From you fhall never, but with life, remove Afpiring genius, condefcending love. When fome, with cold, fuperior looks, redrefs, Relief feems infult, and confirms diftrefs; You, when you view the man, with wrongs, befieg'd;

While warm you act th' obliger, feem th' oblig'd.

All winning-mild to each of lowly ftate; To equals free, unfervile to the great; Greatness you honour, when, by worth, acquir'd; Worth is by worth in ev'ry rank admir'd. Greatnefs you fcorn, when titles insult speak; Proud to vain pride, to honour'd meekneis meek. That worthlefs blifs, which others court, you fly; That worthy woe, they hun, attracts your eye. But fhall the mufe refound alone your praife? No-let the publick friend exalt her days! Oh trace that friend with me! ---he's yours!

674 The GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE, VOL. VI.

THE Story of the following Poem being related at Ld Wth's Table about a Month ago, contributed a good deal of Diversion to the polite Company, whơ judged it a humourous Incident for a Poem: And immediately fix'd on a Gentleman prefent for the Bufinefs. We have already obliged our Readers with fome of Dr Ben's Compofitions, and doubt not of doing fo by inferting this, which we had not foon enough for our laff. MYO-OETPEION: or, The Mouse and Oyfter.

L

ATRAGI-COMIC POEM.

-Divina opici rodebant carmina mures.
ET loftier bards the HERO's acts relate,
I fing the memorable moufe's fate:
Nor let a critic ear the theme refuse
Immortal made by the Maonian muse.

Twas when veil of night o'erfpread & plain,
When bats and fairies, mice and Morpheus reign;
When lab'ring hind: forget the toils of day,
And Philomel begins her love-fick lay;
While hafht winds in peaceful flumbers dwell,
And boding crickets found their midnight knell.
'Twas then a daring moufe that long defy'd
The various ftratagems which Kate had try'd,
His deftin'd doom receiv'd; for, foon or late,
Both mice and monarchs muft fubmit to fate.
Oft was the moon with filver luftre crown'd,
Since the nocturnal pyrate march'd his round;'
Soon as his foe, the fun, had took his flight,
Tips forth the little champion of the night,
With cautious tread, fecure from fell mithap
Of pufs, of poifon, or tremendous trap;
Still at the head of his rapacious clan,
He skipt from fhelf to fhelf, and pan to pan;
With nofe fagacious fmoak'd the baited gin,
Wary and confcious of the fnare within:
Now feafts on rich variety of meats,
And oft in cheese his own apartments eats;
Regales on floods of cream, ragouts and cakes,
Of all the dainties of the day partakes:
Now ftorms rich conferves with voluptuous tafte,
And faps the tender tenements of pafte.
Puddings in vain, that come but once a week,
In cupboard high a fanctuary feek;
Where locks and bolts a paffage have forbid,
He gnaws admiffion in a time of need.
When pantry fails, thro' fpite of watchful cooks,
The fmuggler feeds on new repaft of books,
Bunyan and Burton, both enrich'd with greafe,
Will often ferve his hunger to appease.
Now conjuring books, love-jefts, and Robin Hood,
With fongs of Chevy-Chace are turn'd to food.
Culpeper, Partridge, Hollinfhead and Stowe,
The art of paftry, Robinson Crafoe,
All mangled lie, tales of monks and witches,
Receipts for agues, and laft dying fpeeches.
Thus tartar-like, the vagrant feeds on prey,
Plunders all night, and numbers all the day.
When ruddy morn wakes more ruddy maid,
What fcenes of ruin ware around difplay'd!
In fragments here disjointed bafons lie,
And here the martyr'd relicks of a pye;
Now with uplifted hands in loaves the fees,
Arch'd caverns yawn, and fepulchres of cheese;
Not more tremendous look'd the Cyclop's cave,
Or Cuma's Grott, hard-by Averno's wave;
Here mourns in furrows deep, domeftick bacon,
Here fruits preferv'd for winter tarts are taken,
But ah! the favrite faucer gives moft pain,
by bole brims blue letters in a circle stain
x Ld Weymouth "Dr. Bowden.

That faucer,

Kate's fwain laft country wake
Gave her, adorn'd with motto and with cake.
'Twas then, weeping eyes, revenge the fwore,
And threw the last fad remnants on the floor:
Twas then the fought fome fpell in deep defpair,
And mufing mutter'd backwards half a prayer.
Their proftrate banquets fcatter'd on ŷ ground;
Not with lefs grief, the Trojan heroes found
When from on high devouring harpies flew
With horrid claws, and all the feaft o'erthrew.
Yet long unharni'd, the epicure patroll'd,
And fearless, o'er his filent fuburbs troll'd:"
Luxurious nights in pleafing plunder pafs'd,
Nor dreamt that this was doom'd to be his laft.

So fate ordain'd,and who can fate prevent?
Thick fhades once more had veil'd the haunted
For now time, the deftin'd time was fent;
Once more from covert bolts th'adventrous mouse,
house;
Lighting in evil hour, in queft of prey,
Where in a groupe th' avenging oyfters lay.
The fish, commiffion'd from the watry throng,
With tegument of fealy armour strong,
Lay with expanded jaws, and gaping thell,
(But who the fad catastrophe can tell?)
Thus lies the dreadful monfter of Nile's flood,
With open mouth extended on the mud.
The dainty moufe, ftill craving fome new dish,
Enters the gloomy manfion of the fith;
With beard exploring, and with lufcious lip,
He longs the pickle of the feas to fip.
Rous'd by his tusks, th' elaftic oyfter fell,
And caught the caitiff's head in watry cell;
In vain the victim labours to get free
From durance hard, and dread captivity;
Lock'd in clofe embrace, enfnar'd he lies.
Hence let ambitious minds, & tale who hear,
In pill'ry fafe, pants, ftruggles, fqueaks and dies
Thus the juft fate of his own crimes he meets,
Like rakes expiring in deftructive fweets.
This moral learn, To move within their sphere.
Thus ends the dire difaftrous night's campaign,
And thus the memorable moufe was flain.

Her mortal foe!-detain'd in bondage firong,
But in Kate's bofom, fay, what raptures glow,
When in the fcaly trap the finds her foe?
While loud rejoicings fill the refcu'd houfe,
Her wishes granted, and reveng'd her
And neighbours crowd to view captive mouse.

wrong,

Now hangs the grateful spoil on beam fublime,
Safe, where no boys can reach, no cats can climb,
Where oftrich eggs, and birds prefaging weather,
Dry'd herrings,hams,& halcyons fwing together.
How oft the mafter views the wond'rous prize,
And hails the conqueft with exulting eyes!

This tale he tells to grace the Christmas pye,
And when beneath fedate he fits and fmoaks,
And cracks his nuts, his bottles, or his jokes,
And to the trophy'd relicts points on high.

[bluft.

On feeing Mr DRYDEN's Monument.
DRYDEN toas born and dy'd --§ mufe & rest
By grief, by indignation fwell'd, fuppreft;
Or in oblivion kindly ftrove to hufh,
A theme where Britain, when the boats, muft
But fculpture blam'd her fifter's niggard fong
And rais❜d this bust whose looks proclaim his
Wrong
G. W

Some gen'rous pity fure infpires your mind;

Is it that you your beauties now confine
As Sol withdraws, to let the Planets shine :
Or does the am'rous tribe offend your ear,
And urge their wifhes which you blush to
hear?

This feems the cafe

[recefs
And will the close
Secure your perfon from love's foft addrefs?
Think you that here remote from view you
Avoid the pray'rs of importuning man? [can
Mistaken Nymph, retire, fly where you will,
Love will be love, and beauty beauty ftill;
Led by your fame, as by a friendly twine,
Lovers will flock like pilgrims to a fhrine.
Would you the world an unfought virgin
leave,
Refign the charms which nature richly gave;
unlearn
That winning fmile, firft let your eyes
Then let them lovely ftill, for ever mourn:
Command that florid bloom to quit your face,
While fquallid looks deform each youthful

grace;

That fnowy breaft with all its charms remove
That breaft which spite of you beats time to

love.

Till this be done, befure your Unless, ah beauteous Nun! wear a veil.

[fail,

scheme will
you always

GATTEUS.

The LOVER'S SUIT to Mijs S
AIREST creature, dearest Nancy,

F Sweetest charmer of my fancy!

If a life not dull, nor frantick
Neither ftupid, nor romantick,
Betwixt th' extremes of aged fpleen
And wanton mirth of mad fixteen;
If a fortune fmall, but cafy,
Free from pomp and want can plcafe thee;
If thou a coxcomb's air, or face,
Or, that more dang'rous thing, his lace
Can't view without a wifhful eye,
And give up romps without one figh,
If when converfing in thy houfe
With little flock and faithful spouse,
(Whilft each with grateful prattle strives
To please the pair who gave their lives)
If then the fiddle's once lov'd found,
And dance's wild, fantastick round,

Will not disturb thy houfhold joy,
Nor please like voice of little boy;

If a fincere and conftant heart
In truth delighting, hating art,
For ever thine on terms like thefe,
Thro' life's perplexing maze can please,
fmile approve
Let one endearing

The happy man, who courts thy love;
Who knows no blifs that can compare
With woman when she's good as fair.

BETSY and CHARLY,

Tune-Margaret's Ghoft. A Paftoral Ballad, made at Tunbridge-wells, has bright BETSY ev'ry grace

WHENCEody and of mind?

What fmiling Angel lent that face
To charm and awe mankind?
II.

To Tunbridge-wells why, fimple fwain,
Went I 'midft Nymphs fo fair?
And yet I ventur'd there!
bleating Lambs foretold my pain,
III.

My

At

I

Chapel firft my eyes she caught;
Where folks fhould only pray!
look'd; I figh'd; I gaz'd each thought
Of t'other Heav'n away!

IV.

The Gods, not her, at fuch a time,

T'adore in vain I ftrove!

Tell me, O Parfon, is't a crime
To worship her I love?

V.

What maiden can in London-town,

Or Kent, fuch charms display?
What Yeoman's daughter with new gown,
Dreft on a Sabbath-day?
VI.

Ye wounded barks of Sim's grove,
Witnefs poor Charly's flame!
And, while o'er Ephraim's wilds I rove,
Fond echo, learn her name!
VII.

Ye happy waters, as ye pafs,
O tell her what I feel!
Tell Betfy's cruel heart, alas!
'Tis harder than your steel!
VIIL

-

I burn with rage! fhe toys, fhe talks
To things with plaifter'd hair!
Now, now, they buzz upon the walks,
And flutter round the fair!

IX.

Hence let me fly 'midit herds and flocks,
Far from her fight to dwell!
Thou genius of yon lonely rocks,
Prepare my humble cell :

X.

For, Oh! to wretched fplendor born,
Can fhe Quadrille forego?
Can fhe for Love and Charly scorn
A Chariot and a Beau ?

The TRIPLE-ALLIANCE.

An EPISTLE to a LADY.

And, ou end friendlie pretul in
When love and friendship fire an infant
mufe!
With trembling fingers when the firikes the
Strings

And the foft theme in faltring accents fings.
If Delia, fmiling, should approve the lay,
And with a kiss this artless verfe reday,
Fir'd with fuccefs, and wanton with delight,
Succeeding fong hall tempt a bolder flight:
Fearless my mufe her pinions fhall extend,
When ev'ry grace in Delia is her friend; 10
When all the loves that wanton in her eye,
Notes of their own, to grace my fong, fupply.
Pleafure feek, whom thousands feek in vain,
Purfue with folly, and forego for pain;
Some friendly genius whisper if she dwells
In pompous palaces, or humble cells
Flows the in wit? blooms fhe in beauty's face?
Or dwells in virtue, with a genuine grace?
Your judgment, fages? Delia, give me thine?
Can beauty, wit, or virtue make her mine? 20
Enquire we then what either can beflow,
And trace the fpring whence purest pleasures
Be Pomp difcarded as a glittring toy, [flow;
And useless riches, as a foe to joy:
The fool, the mad, only hope to find
A fingle good to body or to mind.

Plenty may Smooth, but pomp incumbers life,
And more than competence is food for ftrife:
But beauty, mit, and virtue I'll pursue,
And give to each the hare of pleasure due: 30
Mark where he puts the bounds of either's day.
And watch in each for her returning ray.
Firft then Ill canvass potent beauty's claim!
The first in conqueft, and the first in fame:
Beauty's a charming fhadow, fhort-liv'd flow'r,
Atender form, yet arm'd with boundless pow'r;
A fatal bleffing, and a fhining fnare;
For ev'ry nymph is dangerous as he's fair;
Moft to herself, or man, is hard to tell,
Since Ninus bled, and Rofamonda fell.

40

From pole to pole, the cottage to the throne,
What wondrous deeds has magic beauty done!
Tis vain to tell how Jove obey'd her nod,
How often chang'd by her enchanting rod;
What fabled fhapes the am'rous Godhead wore,
And fhone the thunderer of heav'n no more.
D'er human minds how the exerts her sway,
My theme fhall witness, and the mufe display.
Vainly we think, by all our art or force,
Tevade the dart, or stop its fiery course; s
Quick e'en as thought the rays of beauty wound,
And pointed as the shafts of Jove are found:
As thofe refiftless pierce thro walls of brass,
Thro' tone and adamant untrac'd can pass,
In its clofe covert melt the temper'd blade,
Entire, unhurt the fcabbard they pervade.
So thefe our reafon's firm refolves controul,
Reafon, that boafted armour of the foul!)

No wound impress on the exterior part,
But pass the bofom, and diffolve the heart.

know.

Yet when to beauty's pow'r we fall a prize,
Joy rings within, and feenes of pleasure rife
Nor ask, nor wish for liberty again;
We blefs the victor, and we hug the chain,
And bid each thought, but thofe of love, adieu;
The fav'rite fair with ardour we purfae,
Pant for the joys the fair alone bestow,
No raptures mount so near to those above,
Foys match'd by none but those which angels
When in confenting beauty's arms we lie,
No tranfports reach to thofe we feel in love: 70
So great the bliss, we can but tafte and die.
Too great for language, too refined for thought
By freift degrees to full perfection brought,
This minute all that love can give me tajte,
That which fucceeds mourns ev'ry rapture paft
Sees thofe defires, we thought immortal, ceafe,
And the Swift beatings of the heart decrease.
The pofting blood its rapid courfe give o'er,
Within the breast the myftic fires decay,
And the eye fparkle with delight no more: 80
And the high floods of transport ebb away:
Then beauty's ray no more can wound the heart,
Nor pleafing pain diffuse thro' ev'ry part.

Oh had the bounty of indulgent heav'n
To this one bleffing but duration given;
Earth then had vy'd with yonder bright abodes,
And men, thus bless'd, been rank'd among the
gods:

But vain the wifh! thus heav'n has fix'd our
And who can change irrevocable fate?
To light up joy, when that of love fhall die?
But is there nought this failing to fupply,
There istis Friendship's pure and deathlefs
flame,
Whole joys unchang'd remain thro' life the
[fame.
To make then beauty's victories compleat,
Join ftrictest virtue, and a sprightly wit:
Thefe fhine, like Phebus' mild continued rays,
Not fierce as lightning's momentary blaze;
Tho that melt fteel, and beauty melt the heart,
Again they harden, when thofe flames depart
But these pursue the conquest once begun, 101
Nor quit the field till each recefs is won;
On firm foundations build a deathless fway
Keep what they gain, and by a conftant stay,
Combin'd, this truth they never fail to prove;
That more intenfe, this lafting pleasure gives;
Thefe kindle friendship, as that kindles love:
And fill up each vacuity in love:
That burns and dies, this warms and ever lives:
Friendship each day will flourish and improve,
Whose fatred bands aerial fubstance bind,
Bodies by love, but fouls by these are join'd;
From this blefs'd union can we hope too much?
What tender firings can love and friendfbi
touch!

-Where thefe propitious with alternate way
Fill the long night, and bless returning days

What pleasures (pring! what tides of comfort
-All joy is doubled, and divided woe. [flow!
Who thus is bless'd, with peaceful smiles may fee,
Time ftretch his wings, and posting periods flee,
Nor feel a figh at each fhort moment's hafte,
Enjoy'd when prefent, nor repented past; 122
Shall find when age comes on with stealing pace,
And time's rude band deforms fair beauty's face,
As love's decline, ftill friendship's fires increafe,
And but with life the heav'n-born flame Shall
'Tis then agreed, true joy we only find, ceafe.
Where beauty, wit, and virtue are combin'd.
If there's a nymph, where all these graces join,
My lovely Delia! fure that praife is thine. 130
Thrice blefs dthe man for whom the gods intend
So chaste a lover, and fo fair a friend!
Oh! fay, fhall my fond heart indulg d by thee,
Prefame to hope the precious boon's for me?
That I fhall fhare thy joys, and mine impart,
And foul for foul exchange, and heart for heart?
In thofe fair arms enjoy a blefs'd repofe,
That blissful round where joy for ever flows?
From thofe dear lips that mend the coral's hue,
Tafte balmy sweets, and to ambrofial dew? 140
See on thy cheeks the vanquish'd lilly dye,
And blufbing rofes warmer charms fupply?
Catch from thy fwimming eye delightful fire,
Fan'd by thy breath, on thy soft breast expire?
Shall I, ny fair! be thus fupremely blefs d
In thee grafp more than Crefus e er poffefs d?
-Tis yours to fix my undetermin'd ftate,
And on your will depends my future fate.
I plead not merit to obtain your heart,
No-freely as the gods the gift impart:
For if an equal only you approve,
Where can you fro-till you arrive above?
On the late Act against retailing Spirituous
Liquors, &c.

ELL me, can it be understood
This At intends the public good?
No truly, I deny 't:
For if, as all allow, 'tis beft,
Of evils two, to chufe the least,
Then my opinion's right.
Suppofe on fearch it should appear
Ten Bunters dy'd in every year

150

And rain half a city. CIVICU S

EPIGRA M.

HO' GIN is alive,
And many think will not revive,
Yet why, fays NAN, mayn't the recover?
The doctors have not given her over.
ANSWER.

In

FGIN there's hopes but very small,
For as a proverb it is fure,

P.E

The doctors kill more than they cure,
To the Hon. Watkin Williams Wynn Efq;
Ehold the man without ambition great,
In all that's worthy man, the man compleate
Tho' rich not covetous, tho' great fincere ;
Not proud nor fervile, but in honour clear.
No fawning flatterer, nor fashion's fool,

B

Nor cheating gamefter, nor the ftatefman's tool

A will unfeign'd; a brave yet humble mind,
The lover and the love of human kind.
Who is not glad if fuch a man there be?
Who is not glad that WILLIAMS WYNN is he
Amidft corruption, luxury and rage,
Yet one true Briton fhames a vicious age.
Health, plenty, pleasure, round his table wait,
And charity expands his friendly gate.
Thou true exception to the gen'ral rule,
Of wealth heap'd on the vile, the vain, the fool
without hypocrify, here reigns confeft
The honeft zeal in the bold patriot's breaft.
Let werthlefs wretches brand a patriot's name,
His glory lies in what thefe wretches blame.
Mark well, ye great! that rife by fervile ways;
Who has more friends? yet thefe his virtues raife.
Brave Chefler's may'r, how am I pleased to fee,
That fo corrupt an age can relish thee?
All! bail thee magiftrate; their voices raise
To thy defert; even Cook himself does praife.
The worthy mayr, lo, every breaft has charm'd,
Envy's appeas and prejudice difarm'd,
Proceed, brave Williams! let us yearly fee
Some action good and great and worthy thee.

To FIDO, on his Counter-Difcovery.

IDO! I grant, you've dignify'd my name;

F But to your titles, I all right disclaim.

You fcorn th' imputed wit; nor will I boaft,
That of fome country-priest, or country-toast;
Nor courtly-airs affume;-tho' ftill I'm ready
With def'rence to regard the priest and lady
You, their names, would complement E. L
But why?-an OEdipus-or you, must tell!
If on furmifes once, I rais'd a fong;

Will you aver, yourjudgment ne'er was wrong?
My wife difcories, you fhould not defpife,
Since in your guefs-work you're but just as wife.
O could I venture on heroic lay!
"Where Virgil, Pape, and You, have led & way!
To emulate thy firains, thould be my pride;
To foar and foar! fublimely by thy fide.
See, Fido! fee! two steeds celeftial thine;
Mount thou on one, and t'other fhall be mine!
T'attempt thy Pegafus, I ne'er will dare.
For Phaeton's fate, cries out-rafh youth
BEWARE!