At church, in filks and fatins new, Her love was fought, I do aver, But now her wealth and finery fled, The doctors found, when she was dead, Her laft diforder mortal. Let us lament, in forrow fore, For Kent-ftreet well may fay, That had fhe liv'd a twelvemonth more,- RETALIATION: Dr. Goldsmith and fome of his friends occafionally dined at the St. James's Coffee-house.-One day it was proposed to write epitaphs on him. His country, dialect, and perfon furnished fubjects of witticifm. He was called on for RETALIATION, and at their next meeting produced the following poem. RETALIATION: A POEM. OF old, when Scarron his companions invited, Each guest brought his difh, and the feast was united; If our landlord fupplies us with beef, and with fish, Let each gueft bring himself, and he brings the best dish : Our Dean fhall be venison, juft fresh from the plains; Our Burke shall be tongue, with the garnish of brains; Our Will fhall be wild fowl, of excellent flavour, And || Dick with his pepper fhall heighten the favour: *The mafter of the St. James's coffee-houfe, where the doctor, and the friends he has characterized in this poem, occasionally dined. + Doctor Bernard, dean of Derry in Ireland. The Right Hon. Edmund Burke. Mr. William Burke, late fecretary to General Conway, and member for Bedwin. Mr. Richard Burke, collector of Granada. Our Our * Cumberland's sweet-bread its place fhall obtain, Douglas is pudding, fubftantial and plain : Garrick's a fallad; for in him we fee And Our Oil, vinegar, fugar, and faltnefs agree: To make out the dinner, full certain I am, That § Ridge is anchovy, and || Reynolds is lamb; Here lies the good ** Dean, reunited to earth, Who mix'd reason with pleasure, and wisdom with mirth : * Mr. Richard Cumberland, author of the West Indian, Fashionable Lover, the Brothers, and various other productions. + Doctor Douglas, canon of Windfor, (now Bishop of Salisbury) an ingenious Scotch gentleman, who has no less diftinguished himfelf as a citizen of the world, than a found critic, in detecting feveral literary miftakes (or rather forgeries) of his countrymen ; particularly Lauder on Milton, and Bower's Hiftory of the Popes. David Garrick, Efq. § Counsellor John Ridge, a gentleman belonging to the Irish bar. Sir Joshua Reynolds. An eminent attorney. ** Vide page 105. 1 |