THE CLOWN'S REPLY. JOHN TROTT was desir'd by two witty peers, To tell them the reason why asses had ears? "An't please you," quoth John, "I'm not given to letters, "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 sav'd! without thinking on asses." EDINBURGH, 1753. STANZAS ON WOMAN. 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? The only art her guilt to cover, To hide her shame from ev'ry eye, To give repentance to her lover, And wring his bosom-is, to die. DESCRIPTION OF AN AUTHOR'S BED-CHAMBER. WHERE the Red Lion, staring o'er the way, The Muse found Scroggen stretch'd beneath a rug; The seasons, fram'd with listing, found a place, And brave prince William shew'd 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 scor'd, And five crack'd tea-cups dress'd the chimney board; A night-cap deck'd his brows instead of bay, A cap by night-a stocking all the day! LINES, ATTRIBUTED TO DR. GOLDSMITH; INSERTED IN THE MORNING CHRONICLE OF APRIL 3, 1800: E'EN have you seen, bath'd in the morning dew, The budding rose its infant bloom display; When first its virgin tints unfold to view, It shrinks, and scarcely trusts the blaze of day. So soft, so delicate, so sweet she came, Youth's damask glow just dawning on her cheek; I gaz'd, I sigh'd, I caught the tender flame, Felt the fond pang, and droop'd with passion weak. |