The mushrooms shew his wit was sudden!
And for his judgment, lo a pudden!

Roast beef, tho' old, proclaims him stout,

And grace, altho' a bard devout.

May Toм, whom Heav'n sent down to raise
The price of prologues and of plays,

16

Be ev'ry birth-day more a winner,

Digest his thirty-thousandth dinner;

Walk to his grave without reproach,
And scorn a rascal and a coach.

20

NOTES.

Ver. 16. The price of prologues and of plays,] This alludes to a story Mr. Southern told of Dryden, about the same time, to Mr. P. and Mr. W.-When Southern first wrote for the stage, Dryden was so famous for his prologues, that the players would act nothing without that decoration. His usual price till then had been four guineas; but when Southern came to him for the prologue he had bespoke, Dryden told him he must have six guineas for it; "which (said he) young man, is out of no disrespect to you, but the players have had my goods too cheap."-We now look upon these prologues with the same admiration that the virtuosi do on the apothecaries' pots painted by Raphael. W.

ROXANA, OR THE DRAWING-ROOM.

AN ECLOGUE.

ROXANA from the court returning late, Sigh'd her soft sorrow at St. James's gate: Such heavy thoughts lay brooding in her breast; Not her own chairmen with more weight opprest: They curse the cruel weight they're doom'd to bear; She in more gentle sounds express'd her care.

Was it for this, that I these roses wear?
For this, new-set the jewels for my hair?
Ah Princess! with what zeal have I pursu'd?
Almost forgot the duty of a prude.

This King, I never could attend too soon;

I miss'd my pray'rs, to get me dress'd by noon.
For thee, ah! what for thee did I resign?
My passions, pleasures, all that e'er was mine:
I've sacrific'd both modesty and ease;
Left operas, and went to filthy plays :
Double entendres shock'd my tender ear;
Yet even this, for thee, I chuse to bear:
In glowing youth, when nature bids be gay,
And ev'ry joy of life before me lay;
By honour prompted, and by pride restrain'd,
The pleasures of the young my soul disdain'd:
Sermons I sought, and with a mien severe,
Censur'd my neighbours, and said daily pray'r.
Alas, how chang'd! with this same sermon-mien,
The filthy What-d'ye-call-it--I have seen.

Ah, royal Princess! for whose sake I lost
The reputation, which so dear had cost;
I, who avoided ev'ry public place,

When bloom and beauty bid me shew my face,
Now near thee, constant, I each night abide,
With never-failing duty by my side;
Myself and daughters standing in a row,
To all the foreigners a goodly show.

Oft had your drawing-room been sadly thin,
And merchants' wives close by your side had been;
Had I not amply fill'd the empty place,

And sav'd your Highness from the dire disgrace:
Yet Cockatilla's artifice prevails,

When all my duty and my merit fails:
That Cockatilla, whose deluding airs
Corrupts our virgins, and our youth insnares;
So sunk her character, and lost her fame,
Scarce visited, before your Highness came;
Yet for the bed-chamber 'tis she you choose,
Whilst zeal, and fame, and virtue you refuse.
Ah worthy choice; not one of all your train
Which censures blast not, or dishonours stain.
I know the court, with all its treach'rous wiles,
The false caresses, and undoing smiles..
Ah Princess! learn'd in all the courtly arts,
To cheat our hopes, and yet to gain our hearts.

ΤΟ

LADY MARY WORTLEY MONTAGUE.

I.

IN beauty, or wit,

No mortal as yet

To question your empire has dar'd ;

But men of discerning

Have thought that in learning,

To yield to a lady was hard.

II.

Impertinent schools,

With musty dull rules,

Have reading to females denied :

So papists refuse

The Bible to use,

Lest flocks should be wise as their guide.

III.

'Twas a woman at first,

(Indeed she was curst) In knowledge that tasted delight,

And sages agree

The laws should decree

To the first possessor the right.

IV.

Then bravely, fair dame,
Resume the old claim,

Which to your whole sex does belong;
And let men receive,

From a second bright Eve,

The knowledge of right and of wrong.

V.

But if the first Eve

Hard doom did receive

When only one apple had she,

What a punishment new

Shall be found out for you,

Who tasting, have robb'd the whole tree?