It deals in numerous externals, A Frog and Mouse had long disputes, The Mouse, averse to be o'erpower'd, Gave him the lie, and called him coward. Too hard for any Frog's digestion, To have his froghood call'd in question! A bargain instantly was made, No mouse of honour could evade. On the next morn, as soon as light, A furious Vulture took upon her A thousand trifles not worth naming, His quarry, like an hawk, discovering, Secure to get in his tuition, T These volunteers for black perdition.p. FABLE XIII. THE COUNTRY SQUIRE AND THE MANDRAKE. By Smart. THE sun had rais'd above the mead, Sad Philomela left her thorn, The lively linnets hymn'd the morn ; And, with his gun, from wood to wood, Like pearls and emeralds on the ground; 'Her robe with dignity long worn, 'And cap of liberty were torn ; Dejected like a widow'd queen; mesecih, inte 'Her broken fife, and harp unstrung 'On the uncultur'd ground were flung; aston 'Down lay her spear, defil'd with rust, 'And book of learning in the dust; 'Her loyalty still blameless found, 'And hospitality renown'd; 'No more the voice of fame engross'd, 'In discontent and clamour lost. Hapless, disconsolate and brave, 'Hibernia! who'll Hibernia save? 'Who shall assist thee in thy woe, 'Who ward from thee the fatal blow?' FABLE XI. FASHION AND NIGHT. By Smart. FASHION-whom half the world, and more, With blind idolatry adore— Various herself in various climes, She moulds the manners of the times, The chequer'd wheel of variegation : True female, that ne'er knew her will, Still changing, tho' immortal still. One day, as the inconstant maid Was careless on her sofa laid, Sick of the sun, and tir'd with light, She thus invok'd the gloomy Night: 'Come-these malignant rays destroy, "Thou screen of shame, and rise of joy. 'Come from thy western ambuscade, Queen of the rout and masquerade : Nymph, without thee no cards advance, • Without thee halts the loitering dance; ''Till thou approach, all, all's restraint, 'Nor is it safe to game or paint; 'The belles and beaux thy influence ask, 'Put on the universal mask. Let us invert, in thy disguise, She ceas'd-the sable-mantled dame, With slow approach, and awful, came ; And, frowning with sarcastic sneer, Reproach'd the female rioteer: That nature you abuse, my fair, 'Was I created to repair. 'And contrast with a friendly shade, 'The pictures Heav'n's rich pencil made; 'And with my sleep-alluring dose, To give laborious Art repose; • To make both noise and action cease, 'The queen of secresy and peace. |