There in a lonely room,

from bailiffs snug, The Muse found Scroggen stretched beneath a rug; A window, patched with paper, lent a ray That dimly showed the state in which he lay; The sanded door that grits beneath the tread; The humid wall with paltry pictures spread; The royal game of goose was there in view, And the twelve rules the royal martyr drew; The seasons, framed with listing, found a place, And brave Prince William showed his lamp-black face: The morn was cold, he views with keen desire The rusty grate, unconscious of a fire: With beer and milk arrears the frieze was scored, And five cracked tea-cups dressed the chimney-board; A night-cap decked his brows, instead of bay, A cap by nightma stocking all the day!

THE CLOWN'S REPLY.

JOHN TROTT was desired by two witty peers,
To tell them the reason why asses had ears?
"An't please you,” quoth John, “I'm not given to letter,
Nor dare I pretend to know more than my betters;
Howe'er, from this time, I shall ne'er see your graces,
As I hope to be saved! without thinking on asses."

Edinburgh, 1753.

64

AN ELEGY ON

THE DEATH OF A MAD DOG.

FROM THE VICAR OF WAKEFIELD.

Good people all, of every sort,

Give ear unto my sorg;
And if you find it wondrous short,

It cannot hold you long.

In Islingtown there was a man,

Of whom the world might say, That still a godly race he ran,

Whene'er he went to pray.

A kind and gentle heart he had,

To comfort friends and foes; The naked every day he elad,

When he put on his clothes.

And in that town a dog was found,

As many dogs there be,
Both mongrel, puppy, whelp, and hound,

And curs of low degree.

This dog and man at first were friends;

But when a pique began,
The dog, to gain his private ends,

Went inad, and bit the man.

Around from all the neighbouring streets

The wondering neighbours ran, And swore the dog had lost his with

To bite so good a man,

The wound it seemed both sore and sad

To every Christian eye; And while they swore the dog was mad,

They swore the man would die.

But soon a wonder came to light,

That showed the rogues they lied; The man recovered of the bite,

The dog it was that died.

AN ELEGY

ON THE GLORY OF HER SEX,

MRS. MARY BLAIZE.

Good people all, with one accord,

Lament for Madam Blaize, Who never wanted a good word

From those who spoke her praise.

The needy seldom passed her door,

And always found her kind; She freely lent to all the poor

Who left a pledge behind. She strove the neighbourhood to please,

With manners wondrous winning, And never followed wicked ways

Unless when she was sinning.

At church, in silks and satins new,

With hoop of monstrous size; She never slumbered in her pew

But when she shut her eyes.

But now her wealth and finery fled,

Her hangers-on cut short-all;
The doctors found, when she was dead

Her last disorder mortal.

Let us lament, in sorrow sore,

For Kent-street well may say,
That had she lived a twelvemonth more

She had not died to-day.

ON A BEAUTIFUL YOUTH STRUCK BLIND BY

LIGHTNING.

IMITATED FROM THE SPANISH.

Sure 'twas by Providence designed,

Rather in pity, than in hate,
That he should be, like Cupid, blind,

To save him from Narcissus' fate.

THE GIFT.

TO IRIS, IN BOW-STREET, COVENT-GARDEN,

Say, cruel Iris, pretty rake

Dear mercenary beauty,
What annual offering shall I make

Expressive of my duty?

My heart, a victim to thine eyes,

Should I at once deliver,
Say, would the angry fair one prize

The gift, who slights the giver?

A bill, a jewel, watch, or toy,

My rivals give-and let 'em;
If gems, or gold, impart a joy,

I'll give them when I get 'em.

I'll give but not the full-blown rose,

Or rose-bud more in fashion;
Such short-lived offerings but disclose

A transitory passion.

I'll give thee something yet unpaid,

Not less sincere than civil;
I'll give thee-ah! too charming maid,

I'll give thee-to the devil.'

STANZAS ON WOMAN.

FROM THE VICAR OF WAKEFIELD.

WHEN lovely woman stoops to folly,

And finds too late that men betray,
What charm can sooth her melancholy?

What art can wash her guilt away?

1 These verses appear to be imitated from the French of Grecourt, a witty, but grossly indecent writer,