Fate yet forbids; nor circumfcribes alone Their growing Virtues, but their Crimes confines Forbids in Freedom's Veil t'infult the Throne, Beneath her Mafk to hide the worst defigns,

To fill the madding Crowd's perverted Mind With "Penfions, Taxes, Marriages, and Jews;" Or fhut the Gates of Heav'n on lost Mankind, And wreft their darling Hopes, their future Views,

Far from the giddy Town's tumultuous Strife, Their Wishes, yet have never learn'd to stray; Content and happy in a fingle Life

They keep the noiseless Tenor of their Way.

E'en now their Books from Cobwebs to protect,
Inclos'd by Doors of Glass, in Doric Style,
On fluted Pillars rais'd, with Bronzes deck'd,
They claim the palling Tribute of a Smile.

Oft are the Authors, Names, tho' richly bound,
Mif-fpelt by blund'ring Binder's want of Care;
And many a Catalogue is ftrowed around,
To tell th' admiring Gueft what Books are there.

For who, to thoughtlefs Ignorance a prey,
Neglects to hold fhort Dalliance with a Book?
Who there, but wifhes to prolong his Stay,
And on those Cases cafts a ling'ring Look?

Reports

Reports attract the Lawyer's parting Eyes,
Novels Lord Fopling and Sir Plume require;
For Songs and Plays the Voice of Beauty cries,
And Senfe and Nature Grandifon defire.

For thee, who mindful of thy lov'd Compeers
Doft in their Lines their artless Tales relate,
If chance, with prying Search, in future Years,
Some Antiquarian fhall enquire thy Fate,

Haply fome Friend may shake his hoary Head,
And say, ' Each morn. unchill'd by Frosts, he ran
With Hofe ungarter'd, o'er yon turfy Bed,
To reach the Chapel ere the Pfalms began.

• There in the Arms of that lethargic Chair, "Which rears it's moth-devoured Back so high, At noon he quaff'd three Glaffes to the Fair, And por❜d upon the News with curious Eye.

Now by the Fire, engag'd in ferious Talk 'Or mirthful Converfe, would he loit'ring stand; Then in the Garden chose a funny walk, • Or launch'd the polish'd Bowl with steady Hand

• One Morn we mifs'd him at the Hour of Pray'r, Befide the Fire, and on his fav'rite Green;

Another came, nor yet within the Chair,

Nor yet at Bowls, nor Chapel was he feen.

• The

'The next we heard that in a neighb'ring Shire
That day to Church he led a blushing Bride;

A Nymph whose snowy Vest and maiden Fear
Improv'd her Beauty while the knot was ty’d.

Now by his Patron's bounteous Care remov'd, He roves enraptur'd through the Fields of Kent: ⚫ Yet ever mindful of the Place he lov'd, • Read here the Letter which he lately fent.'

The LETTER.

"In rural Innocence secure I dwell, "Alike to Fortune and to Fame unknown; Approving Confcience chears my humble Cell, "And focial Quiet marks me for her own.

"Next to the Bleffings of religious Truth Two Gifts endless Gratitude engage;

my

"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,

A

AND THE

ONE HORSE CHAIR,

T Balgrave's once upon a Time,
There ftood a PHAETON fublime:

Unfullied by the dusty Road

It's Wheels with recent Crimson glow'd;
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 luckless Chaise and One.

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

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

Your homely Make, believe me, Man,

Is quite upon the Gothic Plan;

;

And

Well known at Oxford for letting out Carriages, 1763.
In the Road to Blenheim.

And you, and all your clumfy Kind,
For lowest Purposes design'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:

Or, haply to fome Chriftening 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 fragant Hampstead's fylvan scene.
Nor higher scarce thy Merit rifes
Among the polish'd Sons of Ifis.
Hir'd for a folitary Crown,

Can't thou to Schemes invite the Gown?
Go, tempt fome Prig, pretending Tafte,
With Hat new cock'd, and newly lac'd,
O'er Mutton-chops, and fcanty Wine,
At humble Dorchester to dine!

Mean