T always has been thought difcreet, To know the company you meet; And fure there may be fecret danger, In talking much before a stranger.
Agreed: What then?" Then drink your ale;
I'll pledge you, and repeat my tale.
No matter where the fcene is fixt:
The perfons were but oddly mixt;
When fober Damon thus began
(And Damon is a clever man):
"I now grow old; but ftill, from youth,
"Have held for Modesty and Truth.
"The men, who by thefe fea marks fteer,
"In life's great voyage never err:
"Upon this point I dare defy
"The world. I paufe for a reply."
"Sir, either is a good affistant,"
Said one who fat a little diftant:
"Truth decks our speeches and our books;
"And Modesty adorns our looks:
“But farther progress we must take ;
"Not only born to look and fpeak
"The man must act. The Stagyrite
"Says thus, and fays extremely right:
"Strict juftice is the fovereign guide,
"That o'er our actions should preside :
"This Queen of Virtues is confest
"To regulate and bind the rest.
"Thrice happy, if you once can find
"Her equal balance poife your mind :
"All different graces foon will enter,
"Like lines concurrent to their center.'
'Twas thus, in fhort, thefe two went on,
With yea and nay, and pro and con,
Through many points divinely dark,
And Waterland affaulting Clarke;
Till, in theology half loft,
Damon took up the Evening-Poft;
Confounded Spain, compos'd the North,
And deep in politicks held forth.
"Methinks we're in the like condition, "As at the Treaty of Partition :
"That stroke, for all King William's care,
"Begat another tedious war.
"Matthew, who knew the whole intrigue,
"Ne'er much approv'd that mystic league:
"In the vile Utrecht Treaty too,
"Poor man! he found enough to do.
"Sometimes to me he did apply;
"But down-right Dunstable was I,
"And told him where they were mistaken,
"And counfel'd him to fave his bacon:
"But (pafs his politicks and profe)
"I never herded with his foes;
Nay, in his verses, as a friend,
"I ftill found fomething to commend.
Sir, I excus'd his Nut-brown Maid;
"Whate'er feverer critics faid:
"Too far, I own, the girl was try’d:
"The women all were on my fide.
"For Alma I return'd him thanks;
"I lik'd her with her little pranks:
"Indeed, poor Solomon in rhyme
"Was much too grave to be fublime."
Pindar and Damon fcorn transition,
So on he ran a new division;
Till, out of breath, he turn'd to fpit;
(Chance often helps us more than wit).
T'other that lucky moment took,
Juft nick'd the time, broke in, and spoke.
"Of all the gifts the gods afford
(If we may take old Tully's word),
"The greatest is a friend; whofe love
"Knows how to praife, and when reprove :
"From fuch a treasure never part,
"But hang the jewel on your heart:
"And, pray, Sir, (it delights me) tell;
"You know this Author mighty well?"
"Know him! d'ye question it? Ods-fish!
"Sir, does a beggar know his difh?
"I lov'd him; as I told you, I
“Advis'd him —"Here a stander-by
Twitch'd Damon gently by the cloke,
And thus, unwilling, filence broke;
"Damon, 'tis time we fhould retire :
"The man you talk with is Mat Prior.
Patron through life, and from thy birth my friend, Dorset to thee, this Fable let me fend :
With Damon's lightness weigh thy folid worth:
The foil is known to fet the diamond forth:
Let the feign'd Tale this real moral give,
How many Damons, how few Dorfets, live!
HUS Kitty *,
And wild as colt untam'd,
Bespoke the Fair from whence the sprung,
With little rage inflam'd:
Infiam'd with rage at fad restraint,
Which wife Mamma ordain'd;
And forely vext to play the Saint,
Whilft Wit and Beauty reign'd:
"Shall I thumb holy books, confin'd
With Abigails, forfaken?
Kitty 's for other things defign'd,
Or I am much mistaken.
Muft Lady Jenny frisk about,
And vifit with her coufins ?
At balls must be make all the rout,
And bring home hearts by dozens?
*Lady Catharine Hyde, now duchefs of Queenfberry.
What has the better, pray, than I,
What hidden charms to boast,
That all mankind for her fhould die;
Whilft I am scarce a toast?
Dearest Mamma! for once let me,
Unchain'd, my fortune try;
I'll have my Earl as well as She*,
Or know the reason why.
I'll foon with Jenny's pride quit fcore,
Make all her lovers fall:
They'll grieve I was not loos'd before;
She, I was loos'd at all."
Fondness prevail'd, Mamma gave way;
Kitty, at heart's defire,
Obtain'd the chariot for a day,
And fet the world on fire.
THE JUDGEMENT OF VENUS.
WHEN Kneller's works of various grace
Were to fair Venus shown;
The Goddess fpy'd in every face
Some features of her own.
Juft fo! (and pointing with her hand)
So fhone, fays fhe, my eyes t,
When from two Goddeffes I gain'd
An apple for a prize.
* The Earl of Effex married Lady Jane Hyde.
|