תמונות בעמוד
PDF
ePub

Of which you need not read one letter:
The worse the scrawl, the dofe the better.
For if you knew but what you take,
Though you recover, he must break.

Ideas, forms, and intellects,

Have furnish'd out three different fects.

Subftance, or accident, divides

All Europe into adverse fides.

Now, as, engag'd in arms or laws,

You must have friends to back your caufe;

In philofophic matters fo

Your judgment muft with others' go:

Majority of voices rules.

For as in fenates, fo in schools,

Poor Alma, like a lonely deer,

100

105

110

O'er hills and dales does doubtful err:
With panting hafte, and quick surprise,
From every leaf that ftirs, fhe flies;
Till, mingled with the neighbouring herd,
She flights what erft fhe fingly fear'd:
And now, exempt from doubt and dread,
She dares pursue, if they dare lead;
As their example ftill prevails,
She tempts the ftream, or leaps the pales.

He then, quoth Dick, who by your
Thinks for himself, becomes a fool;
As party man, who leaves the reft,
Is call'd but whimsical * at beft.

rule

115

120

125

* Some of the Tories, in the queen's reign, were diftinguished

by that app llation.

Now,

Now, by your favour, mafter Mat,

Like Ralpho, here I smell a rat.

I must be lifted in your fect,

Who, though they teach not, can protect.

130

Right, Richard, Mat in triumph cry'd:

So put off all miftruft and pride.
And, while my principles I beg,
Pray anfwer only with your leg.
Believe what friendly I advise :
Be firft fecure, and then be wife.

The man within the coach that fits,
And to another's skill submits,
Is fafer much (whate'er arrives),
And warmer too, than he that drives.
So Dick Adept, tuck back thy hair,
And I will pour into thy ear
Remarks, which none did e'er difclofe
In fmooth-pac'd verfe, or hobbling profe.
Attend, dear Dick; but don't reply:
And thou may'st prove as wife as I.
When Alma now, in different ages,
Has finish'd her ascending stages,
Into the head at length fhe gets,
And there in public grandeur fits,
To judge of things, and cenfure wits.
Here, Richard, how could I explain
The various labyrinths of the brain!
Surprise my readers, whilst I tell 'em
Of cerebrum, and cerebellum !
How could I play the commentator
On dura and on pia mater !

N 3

[blocks in formation]

Where hot and cold, and dry and wet,
Strive each the other's place to get;
And, with inceffant toil and ftrife,
Would keep poffeffion during life.
I could demonftrate every pore,
Where memory lays up all her store;
And to an inch compute the station
"Twixt judgment and imagination.
O friend! I could difplay much learning,
At least to men of fmall difcerning.
The brain contains ten thousand cells:
In each fome active fancy dwells;
Which always is at work, and framing
The feveral follies I was naming.
As in a hive's vimineous dome
Ten thousand bees enjoy their home,
Each does her ftudious actions
To go and come, to fetch and carry;
Each still renews her little labour,
Nor juftles her affiduous neighbour:
Each whilft this thefis I maintain,
I fancy, Dick, I know thy brain.
O, with the mighty theme affected,
Could I but fee thy head diffected!

vary,

160

165

170

175

180

My head! quoth Dick, to ferve your whim!

Spare that, and take fome other limb.

Sir, in your nice affairs of system,

Wife men propofe; but fools affift 'em.

185

Says Matthew, Richard, keep thy head, And hold thy peace; and I'll proceed.

Proceed!

Proceed! quoth Dick: Sir, I aver,
You have already gone too far.
When people once are in the wrong,
Each line they add is much too long.
Who fastest walks, but walks aftray,
Is only furtheft from his way.
Bless your conceits! muft I believe,
Howe'er abfurd, what you conceive;
And, for your friendship, live and die
A papift in philosophy?

I fay, whatever you maintain
Of Alma in the heart or brain,
The plaineft man alive may tell ye
Her feat of empire is the belly:
From hence the fends out those supplies,
Which makes us either ftout or wife;
The ftrength of every other member
Is founded on your belly-timber;
The qualms or raptures of your blood
Rife in proportion to your food;

And, if you would improve your thought,
You must be fed as well as taught.
Your stomach makes your fabrick roll,
Juft as the bias rules the bowl.
The great Achilles might employ
The ftrength defign'd to ruin Troy;
He din'd on lion's marrow, fpread
On toafts of ammunition bread:
But, by his mother fent
Amongst the Thracian girls to play,

N 4

away,

190

195

200

205

210

215

Effe

Effeminate he fat, and quiet:
Strange product of a cheese-cake diet!
Now give my argument fair play,
And take the thing the other way:
The youngster, who at nine and three
Drinks with his fifters milk and tea,
From breakfast reads till twelve o'clock,

220

Burnet and Heylin, Hobbes, and Locke:
He pays due vifits after noon

225

[blocks in formation]

And firft knock'd down, and then led home,

[blocks in formation]

But who shall stand his rage and force,
If firft he rides, then eats his horfe?
Sallads, and eggs, and lighter fare,
Tune the Italian fpark's guitar.

245

And,

« הקודםהמשך »