Receiv'd a Town Mouse at his Board,
Just as a Farmer might a Lord.
A frugal Mouse upon the whole,
Yet lov'd his Friend, and had a Soul,
Knew what was handsome, and would do't,
On just occasion, coute qui coute.
He brought him Bacon (nothing lean)
Pudding, that might have pleas'd a 'Dean;
Cheefe, fuch as men in Suffolk make,
But wifh'd it Stilton for his fake;
Yet, to his Gueft tho' no way fparing,
He eat himfelf the rind and paring.
Our Courtier fcarce could touch a bit,
But fhow'd his Breeding and his Wit;
He did his best to seem to eat,
And cry'd, "I vow you're mighty neat.
"But Lord, my Friend, this favage Scene! 175 "For God's fake, come, and live with Men: "Confider, Mice, like Men, must die,
"Both fmall and great, both you and I: "Then spend your life in Joy and Sport,
(This doctrine, Friend, I learnt at Court.)" 180 The verieft Hermit in the Nation
May yield, God knows, to strong temptation.
Dum licet, in rebus jucundis vive beatus :
Vive memor quam fis aevi brevis. Haec ubi dita
Agreftem pepulere, domo levis exfilit: inde
Ambo propofitum peragunt iter, urbis aventes
Moenia nocturni fubrepere. jamque tenebat
Nox medium coeli fpatium, cum ponit uterque
In locuplete domo veftigia: rubro ubi cocco
Tincta fuper lectos canderet veftis eburnos ;
Multaque de magna fupereffent fercula coena,
Quae procul exftructis inerant hefterna caniftris.
Ergo ubi purpurea porrectum in veste locavit
Agrestem; veluti fuccinctus curfitat hofpes,
Continuatque dapes: nec non verniliter ipfis
Fungitur officiis, praelibans omne quod affert.
Away they come, thro' thick and thin,
To a tall house near Lincoln's-Inn;
('Twas on the night of a Debate,
When all their Lordships had fate late.)
Behold the place, where if a Poet
Shin'd in Description, he might show it;
Tell how the Moon-beam trembling falls,
And tips with Silver all the walls;
Palladian walls, Venetian doors,
Grotefco roofs, and Stucco floors:
But let it (in a word) be faid,
The Moon was up, and Men a-bed,
The Napkins white, the Carpet red:
The Guests withdrawn had left the Treat,
And down the Mice fate, tête à tête.
Our Courtier walks from dish to dish, Taftes for his Friend of Fowl and Fish; ;
Tells all their names, lays down the law,
Que ça eft bon! Ah gouter ça !
"That Jelly's rich, this Malmsey healing,
Pray, dip your Whiskers and your
Was ever fuch a happy Swain?
He stuffs and fwills, and stuffs again.
"I'm quite asham'd-'tis mighty rude
"To eat so much-but all's fo good.
Ille cubans gaudet mutata forte, bonisque
Rebus agit laetum convivam: cum fubito ingens
Valvarum ftrepitus lectis excuffit utrumque.
Currere per totum pavidi conclave; magifque
Exanimes trepidare, fimul domus alta Moloffis
Perfonuit canibus. tum rufticus, Haud mihi vita
Eft opus hac, ait, et valeas: me fylva, cavufque
Tutus ab infidiis tenui folabitur ervo.
"I have a thousand thanks to give
My Lord alone knows how to live.”
No fooner faid, but from the Hall
Rush Chaplain, Butler, Dogs and all :
"A Rat! a Rat! clap to the door”-
The Cat comes bouncing on the floor.
O for the heart of Homer's Mice,
Or Gods to fave them in a trice!
(It was by Providence they think,
For your damn'd Stucco has no chink.)
"An't please your Honour," quoth the Peafant, "This fame Deffert is not so pleasant:
"Give me again my hollow Tree,
"A Cruft of Bread, and Liberty!"
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