Sumptuously kept at bed and board, Nab much exults at this success, But vain such hopes; the mice that fled Nor rats nor mice the lap-dog fear, Meanwhile, to cover their deceit, At once, and slander Grim; Nor corn secure in garret high, On every shelf the vermin prey; The gains from corn apace decay'd, Complaints came from the dairy-maid, With this same lady once there liv'd Who, hearing this, full much was griev'd, And hasten'd to her aid. Much art she us'd for to disclose And opens all the cheat. Struck with the sense of her mistake, And ne'er again her cat forsake, Lest she again repent it. THE WIDOW AND HER CAT. A FABLE.1 A WIDOW kept a favourite cat, But, when he was grown sleek and fat, The fox and he were friends of old, He scratch'd the maid, he stole the cream, Nor chick, nor duckling, 'scapes, when Grim The dame full wisely did decree, For fear he should dispatch more, That the false wretch should worried be; But, in a saucy manner, he Thus speech'd it like a Lechmere : 2 1 In Tindal's Continuation of Rapin, xvii. 454, this fable is said to be by Prior or Swift. In Boyer's Political State, 1720, p. 519, where it is applied to the Duke of Marlborough, it is said to be by Swift or Prior.-N. 2 The celebrated lawyer.-N. "Must I, against all right and law, "Your golden pippins, and your pies, 'Tis true, the pinner, which you prize, I tore in frolic; to your eyes I never harm intended. "I am a cat of honour."-" Stay!" "Of this we'll grant you stand acquit, "So flagrant is thy insolence, So vile thy breach of trust is, That longer with thee to dispense, Here, Towzer!-do him justice." SONGS, SET TO MUSIC BY THE MOST EMINENT MASTERS. I. SET BY MR. ABEL. READING ends in melancholy; Wine breeds vices and diseases; Wealth is but care, and love but folly; Only friendship truly pleases. My wealth, my books, my flask, my Molly; Farewell all, if friendship ceases. II. SET BY MR. PURCELL. WHITHER Would my passion run? Yet would not gain her, to undo her. Ye tyrants of the human breast, |