Or luckier chance the borrow'd boots fupply'd)
Had panted oft beneath my goring steel.
In vain they plead or threat: All-pow'rful ALE
Excufes new supplies, and each defcends
With joyless pace, and debt-despairing looks:
F'en SPACEY with indignant brow retires,
Fierceft of duns! and conquer'd quits the field.
Why did the gods fuch various blessings 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 unrestrain'd, And thoughtless riot in unlicens'd bliss; Sudden (dire fate of all things excellent!) Th' unpitying Burfar's crofs-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 wonted truft, and WINTER ticks no more.
Thus ADAM, exil'd from the beauteous fcenes Of Eden griev'd, no more in fragrant bow'r On fruits divine to feaft, fresh thade or vale, No more to vifit, or vine-mantled grot; But, all forlorn, the dreary wilderness, And unrejoicing folitudes to trace:
Thus too the matchless bard, whofe lay resounds
The SPLENDID SHILLING's praife, in nightly gloom
Of lonesome garret pin'd for chearful ALE;
Whofe fteps in verfe Miltonic I pursue,
Mean follower, like him with honest love
Of ALE divine infpir'd, and love of fong.
But long may bounteous heav'n with watchful care
Avert his hapless lot! Enough for me
That burning with congenial flame I dar'd
His guiding steps at distance to pursue,
And fing his favorite theme in kindred ftrains.
HEN now, mature in claffic knowledge,
The joyful youth is fent to college,
His father comes, an humble fuitor,
With bows and speeches to his tutor,
"Sir, give me leave to recommend him,
"I'm sure you cannot but befriend him;
"I'll warrant that his good behav❜our
"Shall justify your future favour;
"And for his parts, to tell the truth,
My fon's a very forward youth;
"He's young indeed, but has a fpirit,
"And wants but means, to fhew his merit;
"Has Horace all by heart,-you'd wonder,
"And mouths out Homer's greek like thunder.
"If you'd but venture to admit him,
"A scholarship would nicely fit him;
"That he fucceeds 'tis ten to one,
"Your vote and intereft, Sir,-'tis done."
Our candidate at length gets in,
A hopeful scholar of Coll. Trin.
I
A scholarship not half maintains,
And college-rules are heavy chains;
So fcorning the late wifh'd-for prize,
For a fat fellowship he fighs.
When, nine full tedious winters paft,
His utmost wish is crown'd at laft;
That utmost wish no fooner got,
Again he quarrels with his lot.
"Thefe fellowships are pretty things,
"We live indeed like petty kings;
"But who can bear to spend his whole age
"Amid the dullnefs of a college;
"Debarr'd the common joys of life,
"And what is worse than all-a wife!
"Would some fnug benefice but fall,
"Ye feasts, and gaudies, farewell all !
"To offices I'd bid adieu
"Of Dean, Vice-Præs,-nay Bursar too;
"Come tithes, come glebe, come fields so pleasant,
"Come sports, come partridge, hare and pheasant.”
Well-after waiting many a year,
A living falls,-two hundred clear.
With breaft elate beyond expreffion,
He hurries down to take poffeffion;
With rapture views the sweet retreat,—
"What a convenient houfe! how neat!
"The garden how compleatly plann'd!
"And is all this at my command !
"For fuel here's good store of wood,"Pray god, the cellars be but good! Continuing this fantastic farce on, He now commences country parfon; To make his character entire,
-coufin of the 'fquire;
Not over-weighty in the purfe;
But many doctors have done worse.
Content at first,-he taps his barrel,
Exhorts his neighbours not to quarrel;
Finds his church-wardens have discerning
Both in good liquor and good learning;
With tythes his barns replete he fees,
And chuckles o'er his furplice-fees;
Studies to find out latent dues,
Smokes with the 'fquire,-and clips his yews;
Of Oxford pranks, facetious tells,
And, but on fundays, hears no bells.
But ah! too foon his thoughtless breast
By cares domestic is oppreft;
Each day some scene of woe commences
By new and unforeseen expences;
And foon the butcher's bill, and brewing,
Threaten inevitable ruin;
For children more expences yet,
And Dickey now for school is fit.
"Why did I fell my college life
(He cries) " for benefice and wife!
|