32 Prepare for death if here at night you roam, And fign your will before you fup from home. 33 Some fiery fop, with new commiffion vain, Who fleeps on brambles till he kills his man; Some frolick drunkard, reeling from a feast, Provokes a broil, and ftabs you for a jeft. 34 Yet ev'n thefe heroes, mifchievously gay, Lords of the ftreet, and terrors of the way; Flush'd as they are with folly, youth, and wine, Their prudent infults to the poor confine; Afar they mark the flambeau's bright approach, And shun the shining train, and golden coach. 35 In vain, these dangers paft, your doors you close, And hope the balmy bleffings of repose ; Cruel with guilt, and daring with despair, The midnight murd'rer burfts the faithlefs bar; Invades the facred hour of filent rest, And leaves, unfeen, a dagger in your breast. 36 Scarce can our fields, fuch crowds at Tyburn die, With hemp the gallows and the fleet fupply. 32 Poffis ignavus haberi, Et fubiti cafus improvidus, ad cœnam fi 33 Ebrius, ac petulans, qui nullum forte cecidit, Dat pœnas, noctem patitur lugentis amicum Peleidæ. 34 Sed, quamvis improbus annis, Atque mero fervens, cavet hunc, quem coccina læna Multum præterea flammarum, atque ænea lampas. 35 Nec tamen hoc tantum metuas: nam qui fpoliet te Non deerit; claufis domibus, &c. 36 Maximus in vinclis ferri modus; ut timeas, ne Vomer deficiat, ne marræ & farcula defint. 2 Propose Propose your schemes, ye fenatorian band, Whofe # ways and means fupport the finking land : 37 A fingle gaol, in ALFRED's golden reign, 38 Much could I add,-but fee the boat at hand, The tide retiring calls me from the land: 32 Farewell!-When youth, and health, and fortune fpent, Thou fly'ft for refuge to the Wilds of Kent; 37 Felices proavorum atavos, felicia dicas Secula, quæ quondam fub regibus atque tribunis Viderunt una contentam carcere Romam. 38 His alias poteram, & pluries fubnectere caufas : Sed jumenta vocant. 39 Ergo vale noftri memor: & quoties te Me quoque ad Elvinam Cererem, veftramque Dianam Adjutor gelidos veniam calligatus in agros. * A cant term in the Houfe of Commons for methods of raifing money. The nation was discontented at the vifits made by the King to Hanover. THE T LET * Observation, with extenfive view, How rarely reafon guides the stubborn choice, * Ver. I-II. But, *But, fcarce obferv'd, the knowing and the bold Fall in the gen'ral maffacre of gold; Wide wafting peft! that rages unconfin'd, And crowds with crimes the records of mankind; Let Hift'ry tell where rival kings command, The needy traveller, ferene and gay, Walks the wild heath, and fings his toil away. The ruftling brake alarms, and quiv'ring fhade, * Ver. 12- 2; 20 + Ver. 23-27. + Ver. 28-55 See See motley life in modern trappings drefs'd, Thou who could'ft laugh where want enchain'd caprice, Toil crush'd conceit, and man was of a piece; Where wealth unlov'd without a mourner dy'd; And scarce a fycophant was fed by pride; Where ne'er was known the form of mock debate, Or feen a new-made mayor's unwieldy ftate; Where change of fav'rites made no change of laws, And fenates heard before they judg'd a caufe; How would'st thou shake at Britain's modifh tribe, Dart the quick taunt, and edge the piercing gibe? Attentive truth and nature to defcry, And pierce each scene with philosophick eye, To thee were folemn toys, or empty fhow, The robes of pleasure and the veils of woe: All aid the farce, and all thy mirth maintain, Whofe joys are causeless, or whose griefs are vain. Such was the fcorn that fill'd the fage's mind, Renew'd at ev'ry glance on human kind; How juft that fcorn ere yet thy voice declare, Search ev'ry ftate, and canvafs ev'ry pray'r. * Unnumber'd fuppliants crowd Preferment's gate, Athirst for wealth, and burning to be great; Delufive Fortune hears th' inceffant call, They mount, they fhine, evaporate, and fall. On ev'ry ftage the foes of peace attend, Hate dogs their flight, and infult mocks their end. Love ends with hope, the finking ftatefman's door Pours in the morning worshiper no more; VOL. I. * Ver. 56-107. For |