en ence ? 2. Tell me, most learned Apollo, what salmons.feed there being never any thing found in their bellies, A thick slimny humour ; this I know to be true by Tho' it is rare to find any thing in the bellies mons, but such a thick simy 'humour, it does Follow (as fome bave imagin'd) that they are Fly nourish'd by water ; but we may rather ar that since they will greedily cnough catch at rms, minows, and some other small fishes, that y do feed upon them, but digeft them so fast, that ey are foon turn'd into chyle. Nor is this to be onder'd at, since it hath been known, that some en afflicted with what is call?d a canine appetite, ve as suddenly digested much groffer fubftances. Q. How comes a (word. blade to be melted by lightning, bilt it is in the scabbard, and the scabbard not affeated ? A. Lightning being nothing else but a subtle nitrofulphureous matter enflamed, and breaking out of a cloud with very great violence, and much after the fame manner that lighted gun-powder dotb out of a gun ; 'tis 'no wonder that it should not affect those bodies which give it a free paffage through their Fores, but should divide and feparate the particles of hose which oppose. Q. Which was the nobleft General amongst the ancient ro's, that ever led an army in the field ? A. Since their number was so great, and their peiar accomplishments so excellent, and yet to different Ac from another, we look upon it as a piece of preamption to attempt the answering fo nice a question. The Marquiss d'Langalerie in his memoirs, p. 1852 The French relate, that one Monsieur Lombardire, captain of dragoons at Valencia, fell in love with a young woman at his inn, made several attempts upon her virtue, but unsuccessfully · favour'd by an opportunity when she was fast asleep, he got her with child, but she refoLutely affirm'd she was ignorant of it, I query whether such a thing be possible ? A. We believe not. H 3 Q. Whea Q. Whether the frequenting play-houses is an innocent diversion ? A. We believe it innocent to fee an inoffensive play ; but as to the frequenting any diversions, the case varies according to the condition and circumItances of the person : It is doubtless a fault in any, whose means will not allow it without detriment to their families, or in fuch, who at the same time could spend their time better. Q. My father is a Roman Catholick, and my mother # Quaker, but I through the means of a liberal and ingenuous education, have a more clear understanding in matters of religion than them both. My father seeing me hverse to his religion says he will disinherit me, unless rll turn from the pureft religion in the whole world (that of the Church of England): I therefore have troubled Apollo's Deity with this query, whether I in filial duty am oblig'd to embrace the religion of the Romish Church, my mind being utterly aversed to it. With speedy anfwer you will oblige your disconfolate Strephon. A. Your query calls in question the ingenuity of your education, or the soundness of your judgmento that you make a doubt, whether you ought to maintain a clear conscience, or sell it for an inheritance. R. Gentlemen, contrary to my wonted manner, I am of late, (that is within this 9 or 10 months). seized with An extreme drowsiness, infomuch that I can never gain an bour's respite from business, (either standing or sitting) but I am assaulted with that troublesome companion : Now I defire to know the cause hereof, and method of cure, and you'll oblige yours, &c. 4. This drowsie disorder may probably arise from a phlegmatick or watry humour, preternaturally contain'd in the brain, or from abundance of blood therein, thickning the animal fpirits, and rendring their motion fluggish; or it may proceed from extravasated blood, filling and compreffing the ventricles of the brain ; or from thick vapours, afcending from a foul stomacb : For the cure whereof, we advise you to apply your felf to an able physician. Q. Hona 4 a Q. How has the royal touch such a peculiar effe&t on Chærades? A. The first account we have of this wonderful manner of curing this disease is, that it was perform'd by Edward the Confessor, and has been esteemid to have continued ( as a gift from heaven) in the royal-family ever since. 'Q. Why' a man that is most eager, is very often the most impotent ? A. Because his over eagerness causes a diffipation of the animal spirits. Q. Suppose our grandmother's grandmother was forA coufun to king James the first, may we not, as we see occa. fion, juftly boaft we have royal blood in our veins Å. We doubt, not, for after so many descents and mixtures, there cou'd remain but little ; and then, if any of you, up to your great grandmother, have been let blood, it being the genuine quality of that blood to mount ds, 'tis a thousand to one, but it hath all of it long since spurted out of your veias. Q. Ye fans of Apollo, whom so many fools follow, Pray tell, (if you're able) Whether true or a fable ? (Now I know ye expect a rhyme to resolved, but you will be damnably disappointed) The question is in plain English, Whether ever I fall bave my mistress or not? For you must know that I am in love, an it foould like your worships, and all the people that know it, which is every body but my mistress ber felf) have already made up the match for us nay, they say she has been at my house too, tho I dare Swear she would not set her foot uporn the threshold to be maid of honour to the Pretender's fifter, and that we are certainly to have one another, tho' uporn my maidenhead, we never faid such a pam word to one a. nother in our lives, or any thing tending towards to have and to hold, or any thing like it. Nay, for my mistress her self, poor thing, i dare Jay She is as innocent of it as a H4 child child unborn ; and as to my felf, I know as little of it as is poffible for one to do, that is to be noozed so very quickly, as they say we are? Non your speedy and learned answer to this learned query, will highly oblige, Sirs, your humble Trout. A. Left we shou'd have none, You'll make your self one, Howe'er we'll explain, The whims of your brain, Tho' for rhime you're as mucb disappointed. Yes, doubtless, you'll have your mistress, and the rather, because others have made up the match, than if you had made it up your self, fince your judgment might have been calid in question, which might have induc'd you to repent; and since all people are of that opinion, they are great odds against you two. As for you and your mistress's not knowing it, argues nothing in the matter, since people in love rarely know what either they say or do: Love also being blind, she might have come a thousand times to your house, and you not see her. Tho' it seems all a dream to you now, a little marriage-musick" may waken you out of it, and bring you to confess our judg. ment in the case. Tours, Apollo's Trout-catcher, Q. Resplendent Phoebus, tell us why, Whene'er you shine in rainy weather, To heaven like mad the cuckolds fly, Methinks I see them flocking thither. Now since you fill in April season, Such numerous radiant Mowers difflay, We see no fewer horns in May ? An embrỳo to increase the store ; Augmenting still the stock to more. Thus let them fly, or flock together, And ac'er so much replenish heav'n, } ;} In fairelt, or in fouleft weather ; Cuckolds there'll be, whilft there be med. A. A longer habit more acquaintance gains ; your tools, and lay them by R. Answer Apollo very trim, A. What occupies moft room will swim, Q. Since ye know all things, nothing's bid from you) Say why the skie's of such a dismal hue Immediately before the rain, and why, The clouds' do then convene so difmally ? A. Since we know all things, something we'll tell you, Q. Give me I pray a solid reason, A. The sun shines weak in winter season, I pray give an answer to what I propose : Hs |