Away they come, thro' thick and thin,
To a tall house near Lincoln's-Inn;
('Twas on the night of a Debate,

185 When all their Lordships had fate late.)

Behold the place, where if a Poet Shin’d in Description, he might show it; Tell how the Moon-beam trembling falls, And tips with Silver all the walls ;

190 Palladian walls, Venetian doors, Grotesco roofs, and Stucco floors : But let it (in a word) be said, The Moon was up, and Men a-bed, The Napkins white, the Carpet red: 195 The Guests withdrawn had left the Treat, And down the Mice fate, tête à tête.

Our Courtier walks from dish to dish, Tastes for his Friend of Fowl and Fish; Tells all their names, lays down the law,

Que ça eft bon! Ab gouter ça ! “ That Jelly's rich, this Malmsey healing,

Pray, dip your Whiskers and your Tail in.” Was ever such a happy Swain ? He stuffs and swills, and stuffs again. 205 “ I'm quite asham'd—'tis mighty rude “ To eat so much—but all's so good.

200

llle cubans gaudet mutata forte, bonisque
Rebus agit laetum convivam : cum subito ingens
Valvarum ftrepitus lectis excuffit utrumque.
Currere per totum pavidi conclave; magisque
Exanimes trepidare, fimul domus alta Moloffis
Personuit canibus. tum rufticus, Haud mihi vita
Eft opus hac, ait, et valeas : me sylva, cavusque
Tutus ab infidiis tenui folabitur ervo.

210

“ I have a thousand thanks to give

My Lord alone knows how to live.”.
No sooner said, but from the Hall
Rush Chaplain, Butler, Dogs and all :
“ A Rat! a Rat! clap to the door” —
The Cat comes bouncing on the floor.
O for the heart of Homer's Mice,
Or Gods to save them in a trice !

215 (It was by Providence they think, For your

damn'd Stucco has no chink.) “ An't please your Honour," quoth the Peafant, “ This fame Dessert is not so pleasant: “ Give me again my hollow Tree, " A Crust of Bread, and Liberty !"

220

L I B E R IV.

O DE

1.

AD VENERE M.

INTERMISSA, Venus, diu

Rursus bella moves? parce precor, precor. Non fum qualis eram bonae

Sub regno Cynarae. desine, dulcium Mater saeva Cupidinum,

Circa lustra decem flectere mollibus Jam durum imperiis : abi

Quo blandae juventum te revocant preces. Tempestivius in domum

Paulli, purpureis ales oloribus, Comiflabere Maximi

Si torrere jecur quaeris idoneum. Namque et nobilis, et decens,

Et pro folicitis non tacitus reis,

;

Β Ο Ο Κ

IV *

O D E 1.

To V E N U s.

AG

GAIN? new Tumults in my breast?

Ah spare me, Venus! let me, let me rest! I am not now, alas! the man

As in the gentle Reign of My Queen Anne. Ah sound no more thy soft alarms,

Nor circle sober Fifty with thy Charms, Mother too fierce of dear Desires !

Turn, turn to willing hearts your wanton fires. To Number five direct your Doves, There spread round MURRAY all your bloom..

ing Loves; Noble and young, who strikes the heart

With ev'ry sprightly, ev'ry decent part; Equal, the injur'd to defend,

To charm the Mistress, or to fix the Friend,

NO TE s. This, and the unfinished imitation of the ninth Ode of the fourth Book which follows, shew as happy a vein for managing the Odęs of Horace as the Epistles.