And what will folks fay, if they fee you afraid: It reflects upon me; as I knew not my trade: Courage, friend: to day is your period of forrow; And things will go better, believe me, to-morrow. Derry down, &c. To-morrow! our hera reply'd in a fright: He that's hang'd before noon, ought to think of tonight. Tell your beads, quoth the priest, and be fairly trufs'd For you furely to-night shall in Paradife fup. [up. Derry down, &c. Alas! quoth the fquire, howe'er fumptuous the treat, Parblew, I fhall have little ftomach to eat : I should therefore esteem it great favour and grace; Would you be fo kind as to go in my place. Derry down, &c. That I would, quoth the father, and thank you to boot : But our actions, you know, with our duty muft fuit. Then turning about to the hangman, he faid; AN EPITAPH. IN Stet quicunque volet potens Senec NTER'D beneath this marble stone, Lie faunt'ring Jack, and idle Joan. While rolling threescore years and one Did round this globe their courfes run; If human things went ill or well: If changing empires rofe or fell;, The morning paft, the evening came,. And found this couple ftill the fame. They walk'd and eat, good folks: what then? Why then they walk'd and eat again : They foundly flept the night away: They just did nothing all the day : And having bury'd children four, Would not take pains to try. for more: Nor fifter either had, nor brother: Slothful diforder fill'd his ftable; They gave Just when it grew not fit to eat. They paid the church and parish rate;. No man's defects fought they to know ; They neither added, nor confounded They neither wanted, nor abounded. Each Christmas they accounts did clear; And wound their bottom round the year. Nor tear, nor fmile did they imploy At news of public grief, or joy. When bells were rung, and bonfires made If afk'd, they ne'er deny'd their aid : Their jugg was to the ringers carry'd; Whoever either dy'd, or marry'd. Their billet at the fire was found ; Who ever was depos'd, or crown'd. Nor good, nor bad, nor fools, nor wife; They would not learn, nor could advise : Without love, hatred, joy, or fear, They led-a kind of as it were: Nor wifh'd, nor car'd, nor laugh'd, nor cry'd ; And so they liv'd, and so they dy’d. D HORACE Lib. I. Epift. IX. Septimius, Claudi, nimirum intelligit unus IMITATED. To the Right Honourable Mr. HARLEY. EAR Dick, howe'er it comes into his head Believes as firmly as he does his creed, That you and I, Sir, are extremely great; Tho' I plain Mat, you minifter of state. One word from me, without all doubt, he fays, Wou'd fix his fortune in fome little place. Thus better than myself, it feems, he knows, How far my intereft with my patron goes; And anfwering all objections I can make, Still plunges deeper in his dear mistake. From this wild fancy, Sir, there may proceed One wilder yet, which I forefee, and dread; That I, in fact, a real interest have, Which to my own advantage I, wou'd fave, And, with the ufual courtier's. trick, intend To ferve myself, forgetful of my friend. To fhun this cenfure, I all fhame lay by; And make my reafon with his will complyi Hoping for my excufe, 'twill be confeft, I' N one great Now, fuperior to an age,. II. While the fierce monk does at his trial ftand; He chews revenge, abjuring his offence: Guile in his tongue, and murther in his hand. He ftabs his judge, to prove his innocence. The guilty ftroke and torture of the steel Infix'd, our dauntlefs Briton fcarce perceives: The wounds his country from his death must feel, The Patriot views; for thofe alone he grieves. |