Send it next week, if you are able. Cold and hard times, sir, here, (believe it). I've lost my curate too, and grieve it. At Easter for what I can see, (A time of ease and vacancy) If things but alter, and not undone, I'll kiss your hands, and visit London. Molly sends greeting; so do I, sir; Send a good coat, that's all; good-by, sir. TWO RIDDLES. FIRST PRINTED IN THE EXAMINER, MDCCX. SPHINX was a monster that would eat. Unless his ready wit disclos'd The subtle riddle she propos'd. Edipus was resolv❜d to go, And try what strength of parts would do. Which has four feet at morning bright, Upon all-four; as years accrue, Now, in your turn, 'tis just, methinks, Who has four legs, then two, then three; EPIGRAM EXTEMPORE1 I STOOD, sir, patient at your feet, But make a bishop's throne your seat, One only thing can keep you down, Pay homage to the queen. 1 This epigram is printed from a pamphlet published in 1751, entitled, "The friendly and honest Advice of an old Tory to the Vice-Chancellor of Cambridge." 8vo. from whence also is extracted the following account of the occa. sion which gave birth to it. "In the year 1712, my old friend Matthew Prior, who was then Fellow of St. John's, and who not long before had been employed by the Queen as her plenipotentiary at the court of France, came to NELL AND JOHN. WHEN Nell, given o'er by the doctor, was dying, And John at the chimney stood decently crying; 'Tis in vain, said the woman, to make such ado, For to our long home we must all of us go! True, Nell, replied John; but, what yet is the worst For us that remain, the best always go first: Remember, dear wife, that I said so last year, When you lost your white heifer, and I my brown mare! BIBO AND CHARON. WHEN Bibo thought fit from the world to retreat, died. Cambridge; and the next morning paid a visit to the master of his own college. The master loved Mr. Prior's principles, had a great opinion of his abilities, and a respect for his character in the world; but then he had a much greater respect for himself. He therefore kept his seat himself, and let the queen's ambassador stand, who inmediately on his return wrote the above epigram. WIVES BY THE DOZEN. O DEATH! how thou spoil'st the best project of life! Said Gabriel, who still, as he buried one wife, For the sake of her family, married her cousin : And thus, in an honest collateral line, He still married on till his number was nine, FATAL LOVE. POOR Hal caught his death standing under a spout, Expecting till midnight, when Nan would come out, But fatal his patience, as cruel the dame, And curs'd was the weather that quench'd the man's flame. Whoe'er thou art, that read'st these moral lines, Make love at home, and go to bed betimes. A SAILOR'S WIFE. QUOTH Richard in jest, looking wistly at Nelly, Methinks, child, you seem something round in the belly! Nell answer'd him snappishly, How can that be, When my husband has been more than two years at sea? [carried Thy husband! quoth Dick: why, that matter was Most secretly, Nell; I ne'er thought thou wert married. ON A FART, LET IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS. READER, I was born, and cried ; THE MODERN SAINT. HER time with equal prudence Silvia shares, |