The trembling family they daunt, They flirt, they fing, they laugh, they tattle, Rummage his Mother, pinch his Aunt, And up ftairs in a whirlwind rattle. Each hole and cupboard they explore, Each creek and cranny of his chamber, And o'er the bed and tafter clamber, Into the Draw'rs and China pry, Papers and books, a huge Imbroglio! Or creas'd, like dogs-ears in a folio. On On the first marching of the troops The Muses, hopeless of his pardon, Convey'd him underneath their hoops To a small closet in the garden. So Rumour fays. (Who will, believe) But that they left the door a-jarr, Where, fafe and laughing in his fleeve, The words too eager to unriddle The poet felt a ftrange diforder: Tranfparent birdlime form'd the middle, And chains invifible the border. So cunning was the apparatus, The powerful pot-hooks did fo move him, Yet on his way (no fign of grace, For folks in fear are apt to pray) To Phoebus he preferr'd his cafe, And beg'd his aid that dreadful day. The The God-head would have back'd his quarrel, But with a blush, on recollection Own'd, that his quiver and his laurel 'Gainst four fuch eyes were no protection. The Court was fate, the Culprit there, Forth from their gloomy manfions creeping And from the gallery ftand peeping. Such as in filence of the night Come (fweep) along fome winding entry (*Styack has often feen the fight) Or at the chapel-door ftand fentry. *The HOUSE-KEEPER. In In peaked hoods and mantles tarnish'd, Sour vifages, enough to scare ye, High Dames of honour once, that garnish'd The drawing-room of fierce Queen Mary! The Peerefs comes: The Audience stare, And doff their hats with due fubmiffion; She courtfies, as fhe takes her chair, To all the people of condition. The Bard with many an artful fib, Had in imagination fenc'd him, Difprov'd the arguments of * Squib, And all that + Groom could urge against him. But * Groom of the Chambers. + The Steward. |