Some wag obferves me thus perplext, "I thought the dean had been too proud "To juftle here among a croud." Another in a furly fit 35 Tells me, I have more zeal than wit; "So eager to express your love, "You ne'er confider whom you shove, "But rudely prefs before a duke." I own, I'm pleas'd with this rebuke, 40 And take it kindly meant to fhow What I defire the world fhould know. I get a whifper, and withdraw, When twenty fools I never faw Come with petitions fairly penn'd, Defiring I wou'd ftand their friend. This humbly offers me his cafe That begs my int'reft for a place· An hundred other men's affairs Like bees are humming in my ears. "To-morrow my appeal comes on, "Without your help the caufe is gone”. 45 59 114 35. Quid vis, infane, et quas res agis? improbus urget, Iratis precibus, tu pulfes omne quod obftat, Ad Mecenatem memori fi mente recurras. 44. -- Aliena negotia centum Per caput et circa faliunt latus. The The duke expects my lord and you 55 "You may for certain, if you please; 60 “I doubt not, if his lordship knew “And, mr. dean, one word from you”. 'Tis (let me fee) three years and more (October next it will be four) Since Harley bid me first attend, And chofe me for an humble friend; Wou'd take me in his coach to chat, And queftion me of this and that; As, "What's o'clock?" and, "how's the wind? 65 "Whose chariot's that we left behind?" 70 Or gravely try to read the lines Writ underneath the country figns; Or, “have you nothing new to-day "From Pope, from Parnel, or from Gay?" 60. Si vis, potes, addit et inftat. Such Such tattle often entertains 75 My lord and me as far as Stains, As once a week we travel down To Windfor, and again to town, Where all that paffes inter nos Might be proclaim'd at Charing-cross.80 Yet fome I know with envy fwell, Because they see me us'd fo well: "How think you of our friend the dean? "I wonder what fome people mean; My lord and he are grown fo great, 85 Always together, tête à tête "What, they admire him for his jokes "See but the fortune of fome folks!" There flies about a ftrange report Of fome exprefs arriv'd at court, I'm stopp'd by all the fools I meet, And catechis'd in ev'ry street. 90 "You, mr. dean, frequent the great; "Inform us, will the emp'ror treat? "Or, do the prints and papers lye?" 95 Faith, fir, you know as much as I. "Ah! doctor, how you love to jeft! "'Tis now no fecret"---I proteft 89. Frigidus à roftris manat per compita rumor; Quicunque obvius eft, me confulit. 'Tis "Tis one to me.---" Then tell us, pray, "When are the troops to have their pay?" And though I folemnly declare 100 I know no more than my lord-mayor, 105 My choiceft hours of life are loft; Those cares that haunt the court and town! 101. Jurantem me fcire nibil, mirantur, ut unum Scilicet egregii mortalem altique filenti. 108. O rus, quando ego te afpiciam, quandoque licebit Nunc veterum libris, nunc fomno, et inertibus horis Ducere follicite jucunda oblivia vita? * THE HAPPY LIFE OF A COUNTRY PARSON. In Imitation of MARTIAL. PARSON, these things in thy poffeffing Are better than the bishop's bleffing. A wife that makes conferves; a freed That carries double when there's need; October ftore, and best Virginia, Tythe-pig, and mortuary guinea; Gazettes fent gratis down, and frank'd, For which thy patron's weekly thank'd; A large concordance, bound long fince; Sermons to Charles the firft, when prince; A chronicle of ancient standing; A Chryfoftom to fmooth thy band in; The Polyglott,---three parts,---my text,-Howbeit,---likewife ---now to ---now to my next, Lo here the Septuagint,---and Paul, To fum the whole, the clofe of all. He that has these, may pafs his life, Drink with the 'fquire, and kifs his wife; On Sundays preach, and eat his fill; And faft on Fridays---if he will; Toaft 7 |