"Then spend your life in Joy and Sport,

"(This doctrine, Friend, I learnt at Court.)

The verieft Hermit in the Nation

May yield, God knows, to ftrong temptation. 185
Away they come, thro' thick and thin,

To a tall houfe near Lincoln's-Inn ;
('Twas on the night of a Debate,
When all their Lordship's had fate late.)
Behold the place, where if a Poet
Shin'd in Description, he might fhow it;
Tell how the Moon-beam trembling falls,
And tips with Silver all the walls;
Palladian walls, Venetian doors,
Grotefco roofs, and Stucco floors :
But let it (in a word) be faid,
The Moon was up, and Men a-bed,
The Napkins white, the Carpet red:
The Guests withdrawn had left the Treat,
And down the Mice fate, tête à tête.

Dum licet, in rebus jucundis vive beatus:
Vive memor quam fis ævi brevis. Hæc ubi diữa
Agreftem pepulere, domo levis exfilit: inde
Ambo propofitum peragunt iter, urbis aventes
Mania nocturni fubrepere: jamque tenebat
Nox medium cæli fpatium, cum ponit uterque
In locuplete domo veftigia; rubro ubi cocco
Tinta fuper lectos canderet veftis eburnos :
Multaque de magna fupereffent fercula cœna,
Qua procul extru&tis inerant besterna caniftris.

190

195

mă

200

Our

Our Courtier skips from dish to dish,
Taftes for his Friend of Fowl and Fish;
Tells all their names, lays down the law,
is Que ça eft bon! Ah gouter ça !

"That Jelly's rich, this Malmsey healing,
"Pray dip your Whiskers and your Tail in."
Was ever fuch a happy Swain ?

He ftuffs and fwills, and stuffs again.
"I'm quite afham'd-'tis mighty rude
"To eat fo much but all's fo good.
"I have a thousand thanks to give
"My Lord alone knows how to live.”

No fo fooner faid, but from the Hall Rush Chaplain, Butler, Dogs and all : "A Rat, a Rat! clap to the door The Cat comes bouncing on the floor. O for the heart of Homer's Mice, Or Gods to fave them in a trice! (It was by Providence they think, your damn'd Stucco has no chink.)

For

Ergo ubi purpurea porrectum in vefte locavit
Agreftem, veluti fuccinctus curfitat hofpes,
Continuatque dapes; nec non vernaliter ipfis
Fungitur officiis, prælambens omne quod affert.
Ille cubans gaudet mutata forte, bonifque
Rebus agit lætum convivam; cum fubito ingens
Valvarum firepitus lectis excuffit utrumque ;
Currere per totum pavidi conclave, magifque
Exanies trepidare, fimul domus alta Moloffis

205

210

215

220

"Now

"Now please your Honour, quoth the Peafant,

"This fame Deffert is not so pleasant :

"Give me again my hollow Tree,

"A Cruft of Bread, and Liberty!

Perfonuit canibus. Tum rufticus,

"Haud mibi vita

"Eft opus bac, ait, & valeas: me fylva cavufque "Tutus ab infidiis tenui folabitur ervo.

THE

SEVENTH EPISTLE

OF THE

FIRST BOOK

O F

HORACЕ.

Imitated in the Manner of Dr. SWIFT.