Say, is the fword well fuited to the band,

Does broider'd coat agree with fable gown, Can Drefden's laces fhade a churchman's hand,

Or learning's vot'ries ape the beaux of town?

Perhaps in these time-tott'ring walls refide

Some who were once the darlings of the fair; Some who of old could taftes and fashions guide, Controul the manager and awe the play'r.

But Science now has fill'd their vacant mind
With Rome's rich spoils and Truth's exalted views;
Fir'd them with tranfports of a nobler kind,

And bade them flight all females but the Mufc.

Full many a lark, high-tow'ring to the sky,

Unheard, unheeded, greets th' approach of light;

Full many a ftar, unseen by mortal eye,

With twinkling luftre glimmers thro' the night.

Some

Some future Herring, that with dauntless breaft,
Rebellion's torrent fhall, like him, oppose,

Some mute, fome thoughtless Hardwicke here may reft,

Some Pelham, dreadful to his country's foes.

From prince and people to command applause,
'Midft ermin'd peers to guide the high debate,
To fhield Britannia's and Religion's laws,

And fteer, with fteady courfe, the helm of ftate,

Fate yet forbids ; nor circumfcribes alone

Their growing virtues, but their crimes confines ; Forbids, in Freedom's veil, to infult the throne,

Beneath her mask to hide the worst designs.

To fill the madding crowd's perverted mind
With "Penfions, Taxes, Marriages, and Jews;"

Or fhut the gates of Heav'n on loft mankind,

And wreft their darling hopes, their future views.

Far

Their wishes yet have never learn'd to ftray; Content and happy in a single life,

They keep the noiseless tenor of their way.

Ev'n now their books from cobwebs to protect,
Inclos'd by doors of glafs in Doric ftyle,
On fluted pillars rais'd, with bronzes deck'd,
They claim the paffing tribute of a smile.

Oft are the authors' names, tho' richly bound,
Mif-fpelt by blund'ring binder's want of care;
And many a catalogue is ftrew'd around

To tell th' admiring gueft what books are there.

For who, to thoughtless Ignorance a prey,
Neglects to hold fhort dalliance with a book?
Who there, but wishes to prelong his stay,
And on those cafes cafts a lingʻring look ?

Reports

Reports attract the Lawyer's parting eyes,

Novels Lord Fopling and Sir Plume require, For fongs and plays the voice of beauty cries, And fenfe and nature Grandifon defire.

For thee, who mindful of thy lov'd compeers,
Doft in thefe lines their artless tales relate,

If chance, with prying fearch, in future years,
Some antiquarian fhall enquire thy fate.

Haply fome friend may fhake his hoary head, And fay, "Each morn, unchill'd by frofts, he ran "With hose ungarter'd, o'er yon turfy bed,

"To reach the Chapel ere the pfalms began.

"There, in the arms of that lethargick chair,
"Which rears its moth-devoured back fo high,

"At noon he quaff'd three glasses to the fair,
"And por'd upon the news with curious eye.

" Now

"Now by the fire, engag'd in ferious talk,

"Or mirthful converfe, would he loit'ring ftand; "Then in the garden close a funny walk,

"Or launch the polish'd bowl with fteady hand.

"One morn we miss'd him at the hour of pray'r, "Befide the fire, and on his fav'rite green;

"Another came, nor yet within the chair,

Nor yet at bowls, nor Chapel was he feen.

"The next we heard, that in a neighb'ring fhire "That day to Church he led a blushing bride,

A nymph, whofe fnowy veft and maiden fear

"Improv'd her beauty while the knot was ty'd.

"Now, by his patron's bounteous care remov'd,

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"He roves enraptur'd thro' the fields of Kent;

Yet, ever mindful of the place he lov'd,

"Read here the letter which he lately fent."

THE

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