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A N

IMITATION

OF A FRENCH AUTHOR.

CAN you count the filver lights

That deck the fkies, and cheer the nights;.
Or the leaves that ftrow the vales,
When groves are stript by winter-gales ;
Or the drops that in the morn

Hang with transparent pearl the thorn;
Or bridegroom's joys, or mifer's cares,
Or gamefter's oaths, or hermit's prayers;
Or envy's pangs, or love's alarms,

Or Marlborough's acts, or --n's charms?

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WH

HEN Fame did o'er the fpacious plain The lays fhe once had learn'd repeat; All liften'd to the tuneful ftrains,

And wonder'd who could fing fo fweet. 'Twas thus. The Graces held the lyre,

Th' harmonious frame the Muses ftrung, The Loves and Smiles compos'd the choir, And Gay tranfcrib'd what Phoebus fung.

TO

MERRY

TO THE

POETASTER

AT

SADLERS-HALL IN CHEAPSIDE.

UNW

NWIELDY pedant, let thy aukward Muse
With cenfures praise, with flatteries abuse.
To lash, and not be felt, in thee 's an art;

Thou ne'er mad'st any, but thy school-boys, fmart.
Then be advis'd, and fcribble not again;

Thou 'rt fashion'd for a flail, and not a pen.
If B--l's immortal wit thou would'st defcry,
Pretend 'tis he that writ thy poetry.

Thy feeble fatire ne'er can do him wrong;
Thy poems and thy patients live not long.

THE EARL OF GODOLPHIN TO DR. GARTH,
UPON THE LOSS OF MISS DINGLE:
In return to the DOCTOR'S Confolatory Verses to
him, upon the lofs of his ROD *.

THOU, who the pangs of my embitter'd rage
Could'ft, with thy never-dying verfe, affuage;
Immortal verfe, fecure to live as long

As that curs'd profe that did condemn thy fong:
Thou, happy bard, whofe double-gifted pen,
Alike can cure an aking corn, or spleen;

*See above, p. 109.

Whofe

Whofe lucky hand administers repose

As well to breaking heart, as broken nose;
Accept this tribute: think it all I had,
In recompence of thine, when I was fad..

What though it comes from an unpractis'd Mufe,
Bad at the beft, grown worse by long difufe;
In filence loft, fince once I did complain
· Of Wiv-l's cold neglect in humble strain ;
When, check'd by flavish conscience, the deny'd
To throw afide the niece, and act the bride :
Yet fure I may be thought among the throng
If not to fing, to whistle out a fong:
Then take the kind remembrance of my verfe,
While Dingle's lofs with forrow I rehearse.
Dingle is loft, the hollow caves refound
Dingle is loft, and multiply the found;
Till Echo, chaunting it by just degree,
Shortens to Ding, then foftens it to D.

Dingle is loft; where 's now the parent's care,
The boafted force of piety and prayer?
No more fhall the within thy fpacious hall
Lead up the dance, and animate the ball;
Deferted thus, no more fhalt thou engage
Under the roof to Whartonize the age.

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Train'd by thy care, by thy example led,
Early the learnt to fcorn the nuptial bed;
In vain by thy advice enlarg'd her mind,
And vow'd, like thee, to multiply her kind:
For Dingle thou didst bless the nether skies;
In hopes a mingled race might once arife,
To footh thy hoary age, and close thy dying eyes.

2

Learn,

Learn, ye indulging parents, learn from hence:
Think not compliance e'er will influence.
The fifth command alone you did enjoin,
And frankly gave her up the other nine:

Yet fhe, though that, and that alone, was prefs'd,
Regardless of your will, the fifth tranfgrefs'd.

But oh ! my friend, confider, though the 's gone,
She left no coffers empty but her own;

Her mind, that did direct the great machine,
Mov'd, like the universe, by springs unfeen;
And, though from thy inftructions fhe retreats,
Her globe of light grows larger as she sets :
For nought could brighter make her luftre shine,
Than to withdraw, and fingle it from thine.
Then think of this; and pardon, when you fee,
Thofe virtues you fo late admir'd in me.

CON.

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