MATTHEW GREEN. 1696-1737. Author of the Spleen, a poem of considerable merit. He filled a place in the Custom-house in London. AN EPIGRAM, On the Reverend Mr. Laurence Eachard's, and Bishop Gilbert Burnet's histories. GIL's history appears to me Political anatomy, A case of skeletons well done, His sharp and strong incision pen Historically cuts up men, And does with lucid skill impart Their inward ails of head and heart. And well-dress'd figures does display: Their hands are fair, their faces fresh; And from his sweetning art derive He wax-work made to please the sons, The Sparrow and Diamond. A SONG. I lately saw what now I sing, The feather'd play-thing she caress'd, With chisel bill a spark ill set He loosen'd from the nest, And swallow'd down to grind his meat, The easier to digest. She seized his bill with wild affright, Her diamond to descry: 'Twas gone! she sicken'd at the sight, Moaning, her bird would die. The tongue-ty'd knocker none might use, The footmen went without their shoes, The doctor used his oily art Of strong emetick kind, The apothecary play'd his part, And engineer'd behind. When physick ceased to spend its store To bring away the stone, Dicky, like people when given o'er, Picks up when let alone. His eyes dispell'd their sickly dews, Meanwhile within her beauteous breast Two different passions strove ; When avarice ended the contest, And triumph'd over love. Poor little, pretty, fluttering thing, Thy pains the sex display, Who only to repair a ring Could take thy life away! Drive avarice from your breasts, ye fair, Monster of foulest mien, Ye would not let it harbour there, It made a virgin put on guile, THOMAS SHERIDAN. County of Cavan, Ireland, 1738. The friend, and butt of Swift and his contemporaries, of whom it is said by the Dean, "He is a generous honest good-natured man; but his perpetual want of judgment and discretion makes him act as if he were neither generous, honest, nor good-natured." Doctor Sheridan was somewhat wrong headed. A new Simile for the Ladies. I OFTEN tried in vain to find A simile, I mean, to fit 'em; |