They, as each torrent drives, with rapid force, From Smithfield or St. 'Pulchre's shape their course,

*

And in huge confluence join'dat Snowhill ridge, Fall from the conduit prone to Holborn-bridge. Sweepings from butchers ftalls, dung, guts, and blood,

Drown'd puppies, ftinking sprats, all drench'd in mud,

Dead cats, and turnip-tops, come tumbling down the flood.

Now Betty from her mafter's bed had flown, And foftly stole to discompose her own: The flipfhod 'prentice from his mafter's door Had par'd the dirt, and sprinkled round the floor.

Now Moll had whirl'd her mop with dextrous airs,

Prepar'd to fcrub the entry and the stairs. The youth with broomy ftumps began to

*

trace

The kennel's edge, where wheels had worn the place.

The fmall-coal man was heard with cadence

deep,

Till drown'd in fhriller notes of chimney

fweep:

Duns at his lordship's gate began to meet; And brick-duft Moll had fcream'd through half the street.

The turnkey now his flock returning fees,
Duly let out a-nights to steal for fees:
The watchful bailiffs take their filent ftands,
And school-boys lag with fatchels in their
hands.

*To find old nails.

HORACE,

Imitated, and Addressed to

*

THE EARL OF OXFORD,

HAR

In the Year 1713 †.

5

'ARLEY, the nation's great fupport, I Returning home one day from court, (His mind with publick cares poffeft, All Europe's bus'ness in his breaft) Obferv'd a parfon near Whitehall Cheap'ning old authors on a ftall. The priest was pretty well in case, And fhew'd fome humour in his face Look'd with an eafy, careless mein, A perfect ftranger to the spleen;

1. Strenuus et fortis, cauffifque Philippus agendis Clarus, ab officiis oltavam circiter boram Dum redit

5. Confpexit, ut aiunt,

Adrafum quendam vacua tonforis in umbrâ
Cultello proprios purgantem leniter ungues.

* Robert Harley, efq; three times fpeaker of the house of commons, once in king William's reign, and twice in queen Anne's: created baron Harley of Wigmore, earl of Oxford and earl Mortimer, the 24th of April 1711, and lord

10

high treasurer of England, on the 29th of the faid month.

In this year the author was made dean of St. Patrick's, Dublin. See an account of his firft interview with mr. Harley, in his letter to dr. King, O&. 10, 1710: Vol. XII.

Of

15

Of fize that might a pulpit fill,
But more inclining to fit ftill.
My lord (who, if a man may fay't,
Loves mischief better than his meat)
Was now difpos'd to crack a jeft,
And bid friend Lewis * go in queft,
(This Lewis is a cunning fhaver,
And very much in Harley's favour)
In queft, who might this parfon be,
What was his name, of what degree, 20
If poffible, to learn his story,

And whether he were whig or tory.
Lewis his patron's humour knows,
Away upon his errand goes,
And quickly did the matter fift;
Found out that it was doctor Swift;
A clergyman of special note

25

For fhunning thofe of his own coat; Which made his brethren of the gown Take care betimes to run him down: 30

15. Demetri, (puer hic non lave juffa Philippi

Accipiebat) abi, quære, et refer: Unde domo, quis, Cujus fortuna, quo fit patre, quove patrono? 23, 25. It, redit, et narrat, Volteium nomine Manam.

* Erasmus Lewis, efq; private fecretary to the earl of Oxford.

No libertine, nor over-nice,

Addicted to no fort of vice,

Went were he pleas'd, faid what he thought,
Not rich, but ow'd no man a groat :
In state opinions à la mode,

*He hated Wharton like a toad,
Had giv'n the faction many a wound,
And libell'd all the junto round;
Kept company with men of wit,
Who often father'd what he writ:
His works were hawk'd in every street,
But feldom rose above a sheet:

35

40

Of late indeed the paper stamp
Did very much his genius cramp;
And, fince he could not spend his fire, 45
He now intended to retire.

Said Harley, I defire to know
From his own mouth, if this be fo?
Step to the doctor strait, and say,
I'd have him dine with me to day.

31.

Tenui cenfu, fine crimine notum,

Et properare loco, et ceffare, et quærere, et uti,
Gaudentem

47. Scitari libet ex ipfo quodcunque refers. Dic
Ad cœnam veniat. Non fane credere Mæna;
Mirari fecum tacitus.

50

* Earl of Wharton, father to the duke of Wharton who died in France.