Deprefs'd, one equally the pendent door
Exalts. Within, let through a flender bore,
A wire depends that fluctuates with a touch;
The lower part is cramp'd into a hook,
Tenacious of the bait; while th' upper gripés
Th' extremeft handle of the treach'rous beam.
But foon as e'er it feels the foe to 've touch'd
The fatal food, the loofen'd portal strait
Lets fall, and fpeaks the firft attack reveng'd.

Things thus difpos'd, inftant the pendent hook
TAFFY with treafon cloaths, and turns to death
The very food of Mouse: but, that his cheese
More fragrant may from far the Foe invite,
Toafts the fell bait, and ftrengthens the perfume.
And now appear'd the memorable night,
When on his bed TAFFY his limbs fatigu'd
Repofing, near his pillow's downy fide

His Minion MOUSE-TRAP fet, and all-fecure
I' th' faithful centry, flumber sweet indulg'd.
The frolic Mice, (a tribe audacious they)
Safe in the covert of the filent night,

Now sport abroad: when one, a leader Mouse,
Of nofe fagacious, born the Gods his foes,
The hoftile ambush feeks, led by the fcent
Of toasted cheefe delicious. The Grate refifts
His swift career, and entrance first denies.
But he, to fuffer fuch fevere repulse
Indignant, round the wiry fortress fcours,
And crisps his nofe, and with fagacious beard

A país

A pass explores; and enter'd now the lines,
Impaffable again, of all his wish

At length poffefs'd, the deadly bait fecures,
Feafts on his ruin, and enjoys his fate.

TAFFY, whom ftrait the pendulous door, fearce drop'd,
With fudden clap had wak'd, you might behold:
Now on his elbow prop'd, now from his bed
Skipping triumphant, fir'd with thirst to know
What new-come gueft. The Moufe ridiculous
Rages within, batters with front and foot,
Proves with his head each wiry interval,
And wears with raging tooth his iron hold.
Driv'n to the toils fo raves the Marfian boar
Horrid, and fhakes his waving bonds, the sport
Of circling dogs; he flings about his foam,
And on his front erect the briftles ftare.

The morrow came, and from her rocky highths,
Precipitant, whole Cambria pours; for strait
In ev'ry ear the novel tale was rife-

Nor wonder, for the Afs, his folemn wont
Relax'd, nor mindful of his late flow pace,

The mountain climbs more wanton than the kid:
Thence with fonorous din from rufty throat,

(The Cambrian Herald fimulating,) thrice

Thee, TAFFY, bray'd; thrice told the public joy,
Nor less the Owl; (from that great Æra term'd
Cambria's Embassador :) for through her towns,
And utmost limits wand'ring wild that night,
She scratch'd the windows with her ominous beak,

Grating

Grating harsh diffonance, and fung in fhrieks
The inftant fate of Moufe. The lab'ring rocks
Bring forth, and Pembroke's, and Mervinia's fons.
In fwarms condens'd rush down; and whom the walls
⚫ Of Bonium hold, and Maridunum fam'd

For their prophetic bard, MERLIN; and whom
Fruitful Glamorgan feeds, and he that drinks
Of Vaga's ftream, with the rough hardy clown
Montgomery manures.————— -Then TAFFY, 'midst
The crowded ring, his raging prey infults.

"Vain are thy efforts- fix'd thy doom of death. "On this my altar the first victim thou, "To dye with memorable blood the frame. "No hope remains: thy flight these wiry pofts "Inexorable bar-Dread, wicked wight, The fate thy merits afk; for these thy bonds "Thou quit'ft not but with life."

The fatal words

Scarce had he spoke, when from the funny thatch,
(Her wonted haunt, when with extended limbs
She bafks luxurious, winking in foft eafe,)

Down leap'd the playful Cat.-Her fwift approach
The captive eyes, and pricks his ears, and ftiff
Briftles his gibbous back, nor dares attempt
The portal now up-drawn; but his fole hope
Of freedom only in his prifon fix'd,

With hooked talons grafps his bonds, and hangs
Tenacious by his feet-At length he drops
Out-fhaken: inftant to her prey the Cat

Flies rapid, and with rude embrace enfolds,
And favage kiffes on her ftruggling foe
(Vain efforts!) cruelly imprints. No pause
Her rage admits; her finuous-twirling tail
Denotes the Victor's joy; her body moves
Agil in wanton frolicks, watching now
Prone on the earth intent the deftin'd Mouse ;
His neck now lightly pats with hurtlefs paw,
Diffembling love; but ruminates the while
To tear him limb from limb.

The Moufer thus,

Witty in tyranny, with various art

Wanton barbarity enjoys: but now,
Tir'd with the sportive mockery, no more
Conceals her rage, but o'er her trembling prey
Like the ftarv'd lion hangs, and growling tears
His gory entrails, and convulfive limbs.

The circling croud, foon as his hated blood
Sprinkled they spy, fill with glad fhouts the air;
And ECHO, tenant of the Cambrian hills,
Their clam'rous joy repeats; Plinlimmon's highth,
And Brechin with the loftier Snowdon join:
To th' neighb'ring ftars the loud acclaim afcends,
And OFFA's Ditch rebellows to the din.

TAFFY, for ever live-Ev'n to this day
Thy gift the Cambrian celebrates; and Thee
Commemorates each circling year. The land
Grateful, its native honours to maintain,
Each joyful head crowns redolent with Leek.

XXX

2

VERSES under the Prints of Mr. HOGARTH'S Rake's Progrefs, 1735.

By the Same.

PLATE I. SCENE, The room of the miferly father.
Vanity of AGE! untoward,

Ever fpleeny, ever froward!

Why those bolts, and maffy chains,
Squint fufpicious, jealous pains?

Why, thy toilfome journey o'er,
Lay'ft thou in an useless store?

Hope along with Time is flown,

Nor can't thou reap the field thou'ft fown.

Haft thou a fon? -In time be wife.

He views thy toil with other eyes..

Needs muft thy kind, paternal care,
Lock'd in thy chefts, be buried there;
Whence then shall flow thy friendly ease,
That focial converfe, homefelt peace,
Familiar duty without dread,

Inftruction from example bred,