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powers of genial spring, or a most lovely wife; mine, I trust will thaw, melt, and resolve itself to sprightly dew long before the first breath of zephyr.

After all, my dear Doctor, I might, I believe, admit the state-physician and surgeon without any danger of a Russian hæmorrhoidal cholic,* but I will not do any thing on compulsion, Hal. I do not suspect either of them in the least to resemble a Talbot, a Martin, a Forbes, or a Dun. On the contrary, they are both amiable men, and therefore I wish you would bring them here to dinner as soon as I shall get a little better; for, at present, if they come, I should fear they would place themselves by authority, one on the right, and the other on the left hand of their poor patient, and, like Sancho's doctor with his wand, forbid my tasting any thing I ogled, or rather squinted at.

I am alone; if you are disengaged, I wish you to come here at four, and I will give you half of my boiled chicken. We never can want food for laughter, while in the phrase of the sly Fox,† George Grenville has the conduct of the House of Commons. I am ever, my dear Sir, your affectionate humble servant,

JOHN WILKES.

*A complaint which has proved fatal to several heirs apparent and princes of the imperial house of Romanoff; of later years an apoplectic fit, occasioned by an awkward adjustment of the cravat, has proved equally efficacious, and quite as satisfactory to the sovereign de facto.

† Henry Fox, afterwards Lord Holland, on his first taking office with the implied management of the House of Commons, was so elated by his position, that, inconsistently with his habitual prudence, he, in his first circular addressed to the ministerial adherents previous to the commencement of the session, was incautious enough to preface it with these words," His Majesty having been pleased to confide to me the conduct of the House of Commons;" this gave much of fence, and one or two members severely animadverted on this improper allusion to the crown, but all farther consequence was averted by an adroit and crafty, although evasive apology on the part of the Fox.

THE DUELLIST.

BOOK I.

THE clock struck twelve; o'er half the globe
Darkness had spread her pitchy robe:
Morpheus, his feet with velvet shod,
Treading as if in fear he trod,
Gentle as dews at even-tide,
Distill'd his poppies far and wide.

Ambition, who, when waking, dreams
Of mighty, but fantastic schemes,

Who, when asleep, ne'er knows that rest
With which the humbler soul is blest,
Was building castles in the air,
Goodly to look upon and fair,
But on a bad foundation laid,
Doom'd at return of morn to fade.
Pale Study, by the taper's light,
Wearing away the watch of night,
Sat reading, but with o'ercharged head,
Remember'd nothing that he read.
Starving midst plenty, with a face
Which might the court of Famine grace,
Ragged, and filthy to behold,

Gray Avarice nodded o'er his gold.

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Jealousy, his quick eye half-closed
With watchings worn, reluctant dozed:
And, mean distrust not quite forgot,
Slumber'd as if he slumber'd not.

Stretch'd at his length on the bare ground,
His hardy offspring sleeping round,
Snored restless, Labour; by his side
Lay Health, a coarse but comely bride.
Virtue, without the doctor's aid,
In the soft arms of sleep was laid;
Whilst Vice, within the guilty breast,
Could not be physic'd into rest.

Thou bloody Man! whose ruffian knife
Is drawn against thy neighbour's life,
And never scruples to descend
Into the bosom of a friend;

A firm, fast friend, by vice allied,
And to thy secret service tied,

In whom ten murders breed no awe,
If properly secured from law:

Thou man of Lust! whom passion fires
To foulest deeds, whose hot desires
O'er honest bars with ease make way,
Whilst idiot Beauty falls a prey,
And to indulge thy brutal flame
A Lucrece must be brought to shame;
Who dost a brave, bold sinner, bear
Rank incest to the open air,

And rapes, full blown upon thy crown,
Enough to weigh a nation down:
Thou simular of Lust! vain man,

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Whose restless thoughts still form the plan
Of guilt, which, wither'd to the root,
Thy lifeless nerves can't execute,
Whilst in thy marrowless, dry bones
Desire without enjoyment groans;

Thou perjur'd Wretch! whom falsehood clothes
E'en like a garment, who with oaths
Dost trifle, as with brokers, meant
To serve thy every vile intent,
In the day's broad and searching eye
Making God witness to a lie,

Blaspheming heaven and earth for pelf,
And hanging friends to save thyself:

Thou son of Chance! whose glorious soul,
On the four aces doom'd to roll,
Was never yet with honour caught,
Nor on poor virtue lost one thought;
Who dost thy wife, thy children set,
Thy all, upon a single bet.
Risking, the desperate stake to try,
Here and hereafter on a die;
Who, thy own private fortune lost,

Dost game on at thy country's cost,

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And, grown expert in sharping rules,

First fool'd thyself, now prey'st on fools:
Thou noble Gamester! whose high place

Gives too much credit to disgrace,

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66 Another allusion to the execution of Ayliffe, and the popular imputations it gave rise to. See note on v. 140 of the Epistle to Hogarth.

Who, with the motion of a die,

Dost make a mighty island fly,

The sums, I mean, of good French gold

For which a mighty island sold;

Who dost betray intelligence,

Abuse the dearest confidence,

And, private fortune to create,

Most falsely play the game of state;
Who dost within the Alley sport

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Sums, which might beggar a whole court,
And make us bankrupts all, if Care,
With good Earl Talbot, was not there:
Thou daring Infidel! whom pride

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And sin have drawn from Reason's side;

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Who, fearing his avengeful rod,
Dost wish not to believe a God;
Whose hope is founded on a plan
Which should distract the soul of man,
And make him curse his abject birth;
Whose hope is, once return'd to earth,
There to lie down, for worms a feast,
To rot and perish like a beast;
Who dost, of punishment afraid,

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92 Earl Talbot, Lord Steward of the King's Household from 1761 to 1782. On his first appointment to the office, his lordship proposed some economical reforms in the palace, but the clamour excited among some of the retainers of the court, together with his lordship's want of resolution, induced nim to desist from carrying them into execution. In a future page we shall have occasion to notice his lordship's rencontre with Mr. Wilkes at Bagshot.

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