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"Next to the Bleffings of religious Truth "Two Gifts my endless Gratitude engage; "A Wife, the Joy and Tranfport of my Youth, "Now, with a Son, the Comfort of my Age.

"Seek not to draw me from this kind Retreat, "In loftier Spheres unfit, untaught to move; "Content with calm, domeftic Life, where meet "The Smiles of Friendship, and the Sweets of Love,

The

The

PHAETON,

AND THE

ONE HORSE CHAIR.

A

T Blagrave's once upon a Time,

There ftood a PHAETON fublime:

Unfullied by the dusty Road

It's Wheels with recent Crimson glow'd;

* Well known at Oxford for letting out Carriages, 1763.

It's Sides difplay'd a dazzling Hue,
It's Harness tight, it's Lining new :
No scheme-enamour'd Youth, I ween,
Survey'd the gaily deck'd Machine,
But fondly long'd to feize the reins,
And whirl o'er Campsfield's † tempting Plains.
Meantime it chanc'd, that hard at hand

A ONE HORSE CHAIR had took it's Stand;
When thus our Vehicle begun

To fneer the lucklefs Chaife and One.

"How could my Mafter place me here Within thy vulgar Atmosphere?

From claffic Ground pray fhift thy Station,
Thou Scorn of Oxford Education!

Your homely Make, believe me, Man,
Is quite upon the Gothic Plan;

And you, and all your clumfy Kind,
For lowest Purposes defign'd:
Fit only, with a one-ey'd Mare,
To drag, for Benefit of Air,
The country Parfon's pregnant Wife,
Thou Friend of dull domeftic Life!

Or, with his Maid and Aunt, to School
To carry Dicky on a Stool:

In the Road to Blenheim.

Or,

Or, haply to fome Christening gay,
A brace of Godmothers convey.
Or, when bleft Saturday prepares

For London Tradefmen Reft from Cares,
"Tis thine to make them happy one Day,
Companion of their genial Sunday!
'Tis thine, o'er Turnpikes newly made,
When timely Show'rs the Duft have laid,
To bear fome Alderman ferene

To fragrant Hampftead's fylvan scene.
Nor higher scarce thy Merit rifes
Among the polish'd Sons of Ifis.
Hir'd for a folitary Crown,

Canft thou to Schemes invite the Gown?
Go, tempt fome Prig, pretending Taste,
With Hat new cock'd, and newly lac'd,
O'er Mutton-chops, and fcanty Wine,
At humble Dorchester to dine!

Meantime remember, lifeless Drone!
carry Bucks and Bloods alone.

I

And oh whene'er the Weather's friendly,
What Inn at Abingdon or Henly,
But ftill my vaft Importance feels,
And gladly greets my entering Wheels.
And think, obedient to the Thong,
How yon gay Street we fmoak along:

While All with envious Wonder view
The Corner turn'd so quick and true.”

To check an Upftart's empty Pride,
Thus fage the ONE HORSE CHAIR reply'd.

"Pray, when the Confequence is weigh'd, What's all your Spirit and Parade?

From Mirth to Grief what fad Transitions,
To broken Bones and Impofitions!

Or if no Bones are broke, what's worse,
Your Schemes make work for Glass * and Nourse.-
On Us pray fpare your keen Reproaches,
From One Horfe Chairs Men rife to Coaches;
If calm Discretion's ftedfaft Hand,

With cautious Skill the Reins command.
From me fair Health's fresh Fountain springs,
O'er me foft Snugnefs fpreads her Wings:
And Innocence reflects her Ray
To gild my calm fequefter'd Way:
E'en Kings might quit their State to share
Contentment and a One Horfe Chair.
What though, o'er yonder echoing Street
Your rapid Wheels refound fo sweet;

Shall Is Sons thus vainly prize

A RATTLE of a larger Size?

Eminent Surgeons in Oxford.

BLAGRAVE

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