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Whether we ought to chuse our Friends,

For their own Worth, or our own Ends?
What good, or better, we may call,

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And what, the very best of all!?

Our Friend Dan Prior, told (you know)

A Tale extremely "à propos:"

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Name a Town Life, and in a trice,
He had a Story of two Mice.
Once on a time (fo runs the Fable)
A Country Moufe, right hofpitable,
Receiv'd a Town Moufe at his Board,
Just as a Farmer might a Lord.
A frugal Moufe, upon the whole,
Yet lov'd his Friend, and had a Soul,

Knew what was handsome, and would do't,
On juft occafion, “coute qui coute."

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He brought him Bacon (nothing lean)

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Pudding, that might have pleas'd a Dean ;

Cheese,

Divitiis homines, an fint virtute beati :
Quidve ad amicitias, ufus rectumne, trahat nos:
Et
quae fit natura boni, fummumque quid ejus.
Cervius haec inter vicinus garrit aniles

Ex re fabellas. fi quis nam laudat Arellî
Solicitas ignarus opes; fic incipit: Olim
Rufticus urbanum murem mus paupere fertur
Accepiffe cavo, veterem vetus hofpes amicum;
Afper, et attentus quaefitis; ut tamen arctum
Solveret hofpitiis animum, quid multa? neque illi
Sepofiti ciceris, nec longae invidit avenae :

Cheese, such as men in Suffolk make,
But wifh'd it Stilton for his fake;
Yet, to his Guest though no way sparing,
He eat himself the rind and paring.
Our Courtier fcarce could touch a bit,
But show'd his Breeding and his Wit;
He did his best to seem to eat,

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And cry'd, “I vow you're mighty neat.
"But Lord, my Friend, this favage Scene!

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"For God's fake, come, and live with Men: "Confider, Mice, like Men, must die,

"Both small and great, both you and I:

"Then spend your life in Joy and Sport,

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(This doctrine, Friend, I learn'd at Court.)" The veriest Hermit in the Nation

May yield, God knows, to ftrong temptation.

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Away

Aridum et ore ferens acinum, femefaque lardi
Frufta dedit, cupiens varia fastidia coena
Vincere tangentis male fingula dente fuperbo:
Cum pater ipfe domus palea porrectus in horna
Effet ador loliumque, dapis meliora relinquens.
Tandem urbanus ad hunc, Quid te juvat, inquit, amice.
Praerupti nemoris patientem vivere dorfo ?

Vin' tu homines urbemque feris praeponere fylvis ?
Carpe viam (mihi crede) comes : terreftria quando
Mortales animas vivunt fortita, neque ulla eft,
Aut magno aut parvo, leti fuga. quo, bone, circa,
Dum licet, in rebus jucundis vive beatus :

Vive menor quam fis aevi brevis. Haec ubi dicta

Away they came, through 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 Defcription, he might fhow 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 said,
The Moon was up, and Men a-bed,
The Napkin 's white, the Carpet red:
The Guests withdrawn had left the Treat,
And down the Mice fate, "tête à tête."

Our Courtier walks from difh to dish,
Taftes for his Friend of Fowl and Fish;
Tells all their names, lays down the law,
"Que ça eft bon! Ah goutez ça!

Agreftem pepulere, domo levis exfilit: inde
Ambo propofitum peragunt iter, urbis aventes
Moenia nocturni fubrepere. jamque tenebat
Nox medium coeli spatium, 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 hesterna caniftris,
Ergo ubi purpurea porrectum in veste locavit
Agreftem; veluti succin&tus curfitat hofpes,

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"That Jelly's rich, this Malmsey healing,

"Pray dịp your Whiskers and your Tail in."
Was ever fuch a happy Swain ?

He ftuffs and fwills, and ftuffs again.
"I'm quite afham'd-'tis mighty rude
"To eat so much—but all's so good.
"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.
Q 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!"

Continuatque dapes : nec non verniliter ipfis
Fungitur officiis, praelambens omne quod affert.
Ille cubans gaudet mutata forte, bonifque
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 arvo,

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BOOK

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A

GAIN? new Tumults in my breast?
Ah spare me, Venus! let me, let me rest!
I am not now, alas! the man

As in the gentle Reign of my Queen Anne.
Ah found no more thy foft alarms,

Nor circle fober fifty with thy Charms ! Mother too fierce of dear Defires!

Turn, turn to willing hearts your wanton fires.

To Number five direct your Doves,

There spread round Murray all your blooming Loves;

Ad VENEREM.

INTERMISSA, Venus, diu

Rurfus bella moves? parce precor, precor.

Non fum qualis eram bonae

Sub regno Cynarae. define, dulcium

Mater faeva Cupidinum,

Circa luftra decem flectere mollibus

Jam durum imperiis: abi

Quo blandae juvenum te revocant preces.

Tempeftivius in domum

Paulli, purpureis ales oloribus,

Noble

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