08

Ten thousand flocks his shepherd told,

To have a curious trick in store, His coffers overflow'd with gold ;

Which never was perform'd before. The land all round him was his own.

Thro' all the town this soon got air, With corn his crowded granaries groan.

And the whole house was like a fair; In short, so vast his charge and gain,

But soon his entry as he made, That to possess them was a pain :

Without a prompter, or parade, With happiness oppress'd he lies,

'Twas all expectance, all suspense, And much too prudent to be wise.

And silence gagg'd the audience. Near him there livil a beauteous maid,

He hid his head behind his wig, With all the charms of youth array'd;

And with such truth took off a pig, Good, amiable, sincere and free,

All swore'twas serious, and no joke, Her name was Generosity.

For doubtless underneath his cloak, 'Twas hers the largess to bestow

He had conceal'd some grunting elf, On rich and poor, on friend and fue.

Or, was a real hog himself. Her doors to all were open'd wide,

A search was made, no pig was foundThe pilgrim there might safe abide :

With thund'ring claps the seats resound, For th' hungry and the thirsty crew,

And pit, and box, and galleries roar, The bread she broke, the drink she dreir;

With-0 rare! bravo ! and encore. There Sickness laid her aching head,

Old Roger Grouse, a country clown, And there Distress cou'd find a bed.

Who yet knew something of the town, Each hour with an all-bounteous hand,

Beheld the mimic and his whim, Diffus'd she blessings round the land :

And on the morrow challeng'd him, Her gifts and glory lasted long,

Declaring to each beau and bunter, And numerous was th' accepting throng.

That he'd out-grunt th' egregious grunter. At length pale Penury seiz'd the dame,

The morrow came the crowd was greater And Fortune fled, and Ruin came,

But prejudice and rank ill-nature , She found her riches at an end,

Usurp'd the minds of men and wenches, And that she had not made one friend.

Who came to hiss, and break the benches. . , All curs'd her for not giving more,

The mimic took his usual station, Nor thought on what she'd done before;

And squeak'd with general approbation, She wept, she rav'd, she tore her hair,

“ Again, encore ! encore !” they cry When lo ! to comfort her came Care.

'Twas quite the thingtwas very high : And cry'd, My dear, if you will join

Old Grouse conceal'd, amidst the racket, Your band in nuptial bonds with mine;

A real pig beneath his jacketAll will be well you shall have store,

Then forth he came and with bis nail And I be plagu'd with wealth no more.

He pinch'J the urchin by the tail. Tho' I restraiu your bounteous heart,

The tortur'd pig from out his throat, You still shall act the generous part.”

Produc'd the genuine nat'ral note. The bridal came great was the feast,

All bellow'd out-twas very sad ! And good the pudding and the priest;

Sure never stuff was half so bad ! The bride in nine moons brought him forth

“ That like a pig !"'-each cry'd in scoff, A little maid of matchless wortb:

"Pshaw! Nonsense! blockhead! Off! Oh! Off!" Her face was mix'd of care and glee,

The mimic was extoll'd; and Grouse They christen’d her Economy ;

Was hiss'd, and catcall'd from the bouse. And styled her fair Discretion's queen,

“ Soft ye, a word before I go," The mistress of the golden mean.

Quoth honest Hodge—and stooping low Now Generosity confio'd,

Produc'd the pig, and thus aloud Perfectly easy in her mind;

Bespoke the stupid partial croud: Still loves to give, yet knows to spare,

Behold, and learn from this poor creature, Nor wishes to be free from Care.

How much you crities know of Nature.”

THE PIG.

FABLE XVIII.
Is every age, and each profession,
Men err the most by prepossession,
But when the thing is clearly shown,
And fairly stated, Fully known,
We soon applaud what we deride,
And penitence succeeds to pride.
A certain baron on a day,
Having a mind to show away,
Invited all the wits and wags,
Foot, Massey, Shutter, Yates and Skeggs,
And built a large commodious stage,
For the choice spirits of the age;
But above all, among the rest,
There came a genius who profess'd

BALLADS.
SIVEET WILLIAY.

BALLAD I.
By a prattling stream, on a Midsammier's eve,
Where the woodbine and jess'mine their boughs

interweave,
« Fair Flora,” I cry'd, “ to my harbour repair,
For I must have a chaplet for sweet William's

hair."
She brought me the vi'let that grows on the bill,
The vale-dwelling lily, and gilded jonquill:
But such languid odours how cou'd I approve,
Just warm from the lips of the lad that I love.
She brought me, his faith and his truth to dis-
The undying myrtle, and ever-green bay : (play,

fore;

But why these to me, who're his constancy And sing with more than usual glee

To Nancy, who was born for me,
known?
And Billy bas laurels enough of his own.

Tell the blithe Graces as they bound

Luxuriant in the buxom round ;
The next was the gift that I could not contemn,
For she brought me two roses that grew on a stem: They're not more elegantly free,
Of the dear nuptial tie they stood emblems'confest, Than Nancy, who was born for me.
So I kiss'd 'em, and press'd 'em quite close to

Tell royal Venus, though she rove,
my breast.

The queen of the immortal grove ;
She brought me a sun-flow's~"This, fair one's That she must share her golden fee
your due;

With Nancy, wbo was born for me.
For it once was a maiden, and love-sick like you:” Tell Pallas, though th’Athenian school,
Oh! give it me quick, to my shepherd I'll run,

And ev'ry trite pedantic fool,
As true to his fame, as this flow'r to the Sun.

On her to place the palm agree,
Tis Nancy's, who was born for me.
Tell spotless Dian, though she range,

The regent of the up-land grange,
THE LASS WITH THE GOLDEN In chastity she yields to thee,
LOCKS

0, Nancy, who wast born for me.
BALLAD 11.

Tell Cupid, Hymen, and tell Jove,
No more of my Harriot, of Polly no more,

With all the pow'rs of life and love,
Nor all the bright beauties that charm'd me be- That I'd disdain to breathe or be,

If Nancy was not born for me,
My heart for a slave to gay Venus I've sold,
And barter'd my freedom for ringlets of gold :
I'll throw down my pipe, and neglect all my
focks,

THE DECISION.
And will sing to my lass with the golden locks.
Thougho'er her wbite forehead the gilt tresses flow,

BALLAD IV.
Like the rays of the Sun on a hillock of snow;

My Florio, wildest of bis sex,
Such painters of old drew the qucen of the fair,
Tis the taste of the ancients, 'tis classical hair :

(Who sure the veriest sajnt would vex) And though witlings may scoff, and though rail

From beauty roves to beauty;

Yet, though abroad the wanton roam, tery mocks,

Whene'er he deigns to stay at home,
Yet Pll sing to my lass with the golden locks.

He always minds his duty.
To live and to love, to converse and be free,

Something to every charming she,
Is loving, my charmer, and living with thee:
Away go the hours in kisses and rhyme,

In thoughtless prodigality,
Spite of all the grave lectures of old father Time;

He's granting still and granting;
A fig for his dials, his watches and clocks,

To Phyllis that, to Cloe this,

And every madam, every miss;
He's best spent with the lass of the golden locks,

Yet I find nothing wanting.
Than the swan in the brook she's more dear to my If haply I his will displease,

sight,
Her mien is more stately, her breast is more white, Tempestuous as th’autumnal seas

He foams and rages ever;
Her sweet lips are rubies, all rubies above,

But when he ceases from bisire,
They are fit for the language or labour of love;
At the Park in the Mall, at the play in the box,

“Such spirit, and such fire,
My lass bears the bell with her golden locks.

Is surely wond'rous clever.”
Her beautiful eyes, as they roll or they flow,

I ne'er want reason to complain;
Sliall be glad for my joy, or shall weep for my | But sweet is pleasure after pain,

(soft pain;

And every joy grows greater.
She shall ease my fond heart, and shall sooth my

Then trust me, damsels, whilst I tell,
While thousands of rivals are sighing in vain ;

I should not like him half so well,

If I cou'd make him better.
Let them rail at the fruit they can't reach, like

the fox,
While I have the lass with the golden locks.

I cry,

woe;

My nearest prospect of relief.

TO MISS * * * *

ONE

And am as raging Barry hot.
Preedom of air alone is giv'n,

True, virtuous, lovely, was his dove,
To aggravate, nor sooth my grief,

But virtue, beauty, truth and love,
To view thimmensely.distant Heav'n,

Are other names for Harriot,
Ye factious members who oppose,
And tire both houses with your prose,

Though never can you carry aught;

You might command the nation's sense, THE CHICHESTER GRACES.

And without bribery convince,

Had ye the voice of Harriot.
Written in Goodwood Gardens, September, 1750.

You of the music common weal,
BALLAD X.

Who borrow, beg, compose, or steal,
YE Hills that overlook the plains,

Cantata, air, or ariet;

You'd burn your cumb'rous works in score,
Where wealth and Gothic greatness reigns,

And sing, compose, and play no more,
Where Nature's hand by Art is check’d,
And Taste herself is architect ;

If once you heard my Harriot.
Ye fallows gray, ye forests brown,

Were there a wretch who dar'd essay,
And seas that the vast prospect crown,

Such wond'rous sweetness to betray,
Ye fright the soul with Fancy's store,

I'd call him an Iscariot ;
Nor can she one idea more!''

But her e'en satire can't annoy,
I said when dearest of her kind

So strictly chaste, but kindly coy,
(Her form, the picture of her mind)

Is fair angelic Harriot.
Chloris approach'd— The landscape flew ! While sultans, emperors, and kings,
All naturc vanish'd from my view!

(Mean appetite of earthly things)
She seem'd all nature to comprize,

In all the waste of war riot ;
Her lips! her beauteous breasts ! her eyes ! Lore's softer duel be my aim,
That rous'd, and yet abash'd desire,

Praise, honour, glory, conquest, fame,
With liquid, languid, living fire !

Are center'd all in Marriot.
But therlher voice !-how fram'd t endear! I swear by Hymen and the pow'rs
The music of the gods to hear!

That haunt love's ever blushing bow'rs,
Wit that so piercd, without offence,

So sweet a nymph to marry ought:
So brac'd by the strong nerves of sense !

Then may I hug her silken yoke,
Pallas with Venus play'd her part,

And give the last, the final stroke,
To rob me of an bonest heart;

Taccomplish lovely Harriot.
Prudence and passion jointly strove,
And reason was th'ally of love.
Ah me! thou sweet, delicious maid,

TO JENNY GRAY,
From whence shall I solicit aid ?

BALLAD XII.
Hope and despair alike destroy,
One kills with grief, and one with joy.

BRING, Phæbus, from Parnassian bow'rs,
Celestial Chloris! Nymph divine !

A chaplet of poetic flowers,
To save me, the dear task be thine.

That far outbloom the May;
Though conquest be the woman's care,

Bring verse so smooth, and thoughts so free,
The angel's glory is to spare.

And all the Muses heraldry,

To blazon Jenny Gray.
Observe yon almond's rich perfume,

Presenting Spring with early bloom,
LOVELY HARRIOT.

In ruddy tints how gay!

Thus, foremost of the blushing fair,
A CRAMBO BALLAD

With such a blithsome, buxom air,
BALLAD XI.

Blooms lovely Jenny Gray.
GREAT Phoebus in his vast career,

The merry, chirping, plumy throng!
Who forms the self succeeding year,

The bushes and the twigs among
Thron'd in his amber chariot;

That pipe the sylvan lay,
Sees not an object half so bright,

All hush'd at ber delightful voice
Nor gives such joy, such life, such light,

In silent ecstacy rejoice,
As dear delicious Harriot.

And study Jenny Gray.
Pedants of dull phlegmatic turns,

Ye balmy odour-breathing gales,
Whose pulse not beats, whose blood not burns, That lightly sweep the green rob’d vales,
Read Malebranche, Boyle and Marriot;

And in each rose-bush play;
I scor their philosophic strife,

I know you all, you're arrant cheats,
And study nature from the life,

And steal your more than natural sweets, (Where most she shines) in Harriot,

From lovely Jenny Gray.
When she admits another wooer,

Pumona and that goddess bright,
| rave sike Shakespeare's jealous Moor,

The Aorist's and the maids delight,

AND

72
In vain their charms display;

While a forc'd blush her cheeks inflam'd,
The luscious nectarine, juicy peach,

*d seem'd to say she was asham'd. In richness, nor in sweetness reach

No handkerchief her bosom hid, The lips of Jenny Gray.

No tippet from our sight debars To the sweet knot of Graces three,

Her heaving breasts with moles o'erspread, Th’immortal band of bards agree,

Mark'd, little hemispheres, with stars ; A tuneful tax to pay ;

While on them all our eyes we more, There yet remains a matchless worth,

Our eyes that meant immoderate luve. There yet remains a lovelier fourth,

In every gesture, cvery air,
And she is Jenny Gray,

Th’imperfect lisp, the languid eye,
In every motion of the fair

We awkward imitators vie,
TO MISS KITTY BENNET,

And, forming our own from her face,

Strive to look pretty as we gaze,
HER CAT CROP.

If e'er she sneer'd, the mimic crowd

Sneer'd too, and all their pipes laid down;
BALLAD XIII.

If she but stoop'd, we lowly bow'd,

And sullen if she'gan to frown Full full many a heart, that now is free,

In solemn sidence sat profound
May shortly, fair one, beat for thee,

But did she laugh!—the laugh went round.
And court thy pleasing chain;
Then prudent hear a friend's advice,

Iler snuff-box if the nymph pull'd out,
And learn to guard, by conduct nice,

Each Johnian in responsive airs

Fed with the tickling dust bis snout,
The conquests you shall gain.

With all the politesse of bears.
When Tabby Tom your Crop pursties,

Dropt she her fan beneath her hoop,
How many a bite, and many a bruise

Ev'n stake-stuck Clarians strore to stoop.
The amorous swain endures?
E'er yet one favouring ylance he catch,

The sons of culinary Kays
What frequent squalls, how many a scratch Smoking from the eternal treat,
His tenderness procures?

Lost in ccstatic transport gaze.

As though the fair was good to eat; Tho' this,'tis own'd, be somewhat rude,

Ev'n gloomiest king's men, pleas'd awhile, And Puss by nature be a prude,

“ Grin horribly a ghastly smile.” Yet hence you iras improve, By decent pride, and dint of scoff,

But hark, she cries, “ My mamma calls,"
Keep caterwauling coxcombs off,

And straight she's vanish'd from our sight;
And ward th' attacks of love.

'Twas then we saw the empty bowls,

'Twas then we first perceiv'd it night; Your Crop a mousing when you see,

While all, sad synod, silent trvan,
She teaches you economy,

Both that she went—and went alone.
Which makes the pot to boil:
And when she plays with what she gains,
She shows you pleasure springs from pains,
And mirth's the fruit of tuil.

THE WIDOW'S RESOLUTION.

A CANTATA,

TIE PRETTY BAR-KEEPER OF THE

MITRL.

BALLAD XV.

RECITATIVE.

Sylvia, the most contented of her hinil,
Remain'd in joyless widowhood resign'd:
In vain to gain her every shepherd strove,
Each passion ebb’d, but grief, which drowned

love.

AIR,

BALLAD XIV.

Written at College, 1741, “Retax, sweet girl, your wearied mind,

And to hear the poet talk,
Gentlest creature of your kini,

Iay aside your sponge and cbalk;
Cease, cease the bar-bell, nor refuse
To hear the jingle of the Muse.
“ Hear your numerous vot’ries prayers,

Come, O come, and bring with thee
Giddy whimsies, wanton airs,

And all lore's soft artillery ;
Smiles and throbs, and frowns, and tears.
With all the little bopes and fcais.”
She beard-she came and e'er she spoke,

Not unravish'd you might see
Her wanton eyes that wink'd the joke,

E'er her tongue could set it frce.

“Away,” she cry'd, “ ye swains, be mute,
Nor with your odious fruitless suit

My loyal thoughts controul;
My grief on resolution's rock
Is built, nor can temptation shock

The purpose of my soul.
« Though blithe content with jocund air,
May balance comfort against care,

And make me life sustain ;
Yet ev'ry joy bas wing'd its fight,
Except that pensive dear delight

That takes it's rise from pain."