THE BOROUGH.

LETTER XVI.

INHABITANTS OF THE ALMS-HOUSE.

BENBOW.

Ebrietas tibi fida comes, tibi Luxus, et atris

Circa te semper volitans Infamia pennis. - SILIUS ITALICUS.

Benbow, an improper Companion for the Badgemen of the Alms-house-He resembles Bardolph — Left in Trade by his Father- Contracts useless Friendships - His Friends drink with him, and employ others - Called worthy and honest! Why-Effect of Wine on the Mind of ManBenbow's common Subject-The Praise of departed Friends and Patrons-'Squire Asgill, at the Grange: his Manners, Servants, Friends - True to his Church: ought therefore to be spared- His Son's different Conduct - Vexation of the Father's Spirit if admitted to see the Alteration- Captain Dowling, a boon Companion, ready to drink at all Times, and with any Company: famous in his Club-room - His easy Departure - Dolly Murray, a Maiden advanced in Years: abides by Ratafia and Cards - Her free Manners Her Skill in the Game Her Preparation and Death Benbow, how interrupted: his Submission.

259

THE BOROUGH.

LETTER XVI.

BENBOW.

SEE! yonder badgeman, with that glowing face,
A meteor shining in this sober place;

Vast sums were paid, and many years were past,
Ere gems so rich around their radiance cast!
Such was the fiery front that Bardolph wore,
Guiding his master to the tavern door; (1)
There first that meteor rose, and there alone,
In its due place, the rich effulgence shone:
But this strange fire the seat of peace invades,
And shines portentous in these solemn shades.

Benbow, a boon companion, long approved
By jovial sets, and (as he thought) beloved,
Was judged as one to joy and friendship prone,
And deem'd injurious to himself alone;

(1)" Thou art the Knight of the Burning Lamp-if thou wast any way given to virtue, I would swear by thy face; my oath should be by this fire. Oh! thou'rt a perpetual triumph, thou hast saved me a thousand marks in links and torches, walking in a night betwixt tavern and tavern." SHAKSPEARE.

Gen'rous and free, he paid but small regard
To trade, and fail'd; and some declared "'t was hard:"
These were his friends-his foes conceived the case
Of common kind; he sought and found disgrace:
The reasoning few, who neither scorn'd nor loved,
His feelings pitied and his faults reproved,

Benbow, the father, left possessions fair,
A worthy name and business to his heir;
Benbow, the son, those fair possessions sold,
And lost his credit, while he spent the gold:
He was a jovial trader: men enjoy'd
The night with him; his day was unemploy'd;
So when his credit and his cash were spent,
Here, by mistaken pity, he was sent ;
Of late he came, with passions unsubdued,
And shared and cursed the hated solitude,

Where gloomy thoughts arise, where grievous cares intrude.

Known but in drink, he found an easy friend,
Well pleased his worth and honour to commend;
And thus inform'd, the guardian of the trust
Heard the applause and said the claim was just;
A worthy soul! unfitted for the strife,
Care, and contention of a busy life;-

Worthy, and why?that o'er the midnight bowl
He made his friend the partner of his soul,
And any man his friend : then thus in glee,
"I speak my mind, I love the truth," quoth he;
Till 't was his fate that useful truth to find,
'T is sometimes prudent not to speak the mind.
With wine inflated, man is all upblown,
And feels a power which he believes his own;

With fancy soaring to the skies, he thinks
His all the virtues all the while he drinks;
But when the gas from the balloon is gone,
When sober thoughts and serious cares come on,
Where then the worth that in himself he found?
Vanish'd and he sank grov'ling on the ground.

Still some conceit will Benbow's mind inflate, Poor as he is, 't is pleasant to relate

The joys he once possess'dit soothes his present state.

Seated with some grey beadsman, he regrets His former feasting, though it swell'd his debts; Topers once famed, his friends in earlier days, Well he describes, and thinks description praise: Each hero's worth with much delight he paints; Martyrs they were, and he would make them saints. "Alas! alas!" Old England now may say, "My glory withers; it has had its day :

"We're fallen on evil times; men read and think; "Our bold forefathers loved to fight and drink. "Then lived the good 'Squire Asgill—what a

change

"Has death and fashion shown us at the Grange! "He bravely thought it best became his rank, "That all his tenants and his tradesmen drank; "He was delighted from his favourite room "To see them 'cross the park go daily home, "Praising aloud the liquor and the host, "And striving who should venerate him most. "No pride had he, and there was difference small "Between the master's and the servants' hall; "And here or there the guests were welcome all.