That too with scanty streams is fed;
Its founder was brave Diomed.
Good Varius (ah, that friends must part)
Here left us all with aching heart,
At Rubi we arriv'd that day,
Well jaded by the length of way,
And sure poor mortals ne'er were wetter.
Next day no weather could be better;
No roads so bad; we scarce could crawl
Along to fishy Barium's wall.
Th' Ignatians next, who by the rules
Of common sense are knaves or fools,
Made all our sides with laughter heave,
Since we with them must needs believe,
That incense in their temples burns,
And without fire to ashes turns.
To circumcision's bigots tell
Such tales! for me, I know full well,
That in High Heav'n, unmov'd by care
The Gods eternal quiet share :
Nor can I deem their spleen the cause, Why fickle nature breaks her laws. Brundusium last we reach: and there Stop short the muse and traveller.
THE DESCRIPTION OF AN IMPERTINENT.
ADAPTED TO THE PRESENT TIMES,
SAUNT RING along the street one day,
On trifles musing by the way-
Up steps a free familiar wight,
(I scarcely knew the man by sight.)
"Carlos, (he cried) your hand, my dear,
Gad, I rejoice to meet you here!
Pray Heav'n I see you well?" "So, so;
Ev'n well enough as times now go.
The same good wishes, sir, to you."
Finding he still pursu'd me close-
"Sir, you have business, I suppose."
"My business, sir, is quickly done,
'Tis but to make my merit known.
Sir, I have read"-" O learned Sir,
You and your learning I revere."
Then, sweating with anxiety,
And sadly longing to get free,
Gods, how I scamper'd, scuffled for't,
Ran, halted, ran again, stopp'd short,
Beckon'd my boy, and pull'd him near,
And whisper'd nothing in his ear.
Teas'd with his loose unjointed chat"What street is this? What house is that?"
O Harlow, how I envied thee
Thy unabash'd effrontery,
Who dar'st a foe with freedom blame,
And call a coxcomb by his name!
When I return'd him answer none,
Obligingly the fool ran on,
"I see you're dismally distress'd,
Would give the world to be releas'd.
But, by your leave, sir, I shall still
Stick to your skirts, do what you will
Pray, which way does your journey tend ?"
"O'tis a tedious way, my friend,
Across the Thames, the Lord knows where,
I would not trouble you so far."
"Well, I'm at leisure to attend you."
"Are you? (thought I) the De'il befriend you."
No ass with double panniers rack'd,
Oppress'd, o'erladen, broken-back'd,
E'er look'd a thousandth part so dull
As I, nor half so like a fool.
Sir, I know little of myself,
(Proceeds the pert conceited elf)
"If Gray or Mason you will deem
Than me more worthy your esteem.
Poems I write by folios
As fast as other men write prose;
Then I can sing so loud, so clear,
That Beard cannot with me compare.
In dancing too I all surpass,
Not Cooke can move with such a grace."
Here I made shift with much ado
To interpose a word or two.
"Have you no parents, sir, no friends,
Whose welfare on your own depends?"
"Parents, relation, say you? No.
They're all dispos'd of long ago."-
"Happy to be no more perplex'd!
My fate too threatens, I go next.
Despatch me, sir, 'tis now too late,
Alas! to struggle with my fate!
Well, I'm convinc'd my time is come→
When young, a gipsy told my doom.
The beldame shook her palsied head,
As she perus'd my palm, and said :
Of poison, pestilence, or war,
Gout, stone defluxion, or catarrh,
You have no reason to beware.
Beware the coxcomb's idle prate;
Chiefly, my son, beware of that.
Be sure, when you behold him, fly
Out of all earshot, or you die."
To Rufus' Hall we now draw near,
Where he was summon'd to appear,
Refute the charge the plaintiff brought,
Or suffer judgment by default.
"For Heaven's sake, if you
One moment! I'll be with you straight.”
Glad of a plausible pretence-
66 Sir, I must beg you to dispense
With my attendance in the court,
My legs will surely suffer for't."
"Nay, prithee, Carlos, stop awhile?"
"Faith, sir, in law I have no skill.
Besides, I have no time to spare,
I must be going you know where."
"Well, I protest, I'm doubtful now,
Whether to leave my suit or you!"
"Me without scruple! (I reply)
Me by all means, sir "—" No, not I.
Allons Monsieur!" "Twere vain (you know)
To strive with a victorious foe.
So I reluctantly obey
And follow, where he leads the way.
You and Newcastle are so close,
Still hand and glove, sir--I suppose.―
Newcastle (let me tell you, sir)
Has not his equal every where.
Well. There indeed your fortune's made,
Faith, sir, you understand your trade.
Would you but give me your good word!
Just introduce me to my lord.
I should serve charmingly by way
Of second fiddle, as they say:
What think you, sir? 'twere a good jest,
Slife, we should quickly scout the rest."
"Sir, you mistake the matter far,
We have no second fiddles there.-
Richer than I some folks may be ;
More learned, but it hurts not me.
Friends, tho' he has of diff'rent kind,
Each has his proper place assign'd."
"Strange matters these alleg'd by you!"-
"6 Strange they may be, but they are true."..
"Well, then, I vow, 'tis mighty clever,
Now I long ten times more than ever
To be advanc'd extremely near
One of his shining character.
Have but the will-there wants no more
'Tis plain enough you have the pow'r.
His easy temper (that's the worst)
He knows, and is so shy at first.—
But such a cavalier as you-
Lord, sir, you'll quickly bring him to!"-
"Well; if I fail in my design,
Sir, it shall be no fault of mine.
If by the saucy servile tribe
Denied, what think you of a bribe?
Shut out to-day, not die with sorrow
But try my luck again to-morrow
Never attempt to visit him
But at the most convenient time
Attend him on each levee day,
And there my humble duty pay
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