We find the friends we fancied we had won, Thodgh num'rous once, reduc'd to few or none? Can gold grow worthlefs that has ftood the touch? No: Gold they feem'd, but they were never fuch.

Horatio's fervant once, with bow and cringe, Swinging the parlour door upon its hinge, Dreading a negative, and overaw'd

Left he should trefpafs, begg'd to go abroad.
Go, fellow!-whither ?-turning short about-
Nay. Stay at home you're always going out.
'Tis but a step, fir, just at the street's end-
For what?--An please you, fir, to see a friend.
A friend? Horatio cried, and feem'd to start-
Yea marry fhalt thou, and with all my heart-
And fetch my cloak, for though the night be raw
I'll fee him too the firft I ever faw.

I knew the man, and knew his nature mild,..
And was his play-thing often when a child;
But fomewhat at that moment pinch'd him clofe,
Elfe he was feldom bitter or morofe:

Perhaps, his confidence just then betray'd,

His grief might prompt him with the fpeech he

made;

Perhaps 'twas mere good-humour gave it birth,
The harmless play of pleafantry and mirth.

-Howe'er

1

JOSEPH

HILL, ESQ. 233

Howe'er it was, his language, in my mind,
Bespoke at least a man that knew mankind.

But not to moralize too much, and strain
To prove an evil of which all complain,
(I hate long arguments, verbofely spun)
One story more, dear Hill, and I have done :
Once on a time, an Emp'ror, a wife man,
No matter where, in China or Japan,
Decreed that whofoever fhould offend
Against the well-known duties of a friend,
Convicted once, should ever after wear
But half a coat, and fhow his bofom bare.
The punishment importing this, no doubt,
That all was naught within, and all found out.
Oh happy Britain! we have not to fear
Such hard and arbitrary measure here;
Elfe, could a law like that which I relate,
Once have the fanction of our triple state,
Some few, that I have known in days of old,
Would run moft dreadful risk of catching cold;
While you, my friend, whatever wind fhould blow,
Might traverse England safely to and fro,

An honest man, clofe-button'd to the chin,
Broad-cloth without, and a warm heart within.