"Hold, not fo faft," cries he: "pray pardon me; "Maids with huge gaping wide mouths must have three."

Betty diftorts her face with hideous fquall, And mouth of a foot wide begins to bawl, "Oh ho! is it fo? The cafe is alter'd, Paul. "Is that the point? I wish the three were ten; "I warrant I find Mouth if they 'll find men." HOLD FAST BELOW.

THERE

HERE was a lad, th' unluckiest of his crew,
Was ftill contriving something bad but new:
His comrades all obedience to him paid
In executing what defigns he laid:

'Twas they fhould rob the orchard he 'd retire;
His foot was fafe whilft theirs was in the fire.
He kept them in the dark to that degree
None should prefume to be fo wife as he;
But being at the top of all affairs

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29

5

The profit was his own, the mifchief theirs.

There fell fome words made him begin to doubt
The rogues would grow fo wife to find him out :
He was not pleas'd with this, and so next day
He cries to them, as going juft to play,
"What a rare jackdaw's neft is there! look up,
"You fee it is almoft at the fteeple's top."
"Ah!" fays another, "we can have no hope

Of getting thither to it without a rope."
Says then the fleering fpark, with courteous grin,
By which he drew his infant cullies in,

"Nothing more easy! did you never see "How in a fwarm bees hanging bee by bee "Make a long fort of rope below the tree? Why may n't we do the fame, good Mr. John? "For that contrivance pray let me alone.

25

"Tom fhall hold Will, you Will, and I 'll hold you,
"And then I warrant you the thing will do':
"But if there is any does not care to try,
"Let us have no jackdaws, and what care I!"
That touch'd the quick, and fo they foon comply'd;"
No argument like that was e'er deny'd,

And therefore instantly the thing was try'd.
They hanging down on strength above depend,
Then to himself mutters their trufty friend;
"The dogs are almost useless grown to me;
"I ne'er fhall have fuch opportunity

"To part with them, and fo e'en let them go."
Then cries aloud, "So ho! my Lads! fo ho!
"You're gone unless ye all Hold Faft Below.

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35

"They've ferv'd my turn, so it is fit time to drop 'em: "The devil if he wants them let him ftop 'em." 4

JUST AS YOU PLEASE,

OR, THE INCURIOUS.

A VIRTUOSO had a mind to fee

One that would never difcontented be,
But in a careless way to all agree.

}

s}

He had a fervant much of Æfop's kind, Of perfonage uncouth but sprightly mind. "Humpus," fays he, “ I order that you find "Out fuch a man, with fuch a character "As in this paper now I give you here, “Or 1 will lug your ears or crack your pate, "Or rather you shall meet with a worse fate, 10 "For I will break your back and fet you straight. "Bring him to dinner." Humpus foon withdrew, Was safe as having such a one in view

At Covent Garden Dial, whom he found

Sitting with thoughtless air and look profound, 15 Who folitary gaping without care

Scem'd to fay, "Who is it? wilt go any where?"

Says Humpus, "Sir, my master had me pray
"Your company to dine with him to-day."
He fnuffs, then follows. Up the ftairs he goes,
Never pulls off his hat nor cleans his shoes,
But looking round him saw a handsome room,
And did not much repent that he was come.
Clofe to the fire he draws an elbowchair,
And lolling eafy doth for sleep prepare.

In comes the family, but he fits still,

ין

20

25

Thinks, "Let them take the other chairs that will."
The mafter thus accofts him: "Sir, you 're wet,

"Pray have a cushion underneath your feet."
Thinks he, "If I do fpoil it need I care?
"I fee he has eleven more to spare."

30

Dinner is brought up; the wife is bid retreat, And at the upper end must be his feat. "This is not very usual," thinks the clown; "But is not all the family his own?

"And why should I for contradiction's fake "Lose a good dinner which he bids me take? "If from his table she discarded be

40

35

"What need I care? there is the more for me."
After a while the daughter is bid to stand,
And bring him whatfoever he 'll command.
Thinks he, "The better from the fairer hand!"
Young mafter next muft rife to fill him wine,
And starve himself to fee the booby dine.
He does. The father asks, "What have you there?
"How dare you give a stranger vinegar?"

46

"Sir, it was Champaigne I gave him."--"Sir, indeed! "Take him and scourge him till the rascal bleed; "Don't fpare him for his tears or age: I'll try "If cat o' nine tails can excuse a lie."

50

Thinks the clown, "That it was wine I do believe, "But fuch young rogues are apteft to deceive: "He is none of mine, but his own flesh and blood, " And how know I but it may be for his good?"

When the deffert came on, and jellies brought, $5 Then was the difmal scene of finding fault : They were fuch hideous, filthy, pois'nous, ftuff, Could not be rail'd at nor reveng'd enough.

60

Humpus was alk'd who made them? Trembling he Said, "Sir, it was my lady gave them me.”"No more fuch poison shall she ever give;

"I'll burn the witch; it 'en't fitting the fhould live. "Set faggots in the court; I'll make her fry; "And pray, good Sir! may it please you to be by?" Then, fmiling, fays the clown, "Upon my life 65 A pretty fancy this to burn one's wife!

And fince I find it is really your design,

Pray

TELL

let me juft ftep home and fetch you mine." 68

ULYSSES AND TIRESIAS.

ULYSSES.

ELL me, old Prophet, tell me how

Eftate when funk and pocket low,
What fubtle arts, what fecret ways,
May the defponding fortune raife?
You laugh: thus mifery is fcorn'd.
TIRES. Sure it is enough you are return'd
Home by your wit, and view again

Your farm of Ithac and wife Pen.

ULYSS. Sage Friend! whofe word is a law to me,

My want and nakedness you fee.

The sparks who made my wife fuch offers

Have left me nothing in my coffers;

They 've kill'd my oxen, sheep, and geefe,

Eat up my bacon and my cheese.