night: And if they had not told me there was a letter from you; and your man Alexander had not gone, and come back from the deanry; and the boy here had not been fent to let Alexander know I was here; I fhould have miffed the letter out-right. Truly I don't know who's bound to be fending for corks to flop your bottles, with a vengeance. Make a page of your own age, and fend your man, Alexander to buy corks; for Saunders already has. gone above ten jaunts. Mrs. Dingley and Mrs. Johnfon fay, truly they don't care for your wife's company, though they like your wine; but they had rather have it at their own house to drink in quiet. However, they own it is very civil in Mr. Sheridan te make the offer; and they cannot deny it. *This is probably dated too early. Mrs. Dingley and Mrs. Johnson. I wish Alexander fafe at St Catharine's to-night, with all my heart and foul, upon my word and honour: But I think it base in you to fend a poor fellow out fo late at this time of year, when one would not turn out a dog that one valued; I appeal to your friend Mr. Connor I would prefent my humble fervice to my lady Mountcafhel; but truly I thought she would have made advances to have been acquainted with me, as fhe pretended. But now I can write no more, for you fee plainly my paper is ended. 1 P. S. I wish, when you prated, your letter you'd dated: Your man is belated; the cafe I have ftated; I remember my late head; and wish you tranflated, 2 P. S. Mrs Dingley defires me fingly Her fervice to prefent you; hopes that will content you; But Johnfon madam is grown a fad dame, For want of converfe, and cannot fend one verfe. You keep fuch a twattling with you and your bottling; But I fee the fum total, we shall ne'er have a bottle; The The long and the fhort, we shall not have a quart. a spoonfull, And I must be nimble, if I can fill my thimble. You fee I won't ftop, till I come to a drop; : But I doubt the oraculum is a poor fupernaculum; Though perhaps you tell it for a grace, if we fmell it. STELLA TO QUIL CA, A COUNTRY-HOUSE of Dr. SHERIDAN, In no very good Repair, 1725. LET me thy properties explain : A rotten cabbin dropping rain; Chimnies with fcorn rejecting fmoak; Sloth, Dirt, and Theft, around her wait. * The name of an Irish fervant. The The BLESSINGS of a COUNTRY-LIFE. 1725. FAR from our debtors; no Dublin letters; The PLAGUES of a COUNTRY LIFE. A companion with news; a great want of fhoes; [play. all fervants at DR. SHERIDAN TO DR. SWIFT, I hope, as I ride to the town, it won't rain; Entirely extinguifh my poetic vein ; And then I should be as ftupid as Kain, [twain. Who preach'd on three heads, though he mention'd but Now Wardel's in hafte, and begins to complain; Your most humble fervant, Dear Sir, I remain, Get Helfham, Walmsley, Delany, T. SN. * i. e. in Dublin, for they were country-clergy. L T DR. SWIFT'S ANSWER. 'H E verses you fent on the bottling your wine Were, in every one's judgement, exceedingly fine; And I must confefs, as a dean and divine, I think you infpir'd by the Muses all nine. I nicely examin'd them every line, And the worft of them all like a barn-door did fhine. And, give Satan his due, Dan begins to refine. You would really on Thursday leave St. Catharine *, Your beef will on Thursday be falter than brine: The feat of lady Mountcafhel, near Dublin. VOL. I. A a And |