In all the majesty of paunch, he tries :)
Studious of eafe, and provident I place
My gladsome limbs, while in repeated round
Returns replenish'd the fucceffive cup,
And the brisk fire conspires to genial joy.
Nor feldom to relieve the ling'ring hours
In innocent delight, amufive putt

On smooth joint-stool in emblematic play
The vain viciffitudes of fortune fhews.

Nor reck'ning, name tremendous, me difturbs,
Nor, call'd-for, chills my breaft with fudden fear,
While on the wonted door (expreffive mark!)
The frequent penny stands describ'd to view

In fnowy characters, a graceful row.
Hail Ticking! fureft guardian of ciftrefs,
Beneath thy shelter pennylefs I quaff

The cheering cup: tho' much the poet's friend.
Ne'er yet attempted in poetic ftrain,
Accept this humble tribute of my praise.
Nor proctor thrice with vocal heel alarms
Our joys fecure, nor deigns the lowly roof
Of pot-house fnug to vifit: wifer he
The fplendid tavern haunts, or coffee-house
Of James or Juggins, where the grateful breath.
Of mild tobacco ne'er diffus'd its balm;
But the lewd spendthrift, falsely deem'd polite,
While fteams around the fragrant Indian bowl
Oft damns the vulgar fons of humbler Ale:
3

In

In vain-the proctor's voice alarms their joy;
Juft fate of wanton pride, and vain excess !
Nor lefs by day delightful is thy draught,
Heart-eafing Ale, whofe forrow-foothing sweets
Oft I repeat in vacant afternoon,

When tatter'd stockings ask my mending hand
Not unexperienc'd, while the tedious toil
Slides unregarded. Let the tender swain
Each morn regale on nerve-relaxing tea,
Companion meet of languor-loving nymph:
Be mine each morn with eager appetite
And hunger undiffembled, to repair
To friendly butt'ry, there on fmoaking cruft
And foaming Ale to banquet unrestrain'd,
Material breakfaft! Thus in ancient times
Our ancestors robust with liberal cups
Usher'd the morn, unlike the languid fons
Of modern days; nor ever had the might
Of Britons brave decay'd, had thus they fed,
With English Ale improving English worth.
With Ale irriguous, undifmay'd I har
The frequent dun afcend my lofty dome
Importunate whether the plaintive voice
Of laundrefs fhrill awake, my
ftartled ear,
Or taylor with obfequious bow advance;
Or groom invade me with defying look
And fierce demeanor, whofe emaciate fteeds
Had panted oft beneath my goring steel;
In vain they plead or threat; all-powerful Ale

Excufes new fupplies, and each descends
With joyless pace and debt-defpairing looks.
E'en Spy with indignant, bow retires,
Sterneft of duns! and conquer'd quits the field.
Why did the gods fuch various bleffings pour
On helpless mortals, from their grateful hands
So foon the short-liv'd bounty to recal ?
Thus while, improvident of future ill,
I quaff the luscious tankard unreftrain'd,
And thoughtless riot in ambrofial bliss,
Sudden (dire fate of all things excellent !)
Th' unpitying burfar's crofs affixing hand.
Blaft all my joys, and stops my glad career.
Nor now the friendly pot-house longer yields
A fure retreat when ev'ning fhades the skies,
Nor* Sheppard, rushless widow, now vouchfafes
The wonted truft, and Winter ticks no more.
Thus Adam exil'd from the blissful fcenes
Of Eden griev'd, no more in hallow'd bow'r
On nect'rine fruits to feaft, frefh fhade or vale
No more to vifit, or vine-mantled grot;.
But all forlorn the naked wilderness,
And unrejoicing folitudes to trace.

Thus too the matchlefs bard, whofe lay refounds
The Splendid Shilling's praise, in nightly gloom
Of lonesome garret pin'd for cheerful Ale:
Whofe fteps in verfe Miltonic I purfue,
Mean follower! like him with honeft love
Of Ale divine inspir'd, and love of fong,
*Noted alehoufes in Oxford,

But

But long may bounteous Heav'n with watchful care
Avert his hapless fate! enough for me,

That burning with congenial flame I dar'd
His guiding steps at diftance to pursue,

And fing his fav'rite theme in kindred ftrains.

XXXXXXXX'XX

XXXXXXXXXX

ODE to the Genius of ITALY, occafioned by the Earl of CORKE's going Abroad.

By Mr. J. DUNCOMBE.

THOU that, on a pointless spear reclin'd,

In dusk of eve oft tak'st thy lonely way
Where Tyber's flow, neglected waters ftray,
And pour'ft thy fruitless forrows to the wind,
Grieving to fee his fhore no more the feat
Of arts and arms, and liberty's retreat,

Italia's Genius, rear thy drooping head,

Shake off thy trance, and weave an olive crown,
For fee! a noble guest appears, well known

To all thy worthies, tho' in Britain bred;
Guard well thy charge, for know, our polish'd isle
Reluctant fpares thee such a son as BOYLE.

There, while their fweets thy myrtle groves dispense,
Lead to the Sabine or the Tuscan plain,
Where playful Horace tun'd his amorous ftrain,
And Tully pour'd the ftream of eloquence;
Nor fail to crown him with that ivy bloom,
Which graceful mantles o'er thy Maro's tomb,

At that bleft fpot, from vulgar cares refin'd,
In fome foft vifion or indulgent dream

Infpire his fancy with a glorious theme,
And point new fubjects to his generous mind,
At once to charm his country, and improve
The laft, the youngest object of his love.
But ! mark well his tranfports in that shade,
Where circled by the bay's unfading green,
Amidst a rural and fequester'd scene

His much-lov'd Pliny refts his honour'd head;
There, rapt in filence, will he gaze around,
And ftrew with fweeteft flowers the hallow'd grown.

But fee! the fage, to mortal view confeft,

Thrice waves the hand, and fays, or feems to say, "The debt I owe thee how fhall I repay? "Welcome to Latium's fhore, illuftrious guest!

66

Long may'st thou live to grace thy native ifle, "Humane in thought and elegant in style! "While on thy confort I with rapture gaze

86

My own Calphurnia rifes to my view:

"That blifs unknown but to the virtuous few, "Briton! is thine; charm'd with domeftic praise "Thine are thofe heart-felt joys that fweeten life, "The fon, the friend, the daughter and the wife." Content with fuch approof, when genial Spring

Bids the fhrill black-bird whistle in the vale, Home may he haften with a profperous gale, And Health protect him with her fost'ring wing; So fhall Britannia to the wind and fea

Entrust no more her fav'rite ORRERY.