Nor, call'd for, chills my Breaft with fudden Fear i
While on the wonted Door, expreffive Mark,
The frequent Penny ftands difcrib'd to View,
In fnowy Characters and graceful Row.
Hail, TICKING! fureft Guardian of Diftrefs!
Beneath thy Shelter, pennylefs I quaff
The chearful Cup, nor hear with hopeless heart New Oyfters cry'd :-Tho' much the Poet's Friend; Ne'er yet attempted in poetic Strain,
Accept this Tribute of Poetic Praise !
Nor Proctor thrice with vocal Heel alarms
Our Joys fecure, nor deigns the lowly Roof
Of Pot-house fnug to vifit: wifer he
The fplendid Tavern haunts, or Coffee-house
Of JAMES OF JUGGINS, were the greatful Breathi
Of loath'd Tobacco ne'er diffuf'd its Balm
But the lewd Spendthrift, fafly deem'd polite,
While steams around the fragrant Indian Bowl,
Oft damns the vulgar Sons of humbler ALE:
In vain-The Proctor's Voice arrefts their joys;
Juft Fate of wanton Pride and loofe Excefs!
Nor lefs by Day delightful is thy Draught,
All-pow'rful ALE! whofe forrow-foothing Sweets
Oft I repeat in vacant afternoon,
When tatter'd Stockings afk my mending hand
Not unexperienc'd; while the tedious Toil
Slides unregarded. Let the tender Swain
Each Morn regale on nerve-relaxing Tea,
Companion meet of languor-loving Nymph:
Be mine each Morn with eager Appetite
And Hunger undiffembled, to repair
To friendly Buttery: there on fnoaking Cruft
And foaming ALE to banquet unrestrained,
Material Breakfast! Thus in ancient Days
Our Ancestors robuft with liberal Cups
Ufher'd the Morn, unlike the fqueamish Sons.
Of modern Times: Nor ever had the Might
Of Britons brave decay'd, had thus they fed,
With British ALE improving British worth.
With ALE irrigucus, undifmay'd I hear
The frequent Dun afcend my lofty Dome
Importunate: Whether the plaintive Voice
Of Laundrefs fhrill awake my ftartled Ear
Or Barber fpruce with fupple Look intrude
Or Taylor with obfequious Bow advance;
Or Groom invade me with defying Front
And ftern Demeanour, whofe emaciate Steeds
(Whene'er or Phoebus fhone with kindlier Beams,
Or luckier Chance the borrow'd Boots fupply'd)
Had panted oft beneath my goring Steel.
In vain they plead or threat: All-powerful ALE
Excufes new fupplies, and each defcends
With joyless pace, and debt-defpairing Looks:
E'en SPACEY with indignant Brow retires,
Fierceft of Duns! and conquer'd quits the Field.
Why did the Gods fuch various bleflings pour
On hapless Mortals, from their grateful Hands
So foon the fhort-liv'd Bounty to recall ?
Thus, while improvident of future Ill,
I quaff the luscious Tankard uncontroll❜d,
And thoughtiefs riot in unlicenc'd Blifs;
Sudden (dire Fate of all things excellent !)
Th' unpitying Burfar's cross-affixing Hand
Blafts all my Joys, and ftops my glad Career.
Nor now the friendly Pot-house longer yields
A fure retreat, when Night o'ershades the Skies;
Nor SHEPPARD, barbarous Matron, longer gives
The wanted Truft, and WINTER ticks no more.
Thus ADAM, exil'd from the beauteous Scenes
Of Eden griev'd, no more in fragrant Bow'r
On Fruits divine to feaft, fresh Shade and Vale
No more to vifit, or vine-mantled Grot;
But, all forlorn, the dreary Wilderness,
And unrejoicing Solitudes to trace:
Thus too the matchlefs bard, whofe Lay refounds.
The SPLENDID SHILLING's Praife, in nightly Gloom
Of lonesome Garret, pin'd for chearful ALE;
Whofe Steps in Verse Miltonic I purfue,
Mean Follower: like him with honeft Love
Of ALE divine infpir'd, and Love of Song.
But long may bounteous Heav'n with watchful Care
Avert his hapless Lot! Enough for me
That burning with cogenial Flame I dar'd
His guiding Steps at Distance to pursue,
And fing his favorite Theme in kindred Strains.
In the Allegoric, Defcriptive, Epithetical, Alliterative, Fantaftic, Hyperbolical, and Diabolical STYLE of our modern ODE WRIGHTS, and MONODY-MONGERS.
Goddess of the gloomy Scene,
Of fhadowy Shapes thou black-brow'd Queen ;
Thy Treffes dark with ivy crown'd,
On yonder mould'ring Abby found;
Oft wont from Charnels damp and dim,
To call the sheeted Spectre grim,
While as his loofe Chains loudly clink,
Thou add'ft a Length to every Link;
O thou, that lov'ft at Eve to seek
The penfive pacing Pilgrim meek,
And set'ft before his fhuddering Eyes
Strange Forms, and Friends of Giant-fize,
As wildly works thy wizzard Will,
Till fear-ftruck Fancy has her Fill:
Dark Pow'r. whofe magic Might prevails
O'er Hermit-rocks, and Fairy-vales;
O Goddess, erft by *SPENSER view'd,
What Time th' Enchanter vile embru'd,
SPENSER's Fairy Queen, b. 3. canto 12.
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