TO DR. SHERIDA N.

Dec. 14, 1719*, 9 at night.

SIR,

IT
T is impossible to know by your letter whether the

wine is to be bottled to-morrow, or no. If it be, or be not, why did not you, in plain English,

tell us so ? For my part, it was by mere chance I came to fit with:

the ladies † this night : And if they had not told me there was a letter from

you; and your man Alexander had not gone, and come back from the deanry; and the hoy hvie had not been sent to let Alexander know I was here; I

fhould have missed the letter out-riglit. Truly I don't know who's bound to be sending for

corks to stop your bottles, with a vengeance. Make a page of your own age, and send your man

Alexander to buy corks; for Saunders already has.

gone above ten jaunts. Mrs. Dingley and Mrs. Johnfon say, truly they don't

care for your wife's company, though they like your wine ; but they had rather have it at their own house

to drink in quiet. However, they own it is very civil in Mr. Sheridan to

make the offer; and they cannot deny it..

* This is probably dated too early. #Mrs. Dingley and Mrs. Johnson.

I wish Alexander safe at St Catharine's to-night, with

all mr heart and soul, upon my word and lronour : But I think it base in you to send a poor fellow out so

late at this time of year, when one would not turn out a dog that one valued; I appeal to your friend

Mr. Cor nor I would present my humble service to my lady Mount

cashel; but truly I thought she would have made advances to have been acquainted with me, as the

pretended. But now I can write no more, for you fee plainly my

paper is ended,

1 P. S. I wish, when you prated, your letter you'd dated : Much plague it created. I scolded and rated ; My soul is much grated ; for your man 1 long waited. I think you are fated, like a bear to be baited : Your man is belated ; the case I have stated; And me you have cheated. My stable's unslated. Come back t'us well freighted. I remember my late head; and with

you translated, For eazing me.

2 P. S. Mrs Dingley desires me singly Her service to present you; hopes that will content you; But Johnson madam is grown a sad dame, For want of converse, and cannot send one verse.

3 P. S.

You keep such a twattling with you and your bottling; But I see the sum total, we shall ne'er have a bottle;

The long and the short, we ihall not have a quart.
I wish you would sign ’t, that we have a pint.
For all your colloguing, I'd be glad of a kroggin :
But I doubt 'tis a tham; you won't give us a diam,
'Tis of thine a month moon-full, you won't part with

a spoonfull,
And I must be nimble, if I can fill my thimble.
You see I won't stop, till I come to a drop;
But I doubt the oraculum is a poor supernaculum ;
Though perhaps you tell it for a grace, if we smell it.

SI ELLA

TO QUI L CA,
A COUNTRY-House of Dr. SHERIDAN,

In no very good Repair, 1725.
L

ET me thy properties explain :

A rotten cabbin dropping rain ;
Chimnies with scorn reje&ring smoak ;
Stools, tables, chairs, and bedsteds bruke.
Here elements have lost their uses,
Air ripens not, nor earth produces ;
In vain we make poor

Shcelah * toil,
Fire will not roast, nor water boil.
Through all the valleys, hills, and plains,
The goddess Want in triumph reigns :
And her chief officers of state,
Sloth, Dirt, and Theft, around her wait.
The name of an Irish servant.

The

The BLESSINGS of a COUNTRY-LIFE. 1725.
FAR from our debtors; no Dublin letters;
Not feen by our bettors.

The PLAGUES of a COUNTRY. Life. A companion with news; a great want of hoes ; Eat lean meat, or chuse; a church without pews. Our horses astray; no straw, oats, or hay; [play, December in May; our boys run away,; all servants at

DR. SHERIDAN TO DR. SWIFT. I'D have you to known as fure as you're Dean,

0. Thursday my calk of Obrien I'll drain :
If my wife is not willing, I fa, the 's a quean;
And my right to the cellar, egad, I'll maintain
As bravely as any that fought at Dunblain :
Go tell her it over and over again.
I hope, as I ride to the town, it won't rain;
For, should it, I fear it will cool my hot brain,
Entirely extinguish my poetic vein ;
And then I should be as stupid as Kain,

[twain.
Who preach'd on three heads, though he mentioa'd but
Now Wardel's in hafte, and begins to complain ;
Your most humble servant, Dear Sir, I remain,

T. S-N. Get Hellham, Walmfley, Delany, And some Grattans, if there be any*: Take care you do not bid too many. * i. c. in Dublin, for they were country-clergy.

DR.

DR.

SWIFT'S ANSWER.

ΤΗ

HE verses you fent on the bottling your wine

Were, in every one's judgement, exceedingly fine; And I must confess, as a dean and divine, I think you inspir'd by the Muses all nine. I nicely examin'd them every line, And the worst of them all like a barn-door did shine. Oh, that Jove would give me fuch a talent as thine ! With Delany or Dan I would scorn to combine. I know they have many a wicked design ; And, give Satan his due, Dan begins to refine. However, I wish, honest comrade of mine, You would really on Thursday leave St. Catharine *, Where I hear you are cramm'd every day like a fwine ; With me you 'll no more have a stomach to dine, Nor after your vittles lie sleeping supine : So I wish you were toothless, like lord Masserine, But, were you as wicked as lewd Aretine, I wish you would tell me which way you

incline. If, when you return, your road you don't line, On Thursday I 'll pay my respects at your shrine, Wherever you bend, wherever you twine, In square, or in opposite circle, or trine. Your beef will on Thursday be falter than brine : I hope you have swilld, with new milk from the kine, As much as the Liffee 's outdone by the Rhine;

* The seat of lady Mountcashel, near Dublin. VOL. I.

And

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