Then homeward turn! there at the gate,
A thousand pleasures ready wait-
A thousand dear delights,
Amuse the vacant hours of day,
Around the social table play,
And brighten up thy nights.
There, fairest of the powers above,
Young Hymen waves the torch of Love,
And wooes thee to advance :
And there the Loves, a blooming band,
And sister Graces, hand in hand,
Begin the mystic dance.
The Muse, that loves a green retreat,
Already hovers o'er thy seat,
And wanders thro' thy groves:
Already, hark! the tuneful powers
Awake the echoes of thy bowers,
And sing thy future loves.
Time's treacherous current steals along,
And bears us on his tide:
While thinly scatter'd up and down,
A flower may deck, a thicket crown,
It's bleak, unsightly side.
Then hasten! snatch each floweret, while
The Fates allow it still to smile,
For soon it's date is o'er;
And, as you pass, enjoy the shade,
Whose vernal honours soon must fade-
Must fade-to bloom no more.
EXALTED, Smart, on fashion's tip,
The pink of petit-maitreship,
Dear fellow, some compassion shew,
And teach me how to be a beau.
Hog! have your hair dress'd thrice a-day,
Keep a perfumer's shop in pay:
"Quote scraps of French in nasal drawl,
"Now fold your awkward arms, now spräwl:
"Die for each draggle-tail you see,
"Haunt them at church, at park, at tea;
"And, whispering to the fair, for ever
"Grin, as if what you said was clever.
"Want time, to scribble and peruse
Rhymes, messages, and billet-doux:
"Shrink like a snail, lest Sir John Brute
"Soil with his wig your velvet suit :
"In the town's lewd intrigues be deep,
"Know who keep girls, and whom girls keep :
"Ply at each Faro Coterie,
"And smatter race-horse pedigree.”
-The devil! Smart! if this be so,
'Tis an egregious thing, a Beau!
THE CUCKOO, THE NIGHTINGALE, AND THE ASS.
SOME time ago, (like Christian folk,
When birds and beasts good English spoke)
What year
it was no need to mention,
Arose a very warm contention,
Not without many a boastful word,
"Twixt Philomel and Cuckoo bird,
In musick's art who most excell'd,
While high with pride their bosoms swell'd.
Long time our disputants held out,
Each in his own opinion stout;
Till of the sport, at length, half-tir'd,
A parley is by both desir'd;
On which it is determined, since
Neither the other can convince,
Dispute is vain; so, to a third
The matter be at once referr'd,
Who, weighing it with due precision,
Both must abide by his decision.
It chanc'd, hard by, a milkman's Ass
Enjoy'd in peace his bit of grass.
No cares disturb'd his vacant mind;
In thankful silence Donkey din'd.
On him, with one consenting voice,
The rival songsters fix their choice,
And, without farther hesitation,
Both parties pray his arbitration.
Music for him few charms possessed, His ear had discord ne'er distressed ; From which, 'tis clear, this simple beast Was never at my Lord Mayor's feast. "Really, signor," quoth he, and bow'd, "This honour makes me vastly proud; "But, with your leave, as I'm a sinner, "Just now I'd rather eat my dinner. "Besides, good Lord! none so unfit As I could here in judgment sit, "Who, would you think it, on my life, "Scarce know a fiddle from a fife." Now, both with eagerness reply, "These are, dear Sir, but vain excuses; "This small request you can't deny ; "You must not, shall not, Sir, refuse us. "That you're a judge too well appears, "Since all your family have ears. "We could, I'm certain, mention twenty, "And each a noted cognoscenti." When ev'ry other method fails, A spice of flattery oft prevails. By this emollient pleading won,
"Well then, for once," cries Mister John"But pray dispatch, for if you don't,
"I really cannot stay, I won't."
The Cuckoo said, "My dearest friend,
"I only beg that you'll attend.
"Observe this note, how full and clear!
"Hark, how it strikes the ravish'd ear!
"To such distinct articulation,
"You can't deny your admiration;
And, sure, so regular a pause
"The truest harmony must cause."
With this exordium satisfied,
After a clearing hem or two,
With crest elate," Cuckoo !" he cried,
Repeating still," Cuckoo! Cuckoo !"
With many a rapturous observation,
In some such modish exclamation,
"Bravo benissimo! how fine!
"That last was perfectly divine!
"Enough," cries Donkey, "this will do,
"Ma'am, if you please, I'll now hear you."
Waving all preface and palaver,
To gain the long-ear'd judge's favour,
Now Eve's sweet songstress, from the spray,
Began her softly-plaintive lay.
Enraptured with the thrilling sound,
The grazing herds all throng around;
While neighbouring birds in flocks appear,
And even two magpies stop to hear.
The modest bird pursues her song,
With tones so various, clear, and strong,
And still so artfully inflected,
And all her flights so unexpected,
That, had she piped a little longer,
The beast might have forgot his hunger;
But, happening to cast his
eye on
A luscious branch of dandelion,
He rudely interrupts the strain,
Braying with all his might and main,
And briefly thus decides the case,
With wond'rous sapiency of face-
"You, madam, have amused us well,
"But you, in method, Sir, excel."
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