IMITATIONS

O F

HORACE.

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Sextilem totum mendax defideror. atqui,

Si me vivere vis fanum recteque valentem;
Quam mihi das aegro, dabis aegrotare timenti,
Maecenas, veniam:. dum ficus, prima calorque
Defignatorem decorat lictoribus atris.:

Dum pueris omnis pater, et matercula pallet;
Officiofaque fedulitas, et opella forenfis
Adducit febris, et teftamenta refignat.
Quod fi bruma nives Albanis illinet agris;
Ad mare descendet vates tuus, et fibi parcet,
Contractufque leget; te, dulcis amice, reviset
Cum Zephyris, fi concedes, et hirundine prima.
Non, quo more pyris vefci Calaber jubet hofpes,
Tu me fecifti locupletem. Vefcere fodes.

Jam fatis eft. At tu quantumvis tolle. Benigne.
Non invifa feres pueris munufcula parvis.

Tam

VII.

EPISTLE

Imitated in the Manner of Dr. SWIFT.

IS true, my Lord, I gave my word,
I would be with you, June the third
Chang'd it to Auguft, and (in short),
Have kept it as you do at Court.
You humour me when I am fick,
Why not when I am splenetick?
In town, what Objects, could-I-meet?
The shops fhut up in ev'ry ftreet,
And Fun'rals black ning all the Doors,
And yet more melancholy Whores :
And what a duft in every place?
And a thin Court that wants your Face,
And Fevers raging up and down,

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And W* and H** both in town!

"The Dog-days are no more the cafe."

'Tis true, but Winter comes apace:
Then fouthward let your Bard retire,

Hold out fome months 'twixt Sun and Fire,
And you fhall fee the firft warm Weather,
Me and the Butterflies together.

My Lord, your Favours well I know; 'Tis with Diftinction you beftow;

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And not to ev'ry one that comes,

Juft as a Scotsman does his Plumbs.

"Pray take them, Sir,-Enough's a Feaft:

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"Eat fome and pocket up the rest

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What

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Tam teneor dono, quam fi dimittar onuftus.
Ut libet haec porcis hodie comedenda.relinques.
Prodigus et ftultus donat quae fpernit et odit:
Haec feges ingratos tulit et feret omnibus annis.
Vir bonus et fapiens, dignis ait effe paratus ?
Nec tamen ignorat, quid diftent aera lupinis ?
Dignum praeftabo me, etiam laude merentis..
Quod fi me noles ufquam difcedere; reddes
Forte latus, nigros angufta fronte capillos :
Reddes dulce loqui: reddes ridere decorum, et
Inter vina fugam Cynarae moerere protervae.
Forte per anguftam tenuis vulpecula rimam
Repferat in cumeram frumenti; paftaque, rursus
Ire foras pleno tendebat corpore frustra.

pro

T

What rob your Boys? thofe pretty rogues !
"No, Sir, you'll leave them to the Hogs:
Thus Fools with Compliments befiege ye,
Contriving never to oblige ye.

Scatter your Favours on a Fop,
Ingratitude's the certain crop;

And 'tis but juft, Ill tell ye wherefore,

You give the things you never care for.
A wife man always is or shou'd
Be mighty ready to do good;

But makes a diff'rence in his thought
Betwixt a Guinea and a Groat.

Now this I'll fay, you'll find in me

A fafe Companion, and a free;

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But if you'd have me always near

A word, pray, in your Honour's ear.
I hope it is your Refolution

VER. 59. As Ken Belinda] A compliment he pays himself and the public on his Rape of the Look.

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