"Shudders at kiffing, ogling, and all that,
"But, panting for a man, ftill hugs her cat;-
"That meagre brother, an air dancing prig,
"Like JENNY JERKAIRS, in heroics big
"If at the feffions he hath gain'd a caufe

"By the smart action of his lanthorn jaws,

"But, on a fudden, how fubmifs and mute "If his nofe fuffer in fome fharp difpute;

"Who, though each hour a fad confumptive cough « Threaten to carry the poor caitiff off,

"And hollow cheeks betray the hectic flush, "Cajoles his client, with no deep'ning blush,

"And while the crowd he fcruples not to cheat, "His law delivers gratis, to the great,

"Suits every fimper to a rich man's smile,

"And smoothes his tongue with adulation's oil!"But, if I chanc'd to touch some legal point, "Not thus his tongue for me would NED anoint.

«To me, in truth, so vaft were NED's regards,

"That if by accident, at tea, or cards,

"I hinted my opinion on a cafe,

"He quick advis'd me, with a friendly face;

"But (unfufpe&ting I, a witless clown!)

"Strait for advice fet fix and eight pence down! "Tho' now my brother, or at whist or tea,

"No longer dares manœuvre for a fee,

"Yet NED falutes me with his wonted fmirk, "On juftice-days, ftill bufy as my clerk."

Thus would the Knight his youthful day-dreams

weave,

Warm as the colors of a vernal eve;

Yet, ftealing from the fhadowy view too fast,
Like thofe aërial colors foon o'erpaft!-

Thus, paint his loves when life was in it's prime,
Then mourn the tints of fancy, chas'd by time;
O'er hope's delightful vifions fondly brood,

And wake to real ills in fretful mood;
From choler fnatching a fatiric fpice,

Touch many a folly, many a modifh vice;
Give freakish affectation a fly wipe,

Then smile, or figh, or mufing puff his pipe!
But, in each humour, ftill his wish would run,

"O may kind Heaven indulge me with a fon!"

One girl was his, juft verging on eighteen

O well might he prefer that prayer, I ween!
A prefent from his first-devoted wife,

The girl might foothe, indeed, the cares of life,
If, haply, formal pride and fullen airs,

And flippancies, of life relieve the cares.
Yes! while fhe deem'd formality a grace,

She triumph'd in the fcowl that arm'd her face
And fuited to her petrifying frown

The pucker'd ftarch nefs of her morning-gown.
E'en when a child, fhe fwell'd with redd'ning eye,
If but her cap or bib were pinn'd awry;
While fulkiness would every figh absorb,
And check the starting tear in either orb.
Tutor❜d amidst a modish school, whose boast
Was to amufe conceited heads, at most,
And not one falutary truth impart,

Such as informs the mind, or mends the heart;

Mifs, with a hatred for her home, came down, And term'd each rural fquire a booby clown! Averse to all the fine creations chaste,

That with perennial pleasures cherish taste,

Thofe arts might vainly her attention court,

Which charm in Picture, or in Sound transport!

Attacht to things that Miffes deem outré, A fhrub imported from the Southern Sea, No matter what-a Tranfatlantic weed,

Or

any

creature not of British breed,

She, by her fire's indulgence, prompt to grant
Her wishes, purchas'd many a curious plant;
While with Bologna's lapdog foft fupplied,
Her foul, unfated, for a monkey figh'd;

And, with the prating of a parrot bleft,

The paroquet her longing hopes careft!
All wonder'd at the girl's wild hobby-horse;
Nor look'd for better things, but augur'd worse.

From taste in reading still she wander'd wide, Follow'd the laws of fashion, her fole guide;

*

With thoughts that petrify, and words that freeze,

Turn'd o'er a page, and talk'd of Eloife;

Scatters from her pictur'd urn

"Thoughts that breathe, and words that burn."

GRAY.

And faid, that English writers of romance

Stole every touching grace from genial France.

Of France, indeed, enamour'd, fhe refign'd
To one fole favorite of the human kind,
A maid from Caen imported, every care;
(Unless a school-creole might claim a fhare)
As with the choiceft Gallic tropes she strung,
In converse with the chattering girl, her tongue;
For genuine wit receiv'd each flippant jest,
While dear ANNETTE herself or Tripley dreft;
And, from the vulgar English herd withdrawn,
Enjoy'd the native eloquence of Caen.

Yet, if the Knight begat no iffue male, His whole inheritance was hers in tail.

But, fond to give his heritage fome chance, Or won (as fome fufpe&t) by beauty's glance, He kneel'd* to HARRIET, ere nine moons were past Since his first wife, his BRIDGET, breath'd her last.

* Such was the old-fashioned mode of courtship: but nowa-days, I believe, there are few kneeling lovers!

J.