EPISTLE XIV. TO THE MOST HONOURABLE THE EARL OF OXFORD, THE LORD HIGH TREASURER. The Epigrammatical Petition of your Lordship's moft humble Servant, JOHN GAY. I'M no more to converfe with the fwains, One can live without money on plains, If when with the fwains I did gambol, When abroad and in courts I shall ramble, Pray, my lord, how much money will do? See, in Swift's Works, a letter from Mr. Gay, dated June 8, 1714. N. ECLOGUES. E CLOGUE S. THE BIRTH OF THE SQUIRE. IN IMITATION OF THE POLLIO OF VIRGIL. E fylvan Mufes, loftier ftrains recite: YE Not all in fhades and humble cots delight. Hark! the bells ring; along the distant grounds The driving gales convey the fwelling founds; Th' attentive fwain, forgetful of his work, With gaping wonder, leans upon his fork. What fudden news alarms the waking morn? To the glad Squire a hopeful heir is born. Mourn, mourn, ye ftags, and all ye beafts of chace; This hour destruction brings on all your race: See the pleas'd tenants duteous offerings bear, Turkeys and geese and grocers' sweetest ware; With the new health the ponderous tankard flows, And old October reddens every nose. Beagles Beagles and fpaniels round his cradle stand, The bee fhall fip the fragrant dew from flowers, His Sire's exploits he now with wonder hears, He leads the ftaring infant through the hall, Points out the horny fpoils that grace the wall; Tells, how this ftag through three whole counties fled, How high the pale he leapt, how wide the ditch, Thefe ftories, which defcend from fon to fon, witch! The forward boy fhall one day make his own. The most common accident to Sportfmen, to hunt a witch in the fhape of a hare. Ah, Ah, too fond mother, think the time draws nigh, No, let him never feel that smart disgrace : The milk-maid (thoughtlefs of her future fhame) Shall urge with bloody heel the rising steed. Headlong |