IT always has been thought discreet,

To know the company you meet;
And fure there may be fecret danger,
In talking much before a stranger.
"Agreed: What then?" Then drink
I'll pledge you, and repeat my tale.
No matter where the scene is fixt:
The perfons were but oddly mixt
When fober Damon thus began

(And Damon is a clever man)

"I now grow

old;

ale your

but ftill, from youth,

"Have held for Modesty and Truth.

"The men, who by these sea-marks steer,

"In life's great voyage never err : "Upon this point I dare defy

The world. I paufe for a reply."

"Sir,

"Sir, either is a good affiftant," Said one who fat a little diftant:

"Truth decks our speeches and our books; "And Modefty adorns our looks:

"But farther progress we must take; "Not only born to look and speak: "The man must act.

The Stagyrite

"Says thus, and fays extremely right:
"Strict juftice is the fovereign guide,

"That o'er our actions fhould prefide:
"This Queen of Virtues is confeft
"To regulate and bind the rest.
"Thrice happy if you once can find
"Her equal balance poise your mind:
"All different graces foon will enter,
"Like lines concurrent to their center."
'Twas thus, in fhort, these two went on,
With YEA and NAY, and PRO and CON,
Through many points divinely dark,
And Waterland affaulting Clarke;
Till, in theology half loft,

Damon took up the Evening-Poft;
Confounded Spain, compos'd the North,
And deep in politicks held forth.

"Methinks we 're in the like condition, "As at the Treaty of Partition:

That ftroke, for all King William's care,
Begat another tedious war.

" Matthew,

Matthew, who knew the whole intrigue, "Ne'er much approv'd that mystic league: "In the vile Utrecht Treaty too, "Poor man! he found enough to do. "Sometimes to me he did apply; "But Down-right Dunstable was I, "And told him where they were mistaken, "And counfel'd him to fave his bacon :

"But (pafs his politicks and profe)

"I never herded with his foes

;

Nay, in his verfes, as a friend,

"I still found fomething to commend.
"Sir, I excus'd his Nut-brown Maid;
"Whate'er feverer critics faid:
"Too far, I own, the girl was try'd:
"The women all were on my fide.
"For Alma I return'd him thanks;
• I lik'd her with her little pranks:

Indeed, 'poor Solomon in rhyme

"Was much too grave to be fublime." Pindar and Damon fcorn transition,

So on he ran a new divifion;

"Till, out of breath, he turn'd to spit ;
(Chance often helps us more than wit.)
T'other that lucky moment took,
Juft nick'd the time, broke in, and spoke.

"The greatest is a friend; whose love
"Knows how to praise, and when reprove i
"From fuch a treasure never part,

"But hang the jewel on your heart:
"And, pray, Sir, (it delights me) tell ;
"You know this Author mighty well?"
"Know him! d'ye queftion it? Ods-fifh!
"Sir, does a beggar know his dish?
"I lov'd him ; as I told you, I

Twitch'd Damon gently by the cloke,
And thus, unwilling, filence broke ;
"Damon, 'tis time we should retire :

"The man you talk with is Mat Prior.
Patron through life, and from thy birth m
friend,

Dorset to thee, this Fable let me fend:

With Damon's lightnefs weigh thy folid worth
The foil is known to fet the diamond forth:
Let the feign'd Tale this real moral give,
HOW MANY Damons, how FEW Dorsets, live!

THE

THE

FEMALE PHAETON.

THUS Kitty, beautiful and young,

And wild as colt untam'd,

Bespoke the Fair from whence the sprung,
With little rage inflam'd:

Inflam'd with rage at fad restraint,
Which wife Mamma ordain'd;
And forely vext to play the Saint,
Whilft Wit and Beauty reign'd:

"Shall I thumb holy books, confin'd
With Abigails, forfaken?

Kitty 's for other things defign'd,
Or I am much mistaken.

Muft Lady Jenny frisk about,
And vifit with her coufins?

At balls muft SHE make all the rout,
And bring home hearts by dozens ?

Lady Catharine Hyde, late duchefs of Queensberry.

What