And half the company is teaz'd,
That came together to be pleas'di
For, all buffoons have moft in view
To please themfelves by vexing you

You wonder now to fee me write So gravely on a subject light;

Some part

of what I here defign

Regards a Friend *of your's and mine §
Who, neither void of fenfe nor wit,
Yet feldom judges what is fit,
But fallies oft beyond his bounds,
And takes unmeasurable rounds.

When jefts are carried on too far, And the loud laugh begins the war, You keep your countenance for fhame, Yet ftill you think your friend to blame. For, though men cry they love a jest, 'Tis but when others ftand the test:

And, would you have their meaning

known?

They love a jeft that is their own.

You must, although the point be nice, friend fome good advice i

Bestow your

One hint from you will fet him right,
And teach him how to be polite.

Bid him, like you, obferve with care,
Whom to be hard on, whom to spare;
Nor, indiftinctly, to fuppofe

All fubjects like Dan Jackson's nofe:
To study the obliging jeft

By reading those who teach it beft;
For profe I recommend Voiture's,
For verfe (I fpeak my judgment) yours.
He'll find the fecret out from thence,
To thyme all day without offence;
And I no more fhall then accuse
The flirts of his ill-manner'd mufe.

If he be guilty, you must mend him ; If he be innocent, defend him.

AN

INVITATION to DINNER,

FROM

DOCTOR SHERIDAN to DOCTOR SWIFT.

Written in the Year м DCC XXVII.

'VE fent to the ladies* this morning, to

I'VE

warn 'em

[farnam; To order their chaise, and repair to † RathWhere you fhall be welcome to dine, if your Deanship

[la's leanship ‡ Can take with me, and friend Stel

up

my

I've got you fome foals, and a fresh bleeding bret,

[net: That's just disengag'd from the toils of a An excellent loin of fat veal to be roafted, With lemons, and butter, and fippets well toafted:

Some larks that defcended, miftaking the fkies, [her eyes; Which Stella brought down by the light of

Mrs. Johnfon [Stella] and her friend Mrs. Dingley. A village near Dublin, where Dr. Sheridan had a country-house.

Stella was at this time in a very declining state of health. She died the January following.

And

And there, like Narciffus, they gaz'd till [that are fry'd.

they dy'd,

And now they're to lie in fome crumbs My wine will infpire you with joy and delight, [bright,

'Tis mellow, and old, and sparkling, and An emblem of one that you love I suppose, Who gathers more lovers the older fhe grows *.

Let me be your Gay, and let Stella be Pope, We'll wean you from fighing for England I hope:

When we are together there's nothing that is dull,

There's nothing like Durfey, or Smedley, or Tifdall. +

1

We've fworn to make out an agreeable

feaft,

[taste. Our dinner, our wine, and our wit to your

Your answer in half an hour, tho' you are at Prayers; you have a pencil in your pocket.

* He means Stella, who was certainly one of the most amiable women in the world.

† A gentleman of wit and learning, who had written fome very sarcastic verses upon Sheridan.

DINGLEY, and BRENT.*

ASON G.

To the Tune of Ye Commons and Peers.

DINGLEY and Brent

Wherever they went,

Ne'er minded a word that was spoken;
Whatever was faid,

They ne'er troubled their head,
But laugh'd at their own filly joking.

Should Solomon wife

In majesty rise,

And fhew them his wit and his learning;

They never would hear,

But turn the deaf ear,
As a matter they had no concern in.

You tell a good jeft,

And please all the reft,

Comes Dingley, and afks you, What was it?

And curious to know,

Away fhe will go

To feek an old rag in the closet.

* Dr. Swift's house-keeper.

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